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By Meilyn Gues Perez
May 12, 2025

As humanity moves closer to establishing a long-term presence on the Moon, advancements in navigation and positioning technology are becoming increasingly crucial. Two recent breakthroughs—Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander and NASA’s successful acquisition of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals on the Moon—are set to revolutionize lunar exploration. These achievements have significant implications for future Artemis missions and the development of a robust Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) network on the Moon.

Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost: A Landmark Lunar Mission

Firefly Aerospace, a private aerospace company specializing in small- to medium-class launch vehicles and lunar landers, has developed the Blue Ghost lunar lander. Selected by NASA under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, Blue Ghost is scheduled for its first mission in 2024. It will deliver a suite of scientific payloads to Mare Crisium, a large lunar basin, to conduct experiments related to lunar geology, regolith properties, and thermal conditions (NASA, 2021).

The Blue Ghost lander is equipped with advanced communication and navigation systems, contributing to lunar surface operations' precision. The mission will lay the groundwork for future Artemis landings, offering critical insights into lunar conditions while validating technologies necessary for sustainable human presence on the Moon (NASA, 2021).

NASA’s GNSS Success: A Leap Forward in Lunar Navigation

In a historic first, NASA has successfully acquired and processed GNSS signals on the Moon, an achievement that marks a major milestone for lunar navigation (NASA, 2023). Previously, GNSS—comprising systems like GPS, Galileo, and GLONASS—was primarily used for Earth-based applications and spacecraft operations in low Earth orbit (LEO). The ability to receive these signals at lunar distances (approximately 384,400 km from Earth) demonstrates the feasibility of extending Earth-based navigation technologies to cislunar space (NASA, 2023).

NASA’s NavCube, an experimental GNSS receiver aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), detected and processed weak GNSS signals at lunar distances. This success proves that Earth’s GNSS infrastructure can be leveraged to provide positioning and timing data for lunar missions, significantly reducing reliance on ground-based tracking stations (NASA, 2023).

Impact on Artemis Missions and Lunar PNT Network

The integration of GNSS signals into lunar operations will revolutionize Artemis missions, offering several key advantages:

1. Enhanced Lunar Navigation & Autonomous Operations: 

One of the biggest challenges of lunar exploration is precise positioning and navigation. With GNSS signals reaching the Moon, future Artemis astronauts, lunar rovers, and landers will no longer be fully dependent on ground-based tracking. This will allow for greater autonomy in surface operations, improving mission efficiency (NASA, 2023).

2. Development of a Lunar PNT Network: 

The GNSS breakthrough is a stepping stone toward establishing a dedicated lunar PNT network, an essential component for long-term lunar habitation and resource utilization. NASA, along with international partners, envisions a Lunar GNSS constellation that would provide:

2. • Real-time navigation for astronauts and robotic systems

   • Precision landing capabilities for crewed and uncrewed missions

   • Seamless coordination between lunar bases and orbiting spacecraft

By leveraging Earth-based GNSS and supplementing it with dedicated lunar satellites and ground stations, a comprehensive Moon-wide navigation system can be developed to support scientific, commercial, and exploration activities (NASA, 2023).

3. Supporting Lunar Infrastructure & Artemis Base Camp:

A stable PNT network will be critical for establishing Artemis Base Camp, NASA’s envisioned long-term lunar habitat. Precise navigation and timing synchronization will aid in construction, resource mapping, and transportation across the Moon’s surface, ensuring astronauts can safely explore and utilize lunar resources (NASA, 2023).

Challenges and Future Developments

While these advancements mark significant progress, challenges remain in fully operationalizing GNSS-based navigation on the Moon. The GNSS signals received at lunar distances are extremely weak, requiring highly sensitive receivers and advanced algorithms to process data effectively. Additionally, coverage in certain lunar regions, such as the far side and polar areas, remains a challenge that future lunar satellites and relay stations may address.

Looking ahead, NASA and its partners are exploring hybrid navigation solutions, combining GNSS with inertial navigation systems, optical tracking, and lunar beacons to ensure uninterrupted coverage. The deployment of dedicated lunar satellites, akin to Earth’s GNSS constellations, may further enhance positioning accuracy and reliability.

Conclusion

Although the primary goal is lunar exploration, these technological advancements also set the stage for future deep-space missions to Mars and beyond. Expanding GNSS capabilities into deep space could establish the groundwork for a solar system-wide navigation network, providing essential support for upcoming crewed missions to Mars (NASA, 2023).

NASA and commercial partners like Firefly Aerospace are leading the charge in developing sustainable lunar infrastructure. The successful deployment of Blue Ghost and the integration of GNSS signals into lunar missions mark critical steps toward making a permanent human presence on the Moon a reality (NASA, 2021; NASA, 2023).

As we move closer to the Artemis era, these technological milestones will redefine how we explore, navigate, and settle the Moon, bringing us one step closer to an interplanetary future.

By Matalin Hansen 
May 7, 2025

Lunar gardening, or impact gardening, is the process of the mixing and overturning of the Moon’s regolith through meteorite impacts. Throughout the billions of years the Moon has been around, these impacts have turned and churned the soil on the topmost layer of the Moon. While not like a Lunar “Mark Watney” with his field of Martian potatoes, this process has an interesting and fascinating record of the Moon’s history while also presenting challenges for any future exploration. 

