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Millhorn’s Mars Mission Maneuvering Module Method ( 6M plan ) Conceived in October/November of 2006
Though I believe it’s not God’s expressed will for Mankind to venture into Space, I do believe that if Man
is going to do it anyway, it’s best to do it in comfort and affordability. So I write this piece, to weigh in on an
idea that I believe God gave me, as a concept model for the Maneuvering Module Method in which 3 brave and adventurous souls
could ride in. It all started with my disdain for the thought (which all astronauts who spend a lot of time in space
must go through), which is the recycling of water and urine, using it over and over again. I also believe that the cost of
sending 3 men to Mars which takes 8 months one way and 8 months back, and two months there, could be greatly reduced from
the billions and billions of wasted tax payer dollars by using this simple concept that God gave me. I do not claim or assert
that I am a scientist or a very technical person, but it’s the common sense approach that I’m trying to convey
to anyone in NASA who will have a little vision. Again, I believe that God gave me this idea, and now I will try
to convey this vehicle and method of travel using only words. If a flight engineer in NASA ever gets a hold of this concept,
he or she has my full and free permission to use any part of this idea at no cost to the Federal Government, for I am a true
American. Now for the basic nuts and bolts of this idea, leaving the avionics, telemetry and navigational instruments to the
experts at Northrop-Grumman. Now this 6M concept (Millhorn's Mars Mission Maneuvering Module Method) can be built with things
that we already have in use today, and the method of staging it into place, we are already doing. And with a strong coordinated
effort by the will of those participating -principals, I believe this concept could be ready to go from scratch to finish,
then to blast off in just 3 short years. Now, let’s lay the foundation of why we are going, and what we need to get
there. Why we are going is primarily made up of three reasons: 1. To see if there is water on Mars or an answer to the origins
of life on Mars via water being there, past or present. 2. To check the suitability of future lodging, so that Man can have
a more tolerable place than the moon in which to colonize. 3. Just to do it, just like going to the moon, it’s there,
it’s a challenge, it’s a mountain, lets go climb it. Now, before I get to the part about what we need to get there,
(then finally to the design of the Maneuvering Module Method-hereafter to be referred to as 6M), let me tell you why it is
a flawed idea to go back to the moon or even Mars. First, whether there is water on Mars or not, Man’s origins did not
come from water, as in evolution, as in coming out of a sea of mixed chemicals but Man was created by God. Secondly, Man cannot
colonize other planets or worlds, for he must face the Judgment of God as recorded in the Book of Revelation. And that’s
why it’s my guess that no man has ever died or has been left in outer space. For there must be a resurrection of the
dead, both small and great, rich and poor, with the sea giving up her dead, and the earth giving up it’s dead. For in
the last days at the time of the great resurrection, there’s no mention of the "outer space" giving up it’s dead.
So our reasons for going to Mars are essentially vain, and a great waste of money. For we already have two cool looking Dune
buggies already there, equipped with cameras, showing us all that we need to know. Now, let’s cover what we basically
need to survive and enjoy this arduous trip. These 3 brave men will need a vehicle to travel in, and supply racks equipped
with oxygenated air, water, food, room to move around, and for the instruments and experimental equipment. Now at long last
here it is! But remember, as you read this, try to imagine the concept of what I am describing and then check the feasibility
of it. First I will describe this 6-piece vehicle and its components, then the method of which to assemble them and getting
it all going. The 6-piece vehicle will all be attached to one another by a single piece of metal structure similar in shape
and structure to the design of the popular space vehicle from the Star Wars series X fighters. Let me explain. In
order to deal with the necessities of life (water, food, air) I propose two large elongated oval shape cylinders, similar
to that of the large orange fuel tank that currently goes up with Shuttle. These large elongated orange fuel tank looking
large cylinders, hereafter to be referred to as supply pods, would be fashioned in this manner. First, take the empty supply
pods, then fill the inner liner with common expansion foam, and then place another interior cylinder of almost equal size,
which would create a two tier barrier against the cold and against debris that could collide with it. Then construct electrical
heating panels on the interior wall of the 2nd interior cylinder or pod. Then build a single square receiving hole
in the rear or bottom of the large pod, so that the 4 square but long supply racks would slide into. Remember it
must house 2 years worth of supplies of food, water, instruments and equipment. These two large cylinders which look on the
outside similar to the large orange fuel tank of the Shuttle launches, and would be of one configured piece, with
a loading hatch on one end-(similar to that opening portal on the nose of the C-5a) so that the long 4 racks of food
and water and equipment can be loaded into the cylinder while in space, then closed and sealed. The other Cylinder would be
exclusively used for the numerous elongated tanks of oxygen and or oxygenated air. These two large supply pods would
be mounted closest to the space vehicle (one pod on each side of the space vehicle) with two separate 6 foot diameter struts
on each side (total of 4 struts, two on each side-with same look as an X-class fighter) this would connect the supply
and air containers to the space vehicle. All of the flow lines of electricity, hydraulics and air lines would be enclosed
