Guest:  Kim Holder;  Topics:  Moonwards updates and plans, The Starship Congress 2017, new global economic models and more.  Please direct all comments and questions regarding specific Space Show programs & guest(s) to the Space Show blog which is part of archived program on our website, www.thespaceshow.com.  Comments and questions should be relevant to the specific Space Show program. Written Transcripts of Space Show programs are a violation of our copyright and are not permitted without prior written consent, even if for your own use. We do not permit the commercial use of Space Show programs or any part thereof, nor do we permit editing, YouTube clips, or clips placed on other private channels & websites. Space Show programs can be quoted, but the quote must be cited or referenced using the proper citation format. Contact The Space Show for further information. In addition, please remember that your Amazon purchases can help support The Space Show/OGLF. See www.onegiantleapfoundation.org/amazon.htm.

We welcomed back to the program Kim Holder of www.moonwards.com.  During the first segment of our two hour two segment program, we started out by asking Kim for what was new with Moonwards. Kim told us about her work with the solar thermal power plant which said was done.  This power plant was discussed at different times thorough the show as listeners had questions about it as we moved along in our discussion.  During her initial comments on it, she explained it and talked about the assistance she got on it with lots of quality volunteer collaboration.  At the same time, Kim talked about space stations, tethers, and her working with volunteers on the math needed for the models.  She specifically mentioned that the angular momentum and tether work was challenging and complicated.  Don't miss what she said about this and those that helped her on it.  Kim also mentioned coding which she explained to us. 

Kim mentioned a 50 to 100 year timeline regarding people going to the Moon as the routine.  I asked her questions for clarification regarding the state of knowledge about aviation by those flying in the early days of the developing aviation history.  Don't miss what we said about this and the potential evolving time line.  Let us know what you think about this by posting on TSS blog. 

I asked Kim about her need for volunteers for the Moonwards project.  Kim mentioned the need for an international team and said she was looking for modeling and coding help.  She then mentioned that soon she would be shifting to working in the Blender community.  At this point a listener notified me that we had another issue with the toll free line so I took a break to fix it. 

In the second segment after the phone line repair break, I mentioned a work around phone number to use for the show as I could not resolve the toll free line busy signal problem.  Kim then mentioned the use of chat rooms for Moonwards and mentioned a few that she used and found most helpful and useful.

Freemont John asked about the use of centrifuges and when it might be possible to send the first child to space, including the Moon.  Don't miss what Kim said in response to the first child to the Moon question.  Let us know what you think of her position on this subject as it will prove important, not just for lunar settlement but also for on orbit and Mars settlement.  Kim then brought up the idea of swimming in the microgravity and lunar environment as she suggested the resistance in moving against the water would be similar to doing microgravity exercises to reduce bone mass and muscular issues.  Let us know what you think of this strategy with your comments on the blog. 

Listener Terry wanted to know about the mass and some of the technical issues for the solar thermal power plant.  Don't miss what Kim said in response to all of what Terry was asking.  Freemont John called in with lots of questions about infrastructure and budget issues, plus Kim wanting the project to be international in scope.  Again, don't miss what Kim said in response to John's questions.  John then asked about the economic model and timeline.  Kim explained her vision and model and the why behind it.  You need to listen to what she said because in my opinion, she was painting a type of utopian vision.  Adrian sent in a challenging email to her and I asked her who she thought would be called upon to pay for all the benefits she wanted early lunar settlors to get for "free."  My personal believe is that what Kim was talking about would be highly controversial but we would like to know what you think?  This topic spilled over into issues we have talked about with Barry Levin on his shows regarding future job displacement, guaranteed incomes and such. 

This discussion my talking about my moderating the panel at the upcoming Starship Congress event, promoted me to embark on a rare Drspace rant in which I referenced recent remarks on policy and government by the Chase Bank CEO Jaime Dimon (see www.bloomberg.com/amp/view/articles/2017-07-17/jamie-dimon-is-right-to-raise-the-alarm).  While not disputing the need for being better able to deal with significant problems now and in the future, I did not support Kim's utopian type of view for the future and her approach to economics.  Furthermore, building on what Mr. Dimon said, I attacked our so called leaders and policy makers and said that if we want to do big and bold things for the future and be a leader in the world, we needed competency at the government and other levels we were not seeing that at this time.  I related these issues to space, including our economic problems and the likelihood that we would be doing big and bold future space projects, including lunar development, in combination with government.  My rant focused on how in the world we expected to do such grand and important space projects given our increasing debt and political incompetence.  Less anyone think I was being partisan in my comments, think again.  I was universally including all parties, all elected officials, appointed officials, all of them regardless of party, ideology, etc. that have brought us to this place in our history.  To do great things in space and to lead or be a leader in the world, we need to do lots better than we are doing. We must not saddle future generations with debt we have irresponsibly incurred and we must make policy and embark on great project worthy of a great nation without regard to party, ideology, and petty crap.  I also stated that I think the space development field was directly related to the comments made by Jaime Dimon.

Also during the show, Marshall sent in a note about Moonwards servers, Rick sent in a note about Moonwards doing a crowdfunding program or implementing a Moonwards computer game along the lines of SimCity.  Marshall talked about mining HE3 and wanted to know if Moonwards had considered that technology.  Kim had lots to say regarding HE3 and futuristic technologies so listen carefully.

As the program was nearing the end, we talked about the upcoming Starship Congress, Kim's talk and the panel which consists of Kim, Dr. Benaroya, and Freemont John with my moderating it.  My moderating the panel comments helped contribute to my rant that I described above.

Please post your comments/questions on TSS blog.  You can reach Kim Holder through www.moonwards.com or me.