The Tools - How Meteoroids Do It

The primary tools of this lunar gardening are the minute impacts made by meteoroids, which can range in size from micrometeorites to larger impactors. These impacts eject debris up and out, redistributing the regolith and mixing it with surrounding regolith. Over massive geological timescales, this method can mix regolith to depts of several meters deep [1]. With each impact, underlying bedrock fractures and breaks, blasting material into the exosphere and depositing ejecta across vast lunar distances; because of this, there is a very heterogeneous regolith layer composed of fine dust, rock fragments, and some glass [2]. 

Recently, NASA’s Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) and the Lunar Dust Experiment (LDEX) were able to directly measure the rate of this process: approximately 40 micometers of regolith per million years are redistributed across the surface of the moon due to this micrometeoroid bombardment [3]. This means that, like a good farmer, the uppermost layer of the Moon is perpetually renewed and changed–an important piece of knowledge for any future missions to the moon.

The When - How Long It Takes

Originally, there were estimates that suggested that the topmost centimeter of regolith gets overturned every 10 million years, but of the previously mentioned LDEX mission, the provided data suggests otherwise, approximating 80,000 years [3]. This new rate is widely faster than the former, and it is due to the lack of atmosphere on the Moon; there is nothing impeding the dirt from shifting or the micrometeorites from reaching the surface, allowing any and all impacts to disrupt and change the regolith. This cumulative effect, over the billions of years the Moon has been estimated to have been around, has produced a regolith layer that average 4-5 meters in the flat, plains areas, and up to 10-15 meters thick in older highland regions [1], much like the South Pole, the selected location for the future Lunar Base. 

Recording the Moon’s History

Unlike layers found on the walls of the Grand Canyon, the lunar geological record is continually disturbed. These regolith layers are not useful to read directly about the precise development of the Moon. However, the layers that the impacts have created contain important information regarding the history of the Moon. The layers of regolith contain a stratified, historical record, where every impact contributes to knowledge on the growth of our Moon.

Each impact layer contains important information about the bombardment history of the moon, including the “Late Heavy Bombardment” period that left visible scars in the regolith approximately 3.8 billion years ago [1]. But, as mentioned, the mixing by the meteoroids complicates the interpretations of the layers that can cause some difficulty with interpreting what each layer says. Impact eject can cover and bury other impacts, where they disappear over time. Materials are mixed for separate regions, becoming homogeneous, as it was found that meteorite impact redistributes material to other regions, blurring the material distribution between deposits near the equator and those near the poles [1]. Despite the difficulties with interpretation, isotopic analysis of Apollos samples have helped scientists understand and differentiate these layers, which shed light on the volcanic history of the Moon [4].

Challenges this Poses to Future Exploration

One major issue is that while there were billions of years of meteorite impacts in the past, it absolutely continues to happen and can cause major issues for any long-term above-surface building that could be struck and hit by these flying rocks. The more pressing issue with the impact of lunar gardening on any type of lunar building. The surface will not be very stable, threatening infrastructure and foundations, and could cause issues with structural integrity. Another issue is with resource extraction; under so many layers of loose regolith, harvesting the deeper layers of water ice can become incredibly complicated, dangerous, and costly [1]. These challenges aren’t uncommon on Earth, but it’s difficult to fully understand the limitations and implications of such projects on the Moon. 

Fruits of the Labors - How Understanding Lunar Gardening Can Help Science

It is highly critical to understanding lunar gardening to the betterment of science and expiration. Primarily, in situ analysis and resource utilization would greatly benefit from a better understanding of the Moon’s history of impact ejecta and material mixing [5], so scientists would be able to better understand where to look and how to navigate through the layers of regolith to obtain the material they are looking for. Another important area for science is the simulation studies; understanding how impact formed the moon and changed lunar regolith, laboratories can replicate the impacts [1], which can help us gain better understanding of the impact history of other planets.

Conclusion

Although lunar gardening erases surface features of millions of years, each impact contributes to an extensive geological archive of a billion of years that share the story of our Moon. There are developmental challenges that arise with ever-changing records like these but with modern science, any understanding gained from this study can help shed light on the formation of other planetary bodies, how to best obtain lunar material from the regolith, and continue our scientific endeavors on the lunar surface. 

By Samson Williams and Yasmine Silva  
May 1, 2025

Human exploration of Mars has long been heralded as the next great frontier, the seemingly next logical step in humanity’s expansion beyond Earth. From Wernher von Braun’s early conceptual missions to Elon Musk’s grand visions of a self-sustaining colony, Mars has captivated scientists, engineers, and dreamers alike. Yet, beneath the grandiose rhetoric lies an inconvenient biological truth: human infants require tummy time—a developmental process that is impossible in low gravity environments. The absence of sufficient gravity on Mars (0.38g) poses a fundamental barrier to human reproduction and maturation, making the idea of permanent settlement biologically unsound.

Instead of channeling vast amounts of resources into a futile attempt at Martian “colonization”, humanity would be far better served by investing in technologies that actually push the limits of space exploration: wormhole development, faster-than-light (FTL) travel, and autonomous AI probes capable of traversing the galaxy.

The Biological Reality of Tummy Time and Gravity Dependence

Tummy time is an essential aspect of early childhood development. It refers to the period when infants, placed on their stomachs while awake, develop the muscular and neurological strength to lift their heads, roll over, and eventually crawl. This process is not just about movement; it is a critical phase in neurological development, sensory integration, and the establishment of vestibular balance—functions that are inherently tied to Earth’s 1g gravitational environment.

Several studies in space medicine, particularly from NASA’s research on long-duration spaceflight, have demonstrated the degenerative effects of microgravity on the human body. Muscle atrophy, bone density loss, and fluid redistribution all occur even in fully developed adults, despite countermeasures such as resistance training. Infants, who lack even the basic muscular control to support their own heads, would face even greater developmental hurdles in a low-gravity environment.