in these struts, which is also the same travelling space the astronauts would use to move from the space vehicle to the container
pods. Now the main space vehicle itself, is nothing more than a current space shuttle craft, modified to support the adjoining
struts, and to convert its cargo bay area for the living quarters of the Astronauts, making it suitable for human habitation
without fear of cold or breach. There will also be attaching collars on the underneath side of the modified Shuttle to accommodate
the small shuttle craft that will make it’s descent onto the surface of Mars and for re-docking. The outer parts of
this 6M vehicle will consist of two large dependable rockets, and their adjoining fuel tank. I would imagine that the rockets
currently in use by the Shuttle now would suffice, or two of the type of rockets the Russians use to supply the ISS, or some
extra ICBM rockets laying around not doing anything. The large fuel tank for these two rockets would also be similar
to that of which we use already for the Shuttle, but just a little bigger. Thus you have the basic design and concept of this
6M plan. The Shuttle rides on top of this structure, with the smaller descent vehicle on the underside of it, with two large
supply pods on either side of the shuttle supported by 4 large struts. Those struts are again, 6 feet in diameter which house
the travelling path for the Astronauts to go to and fro from the Shuttle to the supply pods. Then there are the two large
rockets one on either side of the shuttle (lower) and the large fuel container pod (bottom), all attached to the single piece
steel structure, (X configuration) which supports the entire ensemble. That is to say, two large pods upper, two rockets
lower X shaped, with the fuel pod and shuttle in the center, all attached by a single piece of metal structure for
stability. Now for the easy part, of which YOU thought was the hard part. How do we get this monstrosity into space?
Well this is the easy part, although a little expensive. Albeit, I think it’s still billions cheaper than the current
plan. First, we must assemble all the components of this vehicle out in space, near the ISS, which could act as a nearby Baby-sitter.
It should be assembled in space by first sending up the single piece metal structure that will attach everything. Then the
food, air, instrument and equipment side pods will be sent up empty, and attached. Then the Rockets should be sent
up (empty) and the large fuel tank, sent up empty and attached to the single piece metal structure. When this is all in place,
then send up the air cylinders to fit onto the left pod, and the food, water and instruments on the right side pod. Then
send up the fuel, to fill the large single tank and to fill the rockets with fuel at this same time. And lastly, fly the Shuttle
and it’s smaller attachable descent vehicle to the center of the metal ensemble, for final assembly and connection.
All this can happen within a short term, by multiple launches of empty structures to be assembled and or filled up in space.
The launch or firing therefore of the rockets toward Mars, would yield a great savings, because no gravity or weight would
use up a lot of fuel, and they could get started rather quickly without building up speed circling the earth. Upon arrival
into a standard Mars obit, the smaller descent vehicle will be the only thing that should be detached or moving away from
the 6M. Upon return to earth, NASA can decide to leave the vehicle in space and deposit the Astronauts off at the ISS for
regular entry back to earth, or simply jettison all of the 6M vehicle and return to earth in the Shuttle or the Mars descent
vehicle. And by the way, the connectors from the pods to the Shuttle, will be a 10 foot piece of automated, probe like entry
mating function into the Shuttle, with all of it being air tight and air locked. It's also my intention that there
be enough water contained in the right side supply pod to furnish a gallon of water for each man for the entire 18 months.
But let the food be stored and enjoyed without having to recycle anything except air and oxygen. And with an entire left
pod dedicated to many cylinders of fresh air and oxygen, there should be a healthy atmosphere for the men to work and live.
All waste materials, including urine, dung and the water and food containers, can be jettisoned once a week or once a month,
and jettisoned in the pathway of the nearby rocket exhaust as to burn them up. I hope you enjoyed this mental picture
of what really could be a viable alternative to the otherwise wasteful design of the current moon and mars projects being
planned by taxpayer funded NASA. Selah. Since writing the above....updated Nov 06 and May 07, it's come into my heart
that it would be highly recommendable and cost effective to launch the two large and tall Rockets: (the same kind the shuttle
uses now or two ICBMs), from earth, with the single piece metal frame and the large orange fuel tank up in one shot (all
empty). This would mean, that you would simply launch a standard Shuttle like launch, but substitute the Shuttle, for the
single metal piece and empty pods. This way, fewer launches would be required and the in-space assembly would be faster and
easiler with the metal piece already attached to some components. To make this flight work, you could add an navagational
component to the fuel tank, or even the rockets, and lift the two rockets, and the metal attaching piece along with the
large orange empty fuel tank or empty supply pods into position by the current ISS in a pilotless way. Then all
you would have to do is bring up the other articles in two separate launches, then the supplies in two separate launches,
then the additional fuel,........and last of all the modified Shuttle. This would be exciting to see. A smaller version of
the is concept could be done to go back to the moon, in about one or two years. Perhaps someone like the President of Virgin
Airlines could be daring enough to try it, or a do nothing Billionaire
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