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2019 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

26. The Multipurpose Lunar Base as a First-Line Biosphere Defense and as a Gateway to the Universe

Authors : Nikola Schmidt, Carlos Manuel Entrena Utrilla, Petr Boháček, Jackelynne Silva-Martinez, Pete Worden

Published in: Planetary Defense

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

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Abstract

This concluding chapter shows practically that planetary defense is not about securing the mere absence of threat. Deflecting asteroids does not necessarily require its own dedicated technology. Quite the contrary, planetary defense can and should be approached as a civilian and scientific endeavor with historical importance. This will be challenging, but if we can build a laser capable of sending nanoprobes to the nearest stars at 20% light speed and use the same installation for possible asteroid deflection, then we should not need to rely on militarily oriented planetary defense by a leading nation. In this chapter, we discuss the associated challenges and required technologies, and also that our community of fate can become a security community—a community in which we do not perceive one another as enemies but as allies. We explain the science of Moon survival and structures for the multipurpose lunar base, as well as the main issues of building a super powerful laser on the Moon. The same installation can be built on Earth if we can reach a breakthrough in global governance. The chapter ends by discussing the notion that planetary defense is not national defense.

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previous chapter The Moon Base as a Commercial Hub

next chapter Will Planetary Defense Change a Realist World?

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Heard in person during the conference by Nikola Schmidt.

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Title: The Multipurpose Lunar Base as a First-Line Biosphere Defense and as a Gateway to the Universe
Authors: Nikola Schmidt
Carlos Manuel Entrena Utrilla
Petr Boháček
Jackelynne Silva-Martinez
Pete Worden
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Book: Planetary Defense
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-00999-1

Electronic ISBN: 978-3-030-01000-3

Copyright Year: 2019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-01000-3_26