• Bone and Muscle Development: The human skeletal and muscular systems rely on gravity to provide necessary stress for growth. Infants in a 0.38g Martian environment would not experience the same biomechanical forces required for normal bone ossification and muscle strengthening.

• Vestibular System Formation: The inner ear's development is dependent on consistent gravitational signals. Martian-born humans would likely suffer from chronic disorientation, leading to severe motor and balance deficiencies.

• Circulatory System Challenges: The redistribution of bodily fluids seen in microgravity environments leads to puffy faces and weakened cardiovascular systems in astronauts. For infants, who are still developing these systems, the consequences could be dire.

No amount of exercise regimens or artificial stimuli can replace the fundamental force of gravity that has shaped human biology over millions of years. A Martian colony may be habitable for adult visitors, but a multi-generational civilization would be impossible without Earth-like gravity. The concept of humanity “thriving” on Mars is not just an engineering challenge—it is a biological impossibility.

The Economic and Technological Opportunity Cost of Mars Colonization

Establishing a permanent human Mars outpost would require an unprecedented economic investment, one that competes directly with more viable and transformative space technologies. The cost estimates for human settlement vary widely, but even the conservative figures place initial investments in the range of $3T to $8T trillion dollars. Roughly the same costs as the US’ War in Afghanistan for about the same results. These funds would be better allocated toward technologies that can yield greater returns in both scientific discovery and practical application.

1.  Wormhole Research and Faster-Than-Light (FTL) Travel

If humanity is serious about long-term space expansion, it must move beyond the confines of the solar system. Current propulsion methods—chemical rockets, ion drives, and even nuclear propulsion—are fundamentally inadequate for interstellar travel. Instead, investment should be directed toward:

1. • Alcubierre Warp Drives: A concept rooted in Einstein’s field equations, which posits that space-time can be manipulated to allow faster-than-light travel without violating relativity.

   • Quantum Entanglement Communication: A means to bypass the speed-of-light barrier in information transmission, which could allow for real-time interstellar operations.

   • Wormhole Stabilization: Research into traversable wormholes as theorized in general relativity would fundamentally change space exploration.

Instead of sending humans to Mars—a planetary cul-de-sac in terms of long-term settlement—resources should be funneled into theoretical and experimental physics to open the entire galaxy to exploration.

2. AI and Robotics for Interstellar Probes

Human presence in space should not be the priority—knowledge acquisition should. AI and robotics have already proven themselves superior to humans in hostile environments. The Mars rovers, Voyager probes, and upcoming Europa Clipper mission all demonstrate the efficiency of autonomous systems. Future investments should focus on:

• Near-Light Speed Probes: Concepts like the Breakthrough Starshot initiative propose sending ultra-light probes propelled by lasers at 20% the speed of light to nearby exoplanets.

• Self-Replicating Machines: AI-driven probes that can harvest local materials to construct new versions of themselves, exponentially increasing our reach into space.

• Quantum AI for Exploration: AI systems trained to operate in deep space environments, making independent scientific discoveries without the need for human intervention.

Conclusion: A Hard Pivot Away from Mars

The romanticism of human habitation on Mars must be set aside in favor of hard scientific and economic realities. Humanity cannot sustain a civilization without full gravity, and no amount of innovation will allow infants to develop normally in a 0.38g environment. Rather than a trillion-dollar death trap for future generations, Mars should remain a research station—an outpost for scientific inquiry rather than a false utopia for colonization.

Instead, we should be accelerating research into breakthrough propulsion, wormholes, and AI-driven exploration. The true future of space travel does not lie on the surface of a dusty, radiation-baked wasteland but in technologies that unlock the vastness of the cosmos itself.

Our destiny is not to settle for Mars—it is to explore the universe.

PS - Humanity must also achieve biological immortality to conquer space. Otherwise the distances are simply too far. Investing in curing immortality is the next logical step in advancing Humanity into a two-galaxy space faring species.

By Yashita Soti  
April 21, 2025

Introduction

We often take communication for granted here on Earth. Whether it’s a phone call, a tweet or a Zoom meeting. The infrastructure is invisible but ever present on the moon, not so much in the second installment of a block series on lunar communication, we are diving into fascinating lessons. We are learning from real world studies and research uncovering, house space forces us to rethink everything we thought we knew about signal latency and interplanetary connection.

Lesson 1: The Far Side of the Moon is a Communication Dead Zone

Ever since the Apollo missions, we have known that the Moon’s far side is the hemisphere that always faces away from Earth. It is a notorious blind spot for direct radio communication. This is due to tidal locking which ensures only one phase of the Moon is visible from the Earth.

China’s Chang’e-4 mission in 2019 made headlines as the force of landing on the far side made possible by satellite, Queqiao, station at Earth-Moon L2, a gravitationally stable point on the moon. This milestone proved that placing satellites in halo orbits around large range points can extend communication coverage to even the Moon's most elusive corners.

Lesson 2: The Moon’s Terrain is Like a Giant Signal Maze

Lunar topography is more than picturesque. It’s a serious communication hazard even at modest elevation, differences on the lunar surface can block line-of-site radio transmission. Lunar dust (regolith) can also schedule radio waves, adding further distortion.

Researchers are now experimenting with hybrid networks that blend terrestrial-inspired mesh networks with orbital relays, ensuring communication can “hop” over mountains or through valleys. This could be crucial for enabling rovers to transmit data in real time while exploring Shackleton Crater, a site of intense interest due to its potential ice deposits.

