» Extended Exploration

Modified explorer versions of HYT will rove the Solar System, carrying payloads and measuring equipment for extended missions to more distant planets and their moons only observed by “basic” probes. Such advanced expeditions would last around 3-4 years. These versions will be part out-fitted in Space, carrying probes and other items externally if required to provide internal space and comfort to Astronauts. With the deployment of pods into Earth orbit, HYT will be replenished in orbit. This version can carry large payloads to the distant parts of the Solar System for mission use or for another future mission.

With the advent of HYT, designers can proceed with power plant development to sustain thrust and life for deep exploration vessels: presently there is no need of such engines, so they have not been built. This paves the way for the manufacture of larger, faster exploratory Space vehicles, most likely in orbit.

» Construction

With its 110 tonne lift capability, HYT will be used to build any structure required in Space, whether it is a new Space Station, assembly of an inter-solar system/deep Space exploration vessel or a place to build such Spacecraft: the sheer size of such items will need assembling in orbit at a specialised facility. J2000 would supply and sustain all such facilities and endeavours at low cost.

» Colonisation

The main goal of the J2000 HYT programme is leaving this Planet. The reasons for Space flight are more about ourselves as people than the factors often used to justify Space exploration. Why do climbers climb mountains is a question which is parallel to the why do we travel in Space question. It is about pushing ourselves to our limits, even when we do not yet know those limits.

Is the huge space funding worth the money which could be used for other things? Space funding has been in regression for many years in comparison to the projections of where we would be in the 1950’s: people need the inspiration of our top minds, for it is they who enable the discoveries which help us to understand ourselves and the enormity of life.

Where would the world be without Columbus for example, or Cook? Multicultural countries such as the United States and Australia have shown how we can co-exist between racial, cultural and religious differences, which at the end of the day are insignificant seeing as we all have very similar needs for ourselves and our families. We are currently seeing the net results of this in Europe where countries of vastly differing languages and cultures are integrating and uniting for the greater good of all. Space travel can do the same thing by bringing out part of us we do not understand, mainly due to not having had to understand: why would we need to learn how to use computers or telephones – to extend ourselves and ability to network and interact – same thing.

We are already able to exist in uninhabitable environments such as in the upper atmosphere in flight or the Artic; this is just another evolution of this technology – the ultimate use. Expansion of technology provides a flow down effect to others – the poor become wealthier, a lack of growth has the opposite effect. Colonisation provides work for thousands of people, an industry which would expand in both uses and scope as developments grew in size and places. Interplanetary versions of HYT will land missions on the Moon or Mars using 3 HYT’s for support, safety and supply reasons.

» Deploying the co-developed Supply-pod

Part of the J2000 production programme budget and design is an integral pod able to be carried internally by HYT and deployed into Space with payloads for future flights or operations. The pod can store fuel, water, food or machinery. These can be linked, from the sides and length-wise via a simple girder frame, enabling large storage ability in a known place in orbit.

A derived re-supply landing pod delivering up to 50 tonnes of payload for deployments to build and supply colonies also will be constructed within the HYT budget. Space missions require everything to sustain life be taken along, transported from Earth orbit to the Moon or Martian orbits, and left for future missions in a deposit zone.

Unmanned supply systems reduce hazards to Astronauts and lower initial and ongoing spending requirements, reducing costs to investors and risk to life. When sufficient material is landed, people can establish a base, either a research lab or colony, with such pods used for resupply or even converted for accommodation facilities.

» Re-usable Space debris collectors : The Varulkarie

BAT has launched a contract programme to build 2 types of Space debris collectors, called Varulkarie, using the HYT budget for funding. J2000 will deploy both types of debris gatherers from its payload bay. 10 of each type of these craft are to be obtained within the HYT budget, one that will scours large debris and the other smaller articles to reduce the junk that has been thus far left in orbit. These re-usable types will drag Space-junk down into the atmosphere then land at a designated airport. The machines will then be re-fuelled and redeployed, sometimes with other missions/payloads.

Although it will take over 10 years, these craft will remove virtually all the debris in Space, making orbital transition and operations much safer. Due to the fact collisions in Space between debris and satellites create more debris - multiplying harmful objects - if something was not done Space would have soon become too dangerous to for humans to fly in, and eventually for satellites too.

» Planetary defense: primary mission

Presently, there is no defense against a rouge asteroid on a collision course with Earth: an undetected meteorite can create severe damage or even destroy the Earth for human habitation. Ultra violet farming would enable life to continue through deep winters such an impact could produce.  

HYT or future variants of HYT can offer outlying detection and defense against Meteors and Comets threatening Earth. Such a type would be on station in a distant orbit, outfitted with equipment for the long deployment, or simply deploy better detection and preventative equipment to eliminate this risk.  Training for such missions can be simply simulating the HYT fuselage is an asteroid, and Space-walking with a suitably capable rocket pack with enough power to change the asteroids course. Simulated missions would carry inert packs for safety.

» Deep Space Missions and Colonies

The problem with deep space travel is the enormous distances between stars, and the obvious time to bridge such distances. In essence, in Space terms we are at a pre-Columbus era transport capability and innocence. To overcome this facet sooner, rather than the current never, a BAT contract programme is expected to be launched in about two years time for an unmanned space probe capable of attaining the speed of light.

There are difficulties with such experiments since the probe will require 9 months worth of acceleration at 1g, and to be practical, 9 months worth of deceleration to enter orbit or a fixed position. Although this requires an engine with a phenomenal Specific Impulse, various other tricks can be used in the acceleration curve such as using other planets gravities and centrifugal acceleration to increase and decrease speed.

The logical step in a space transport is to use the acceleration and deceleration phases as artificial gravity, so human occupants can spend the entire trip at 1g. This would mean a transport shaped like a mushroom, with the engines behind, rotating to be in front while decelerating. This shape is cheap to build and assemble from components, it is easy to pressurise and has great structural strength. A spherical design like those “used” in 2001: A Space Odyssey concentrates all the dynamic pressure from the 1G acceleration at the base of the sphere; in engineering terms it is like comparing the PSI of a high heel versus a snowshoe. Although this does not quite make as attractive Starship as those in science fiction, it does reduce the cost and need of several fundamental inventions, thus making an excellent starting point: the Santa Maria leading to the Neecenow in Trans-Atlantic terms. Naturally development leads to development, bringing answers to problems progressively rather than all at once as some may naively expect.

With the success of the current programmes Briggs Aerospace Technologies will initiate plans to fund a machine or machines capable of accelerating to the speed of light and stop with complete safety. This is one of the links to deep space exploration quickly overcome by stepping stone style design programmes: within 25 years using these methods there can be a colony outpost at the nearest star: because it takes less than a year to attain the speed of light with one G acceleration, allowing for an equal period of deceleration