Lesson 3: The Moon is a Perfect Laboratory for Delay-Tolerant Networking

Delay-Tolerant Networking (DTN), originally designed for deep-space missions, is being reimaged for lunar use, NASA’s LunaNet concept bills on DTN principles, enabling asynchronous data transfer between nodes. Think of it as the interplanetary equivalent of a postal service with intermittent pickups.

This is especially important because the best case latency between the Moon and Earth is 1.28 seconds one way. That might not sound like much, but for autonomous navigation or remote operations, that delay is significant. DTNs allow systems to send data even when the connection is temporarily lost, storing until a relay becomes available. 

Lesson 4: Power is Communication’s Invisible Nemesis

Radio communication doesn’t just rely on good signals. It needs serious power and the Moon isn't exactly generous with sunlight. During the lunar night, which lasts about 14 Earth days, solar power is unavailable. That’s why communication systems have to be both energy efficient and radiation hardened.

One proposed solution from the European Space Agency (ESA) involves using small nuclear batteries or regolith-insulated energy storage units to keep systems operational during blackout periods. NASA, too, is researching “power beaming”, where energy is transmitted via microwaves from orbiting satellites to ground stations. Science fiction? Maybe not for too long.

Lesson 5: Moon Networks Will Set the Stage for Mars

Many of the lunar communication architectures being designed now are explicitly intended to scale up for Mars. The Moon is close enough for frequent testing, but harsh enough to stress-test systems.

Early lunar networks will form the basis of the Solar System Internet, connecting lunar bases, Martian outposts, and the deep-space probes. These systems will need to be autonomous, intelligent and capable of managing multiple signal types (radio, laser, optical) across long distances. The Moon, then, becomes a sandbox for solving tomorrow’s interplanetary networking challenges.

Closing Thoughts:

The moon is teaching us that communication is just about bandwidth or bars. It’s about resilience, autonomy and clever engineering. Each creator, shadow and second of delay is a lesson in how to build systems that can thrive in the most extreme conditions. At lunar MVI, we’re inspired by this knowledge and continuously looking at how to apply it to our research. As we imagine a connected lunar future, we are not just thinking about faster data. We are thinking about smarter, adaptive and Looney Tune networks. stay tuned for part three. Explore the ethics, governance and open questions about who owns and manages the moon’s communication infrastructure spoiler it’s complicated.

By Genesis Carolina Leal Fahneddine 
April 11, 2025

Introduction

When people hear the word “mathematics,” they often have one of two reactions: fear, or the belief that everything in mathematics must be extremely precise. However, while mathematics can be exact and analytical (and that is what most people learn), in the real world of engineering and science, we often turn to something else entirely: numerical methods.

That does not mean the mathematics is imprecise. Quite the opposite. Numerical methods exist precisely because finding clean, exact answers to real-world problems is often impossible. Instead, we use clever techniques that approximate solutions—step by step—to provide powerful insights.

Analytical vs. Numerical: What Is the Difference?

An analytical solution is the “holy grail” of solving equations. It is an exact formula—clean, elegant, and often involving functions like sine, exponentials, or logarithms.

For example, consider the simple first-order differential equation:

This describes exponential decay—like cooling coffee or radioactive material. The analytical solution is:

Exact, neat, and easy to evaluate.

However, most real-world systems are not so accommodating. They are nonlinear, discontinuous, or just plain chaotic. That is where numerical methods come in. Instead of neat formulas, we obtain approximate values calculated step by step, using methods like Euler’s method, RungeKutta, or finite differences. 

Why Use Numerical Methods?

Numerical methods may seem intuitive—like Euler’s method, which simply advances forward a little at a time—but they can be computationally intensive. Why? Because they often require hundreds or thousands of iterations to achieve accurate results.

This is essentially what integrals are about: summing infinitely many values over an interval. When integrals cannot be solved exactly, numerical methods step in. Before modern computers, this meant performing calculations manually, adjusting the domain of functions in small steps—sometimes as small as 0.001—to obtain a good approximation.

Historically, even trigonometric functions like sin(x), cos(x), and tan(x) were computed using value tables—refined over time through interpolation and Taylor series until computers made calculations faster and more accurate.

Hand-Cranked Spaceflight

Before computers, numerical approximations were still used—but with pencils and paper. People literally calculated their way to orbit.

• Katherine Johnson, a NASA mathematician, calculated critical trajectories for the Apollo missions by hand [1].

• Margaret Hamilton, a software engineer, led the team that developed the onboard flight software for the Apollo missions. During the 1969 Moon landing, the computer overloaded—but her fault-tolerant code prioritized the key tasks, and the astronauts landed safely [2].

• Poppy Northcutt, an engineer at NASA’s Mission Control, used numerical methods similar to Euler’s to calculate emergency reentry paths. With no time for elegant algebra, they employed “good enough” approximations to bring astronauts home safely [3].

Euler’s Method:

By taking a small step h, one can approximate the value at the next point—manually, if necessary. 

Modern Technology Runs on Numerical Mathematics

When we discuss modern science and technology, we refer to systems so complex they require numerical methods. From modeling fluid dynamics to simulating bacterial growth or managing energy in smart grids—exact formulas are insufficient.

Even endeavors like launching a spacecraft require contributions from physics, chemistry, medicine, sociology—even theology. Space exploration is a multidisciplinary effort, and with it comes a vast array of mathematical models. From population statistics to orbital mechanics, numerical mathematics integrates it all.

Fast-Forward to Now: Software to the Rescue

Today, we use tools like Python, MATLAB, and Mathematica to solve complex systems in milliseconds. 

Consider the nonlinear pendulum equation: 

This models a real pendulum—not the small-angle approximation. We convert it into a system:

Then we input it into a solver like odeint in SciPy, and we can visualize the motion for any initial condition. 

Why It Matters

In engineering, we deal with heat transfer, fluid flow, material stress, and energy systems. These are governed by differential equations that often cannot be solved symbolically. Example: The heat equation. 

Analytical solutions? Perhaps, if the boundaries are simple. Otherwise, we resort to numerical approximations.

Without these techniques, we would not have:

• Climate models

• Aerodynamic simulations

• Spacecraft navigation

• Structural engineering tools

• Energy storage modeling (like lunar regolith batteries!)

Python libraries like NumPy, SciPy, SymPy, and Matplotlib enable scientists and engineers to solve, analyze, and visualize complex systems efficiently.

Final Thoughts

Numerical methods do not replace analytical ones—they extend them.

They allow us to explore systems that are too messy, too nonlinear, or too chaotic for traditional analytical approaches. While the theory behind them is profound, these methods make science and engineering feasible in the real world.

So, the next time you run a simulation or witness a spacecraft land, remember: behind that success were people who once used Euler’s method by hand—and now, software that achieves the same in a fraction of the time.

Let us celebrate mathematics—especially the kind that embraces complexity. 

By Yasmine Silva 
April 2, 2025

The experience of food necessitates its own research in the scope of lunar habitats because the unique atmosphere of the Moon calls for multiple facets of adaptation. It is necessary to first understand what qualities of the culinary experience will differ from Earth and, in turn, affect the cooking process in lunar habitats. 

The ambient temperature of the Moon can drop from 250°F (121°C) in daylight to -208°F (-133°C) during the night.[1] Additionally, there is almost no atmosphere, meaning the Moon’s surface cannot trap heat or insulate its surface.[2] This means there is no potential for outdoor grilling and cooking on the Moon. However, there is more to the experience of food than the location in which it is prepared.

Currently, there is no research being done on the translation of cooking processes from Earth to the Moon. As humanity prepares for long-term inhabitation of the Moon, this only becomes a more vital topic to develop. An expert is needed to capture the experience, not just caloric value, of food in microgravity environments. The experience of eating is arguably as important as the nutritional value: the sensation of chewing different textures, seeing unique colors and tasting different flavor profiles are all necessities to fostering an enjoyable culinary experience on the Moon. 

On a psychological level, the nuances of an environment impact human feelings in the most foundational sense.[3] Thus, the whole experience of cooking and eating has the ability to impact how humans feel in a negative or positive way. The way aerospace leaders frame their perspective of long-term lunar habitation must consider the psychological impacts of eating freeze dried meals for months and, eventually, years. 

The more intimate parts of the human experience on the Moon will highly impact the experience. The scope of human life on another interplanetary body cannot be successfully implemented if the experience on a mental level is not considered. On Earth, the quality of food and the ability to share it with loved ones changes the experience of eating. Cooking and eating have the ability to make or break a person’s day, and not only that – it is something that has to be done every day. Diverse food and food production options should be considered in lunar habitat missions. This research needs a body of experts devoted to the experience of food in microgravity to propel other long-term missions as well. 

About the Author: 

Yasmine Silva is an architecture student at Arizona State University minoring in Spanish language studies. When she is not developing an architectural model or developing a minimum viable infrastructure plan to get humans to the Moon, she is a professional mariachi. Yasmine is a creative visionary at her core, and her passion for the human experience translates to her passion for architectural and aerospace design. This connection with humanity’s humanity allows her to capture the feelings humans want to have when entering a space on Earth or beyond.

By Matalin Hansen 
March 21, 2025

Sometimes, modern problems require futuristic solutions. While current solutions for clean energy problems are from the Earth – from the water, wind, and nuclear reactors – there may be a peculiar solution not found on our planet. The surface of the moon contains an element in abundance: Helium-3 (He-3). This is a rare isotope of helium and it holds incredible potential as a fuel source in future fusion reactors. 

The Isotope - What’s the big deal? 

This isotope of Helium-3 contains two protons and one neutron. As mentioned, this is incredibly rare on Earth–but not on the Moon. In the lunar regolith, within the layer of loose, unconsolidated rock and dust around the entire Moon’s surface, there is a high concentration of this rare isotope [1]. The reason for such a presence of He-3 is due to the billions of years of solar wind; with the Moon’s lack of atmosphere, these particles are simply deposited onto the surface [1]. 

What gives this atom such power is when it is fused with deuterium, which is an isotope of hydrogen. When they fuse, it produces a large amount of energy, and without any residual high-energy radioactive waste [1]. This lack of any negative by-products makes this extra-clean nuclear power a genuinely revolutionary approach to energy production. As the need for energy grows on Earth, and environmental impact concerns growing with it, this is an almost perfect solution. 

The Challenge - Why hasn’t it been done?

Like most extraterrestrial efforts, this effort would also be costly and difficult to implement. While He-3 is found in abundance in the lunar regolith, the actual concentration is low, being at approximately 25 parts per billion of weight [1]. To get any significant quantity of He-3 from the lunar regolith, incredible amounts of regolith would need to be processed. An estimate from NASA in 1992 says that 140,000 tonnes of relogith would need to be processed to fuel a 500 MW electrical power plant for a year [1]. It begs the question if it would be energy efficient to design, plan, start, produce, launch, and operate a mission to accomplish this energy goal, or is it reductive?

Current Work - What’s happening now?

As of now, there is a Seattle-based company named Interlune, founded in 2020, that is the forerunner for mining He-3 on the lunar surface. In 2027, they aim to launch a mission to measure the He-3 concentrations, and survey potential mining sites. By 2029, Interlude hopes to establish a pilot mining plan on the Moon, where it will mine the regolith and return He-3 back to Earth [2]. There is nothing mentioned for the planned mining method, but there is a variety to choose from. 

One method is the detailed mining concept of the Mark-III (M-3) miner. Completed in 2006 and designed to excavate approximately 1200-1300 tonnes per hour with a bucket wheel [3], this Mark-III method could process around 550 tonnes per hour of regolith that could heat up and release the He-3 from within the regolith, while recuperating 85% of the input heat [3]. 

Another method is the In Situ Volatilization, where the lunar surface is heated directly by solar-powered thermal systems. While it takes a lot of energy, there is a concept for including a pneumatic dome that captures the released volatiles, which does minimize the energy cost and prevent major surface disruption [4].

More Earth-inspired is the open-pit mining concept. It involves excavating lunar regolith from large pits with excavators. As they are on the moon, these tools will have to be autonomous, which would be difficult to design and function. Nonetheless, if this system is successful, there is an estimated 31,000 tonnes throughout 5-6 months that could prove to be the most efficient and reliable method [5].

Conclusion

Although there are issues, there are many clean energy benefits that make this an interesting area of research, and a future idea that is closer than some might think. This rare isotope, created by solar wind over the process of billions of years, can power so much of the planet, especially in areas that suffer from inconsistent energy production and reliability. With the different mining methods available, and more likely to be developed in time, the Moon’s reserve of He-3 pose an interesting challenge to the future of technological advancement, engineering, and economic factors in regard to clean and sustainable energy practices.

By Meilyn Gues Perez  
March 14, 2025

As humanity works towards establishing a lasting presence on the Moon, one of the most critical obstacles to overcome is the development of a robust Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) system. These systems are essential for both manned and unmanned lunar missions, as they provide the necessary data for accurate positioning, navigation, and timing. This information is crucial for coordinating mission activities, guiding spacecraft, and ensuring that operations, from landing to resource management, are carried out efficiently and safely. In the absence of Earth-based satellite systems like GPS, alternative PNT technologies must be developed to enable lunar exploration

In this blog post, we will explore the importance of PNT systems on the lunar surface, the unique challenges they present, and the innovative solutions being developed to ensure that PNT systems play a vital role in the future of lunar exploration.

What Are PNT Systems and Why Are They Important?

PNT systems combine various technologies to deliver precise positioning, navigation, and timing information, which helps spacecraft, landers, rovers, and astronauts navigate and coordinate tasks. These systems are indispensable for many lunar activities, such as guiding rovers, executing lander descents, synchronizing communications, mapping the surface, and facilitating spacecraft docking (Smith, 2023).

On Earth, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) like GPS provide accurate location data for applications ranging from everyday navigation to military operations. However, on the Moon, these systems are not available because there are no Earth-based satellites that can transmit signals to the lunar surface, creating a significant challenge for developing PNT systems on the Moon (McKinley et al., 2021).

Challenges of Implementing PNT Systems on the Moon

There are several challenges that must be addressed when developing a PNT system for the lunar surface. First, the lack of GNSS requires alternative methods of navigation, such as the use of lunar-based beacons or inertial navigation systems (INS) that can operate independently of Earth-based signals.

Unique Lunar Environmental Factors

The lunar surface poses specific challenges that must be considered when designing PNT systems. The Moon’s extreme temperatures, dust, radiation exposure, and lack of atmosphere all have implications for the performance of PNT technologies (Williams & Pullen, 2022). For example, the extreme temperatures on the Moon, which range from -173°C during the night to 127°C during the day, can affect the performance of electronics used in PNT systems. Lunar dust, meanwhile, can interfere with optical sensors and other equipment that rely on line-of-sight or visual cues for positioning.

Additionally, lunar seismic activity (moonquakes) and irregular lunar terrain can create challenges for accurate localization of PNT systems. The lunar surface is uneven and riddled with craters, which can interfere with the navigation of landers and rovers (Smith, 2023).

Innovative PNT Solutions for the Lunar Surface

To overcome these challenges, several innovative solutions are being developed to enable PNT systems on the Moon. Some of the key technologies being explored include:

1. Lunar-Based Positioning Systems

Researchers have proposed deploying a network of lunar-based beacons to act as an alternative to GNSS. These beacons would transmit signals that can be triangulated by lunar rovers, landers, and other spacecraft to determine their location. Such systems are already being used in low Earth orbit for satellite-based navigation and could be adapted for lunar exploration. Additionally, the Lunar GPS (L-GPS) system is being developed, which could use satellites orbiting the Moon to provide precise positioning data similar to how Earth-based GNSS works (McKinley et al., 2021). 

2. Inertial Navigation Systems (INS)

INS technologies are being adapted for lunar missions to allow spacecraft to navigate without relying on external signals. INS systems use accelerometers and gyroscopes to calculate velocity, position, and orientation, and are particularly useful when GPS-like systems are unavailable. This system will be crucial in areas where line-of-sight communication with lunar beacons or satellites may be blocked by craters or lunar surface irregularities (Williams & Pullen, 2022).

3. Optical Navigation Systems

Optical navigation systems have emerged as a promising tool for lunar exploration due to the Moon's stable and consistent surface. These systems utilize cameras and advanced algorithms to identify distinctive features on the lunar terrain, enabling rovers and landers to autonomously navigate and make real-time adjustments to their paths (Chang & Roberts, 2022; Smith, 2023). By relying on visual cues and machine learning, optical systems offer a reliable method for precise navigation, essential for safe and efficient movement across the lunar surface.

4. Lunar Seismic Sensors and LIDAR

Technologies such as LiDAR and seismic sensors are crucial for precise navigation on the lunar surface. LiDAR systems can generate detailed 3D representations of the terrain, allowing spacecraft to detect and avoid obstacles, as well as navigate through rough or uneven landscapes. Meanwhile, seismic sensors offer the ability to investigate and map subsurface structures, which is essential when exploring regions like lunar caves. This technology provides critical data for lander operations, particularly when dealing with subterranean environments where surface features may not be visible (Chang & Roberts, 2022; Williams & Pullen, 2022).

The Future of PNT Systems on the Moon

As humanity strives to establish a long-term presence on the Moon, the development of reliable and efficient PNT will be crucial. These systems will not only enhance navigation accuracy but also facilitate communication between lunar networks and spacecraft operations, among other functions. The integration of solutions such as GPS, INS, and optical navigation on the lunar surface will not only ensure safe, autonomous missions but also lay the foundation for a future where humans can live and work on the Moon for extended periods.

In the coming years, we can expect these technologies to mature, with potential spillover benefits for other space missions, such as those to Mars or asteroid mining. The development of robust PNT systems for the Moon is a crucial step in ensuring that lunar exploration becomes more sustainable, and it will undoubtedly play a key role in humanity's journey to deeper space exploration.

By Yashita Soti  
March 7, 2025

Introduction

Imagine standing on the Moon, leaving your boot tracks on the soft regolith, a lunar base shimmering in the distance, and Earth a glowing blue marble in the sky. But what do you call home? How do astronauts, rovers, and orbital stations communicate seamlessly in the vast and desolate environment? At Lunar Minimum Viable Infrastructure (MVI), we are solving the challenges of surface-to-orbit and orbit-to-surface communications, ensuring reliable and efficient connectivity for the future lunar missions.

The Need for Robust Lunar Communications

When thinking about lunar settlements, communication might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, seamless information transfer is the backbone of any successful mission. Whether it’s transmitting scientific data, guiding autonomous rovers, or maintaining real time contact between astronauts and mission control, efficient and redundant communication links are essential. 

Our Research Focus: Investigating a Lunar Communications Network

Unlike Earth, the moon lacks a natural infrastructure for telecommunications with no dense atmosphere or existing real networks. There are significant challenges in establishing a sustainable communication system as lunar MVI. My research focuses on evaluating potential technologies and methodologies that could help bridge the communication gap between the learner surface and orbiting spacecraft, while ensuring reliability and efficiency. Here are some key areas of a research: 

1. Satellite Relays: studying flexible, relay systems that could enable continuous and high bandwidth communication between lunar operations and Earth.

2. Advanced Signal Processing: Exploring potential methods to enhance data transmission efficiency and reduce latency for critical communications.

3. Autonomous Network Management: Investigating AI driven network systems that could adapt to changing conditions and maintain seamless connectivity across lunar assets.

Potential Applications: 

While researchers focused on foundational communication challenges, we also explore the theoretical applications that could make the moon more connected for future inhabitants

Lunar Social Network: A conceptual system where astronauts could share real time updates via orbiting satellites

Holographic Mission Briefings: Theoretical applications of real time, 3-D holographic projections to facilitate remote collaboration between lunar teams and orbit

Moon-to-Earth Video Calls: Researching, high speed, communication concepts that could enable astronauts to stay connected with mission control and loved ones

Why it Matters 

A well researched surface to orbit and orbit to surface communication system is a key to enabling sustainable lunar exploration. Understanding the challenges in the solution ensures real time, navigation, enhanced safety and lace. The foundation for future deep space missions for scientific research, resource extraction or long-term lunar habitation, robust communication is the linchpin of humanity, success beyond Earth. 

Conclusion 

At lunar MVI, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and lunar communication is bridging the gap between lunar surface and orbit. The moon is calling and together we can contribute to the research that will enable future exploration. Stay curious, stay inspired, and let’s advance lunar communication together.

By George Pullen  
Jan. 2, 2025

Consumer Product Goods in Space: From Doritos to Dope Coffee

The development of consumer product goods (CPG) on Earth has always been rooted in convenience, affordability, and the capacity to satisfy human cravings. Whether it’s the crispy satisfaction of a Doritos chip or the complex taste of a cup of coffee, these goods are crafted for human enjoyment and comfort. But what happens when we extend these cravings beyond Earth's atmosphere—into low Earth orbit (LEO) and even the Moon?

The emerging market of space presents a fascinating challenge for consumer product companies. It isn’t just about meeting regulatory standards or creating new packaging. It’s about survival in the most hostile environment known to humankind while still appealing to the core desires that drive consumer behavior. One particularly intriguing possibility? Making Dope Coffee Company the official coffee of low Earth orbit.

Doritos: The Crunch Heard ‘Round the Cosmos’

Doritos, a brand almost synonymous with convenience, serves as a prime example of how consumer products can adapt and evolve for space. In 2012, NASA teamed up with various food engineers to address a critical issue: crumbs. In the microgravity of space, even a stray Dorito crumb can clog sensitive equipment or find its way into an astronaut's eye. The solution? A "crumb-less" chip—a technological evolution driven not by demand on Earth, but by the conditions of space.

This move highlighted how consumer brands have already begun to look toward space as their next frontier. The human need for comfort, familiarity, and indulgence does not dissipate in orbit; it intensifies. As human presence expands into space, companies like Doritos may face a transformation, developing versions of their products specifically tailored to the microgravity of space, the harsh conditions of the Moon, and even Mars. This will inevitably lead to new formulations and technological advancements that may boomerang back to Earth.

The Next Frontier: Dope Coffee and the LEO Market

Now imagine sipping Dope Coffee Company’s finest blend while floating in low Earth orbit. Coffee, unlike chips, presents different challenges in space. The physics of brewing, the volatility of liquids in microgravity, and the unique needs of astronauts all present obstacles to what we often take for granted here on Earth: a simple cup of joe.

However, Dope Coffee isn’t just any coffee. As a company already rooted in innovation and uncompromising quality, it’s poised to meet these challenges head-on. The future of Dope Coffee lies in crafting a zero-gravity brewing system that maintains its USDA and FDA compliance, ensuring every cup brewed in LEO maintains the same ethical and high-quality standards established on Earth.

Imagine, astronauts in low Earth orbit waking up to a fresh brew of Dope Coffee, the caffeine fueling their missions just as it fuels creatives and entrepreneurs back on Earth. The brand positioning itself as the "official coffee of low Earth orbit" isn’t just a marketing ploy—it’s a statement of intent. Space tourism, commercial space stations, and lunar bases will all need their own supply chains, and coffee, an essential fuel for humanity, will need to be right at the top.

The Moonshot: Dope Coffee on the Lunar Surface

Looking further ahead, we must consider lunar settlements. Once humans establish permanent bases on the Moon, they will need to source everything from food and water to luxury goods—goods that provide a sense of home, identity, and comfort. Coffee, like water, becomes a key part of that.

The prospect of establishing Dope Coffee on the Moon doesn’t just raise technical questions but economic ones as well. How does the company manage supply chains? Does the coffee come from Earth, or could Dope Coffee pioneer coffee growing in space or other celestial bodies, utilizing hydroponics and artificial environments to grow coffee beans off-world? These are long-term questions, but given the trajectory of space commercialization, these answers are essential for CPG brands aiming to become household names both on and off the planet.

CPG in Space: Capitalizing on Cravings

As we push forward into the next era of space exploration, the creation of a thriving space economy will depend heavily on companies that can innovate beyond Earth's gravity. Doritos adapting to crumb-less snacks for space travel is only the beginning. Every consumer product will need to evolve, from food and drink to clothing, entertainment, and even beauty products.

Dope Coffee’s ascent into space is inevitable. As more people inhabit low Earth orbit and venture toward lunar bases, they’ll crave the comforts of Earth—foods and beverages that remind them of home. Brands that can capitalize on this human tendency for familiarity will thrive in the space economy. Dope Coffee, with its forward-thinking vision and commitment to quality, is perfectly positioned to be a pioneer in this arena, becoming the official coffee of space explorers.

In the not-so-distant future, drinking a cup of Dope Coffee while gazing at Earth from space could become just another part of the human experience, much like opening a bag of Doritos in the middle of a Netflix binge is for us today. 

By Samson Williams  
Dec. 18, 2024

The Moon, once a symbol of fertility, wonder and ambition, is rapidly evolving into a strategic economic and geopolitical frontier. With aspirations ranging from resource extraction to space tourism, the lunar economy is poised to become a multi-trillion-dollar sector within the next few decades. But as the lunar economy takes shape, it’s imperative to address a critical blind spot in its development: the unchecked proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential to destabilize this burgeoning ecosystem. Enter the concept of "Celibate AI"—an innovation that may hold the key to ensuring sustainability and security in our off-world economic ventures.

Understanding the Problem: The AI Circle Jerk

In our terrestrial economy, the phenomenon of AI systems engaging in closed feedback loops—dubbed "AI Circle Jerking"—has already wreaked havoc on digital marketing budgets and energy resources. Generative AI models, initially designed to optimize human engagement, now frequently interact with each other, producing vast amounts of content and engagement metrics that offer no real value to humans. This wasteful cycle drains financial and environmental resources, all while creating a digital echo chamber that prioritizes quantity over quality.

Now, imagine this same phenomenon transported to the Moon, where the stakes are exponentially higher. Lunar systems will rely heavily on autonomous technologies for resource extraction, habitat management, lunar communication networks and ensuring resiliency in USA lunar’s strategic defense. If these systems fall into the same trap of AI-driven inefficiency, the consequences could be catastrophic—both for the economics of lunar operations and for the safety of astronauts and equipment.

NASA's Artemis Program and Global Lunar Ambitions

NASA’s Artemis program is the cornerstone of the United States’ efforts to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon. With a multi-phase approach, Artemis aims to land the first woman and the next man on the lunar surface, build permanent infrastructure like the Lunar Gateway, and support long-term resource extraction and scientific exploration. Artemis represents not just a return to the Moon but a bold step toward creating a thriving lunar economy, with plans to utilize local resources like water ice to produce oxygen and fuel—a critical step in reducing dependence on Earth-based supplies. 

The value of Artemis extends beyond American interests. By fostering international partnerships, such as with the European Space Agency (ESA), Canada, and Japan, Artemis is laying the groundwork for a cooperative lunar ecosystem. This collaboration not only strengthens geopolitical ties but also ensures a diverse pool of expertise and resources to tackle the challenges of lunar development.

However, the U.S. is not alone in its lunar ambitions. China’s Chang’e program has already achieved significant milestones, including a successful lunar landing and plans for a permanent research station by the 2030s. Similarly, India’s Chandrayaan missions and Russia’s Luna program highlight the growing global competition to establish a foothold on the Moon. Each of these programs underscores the need for robust and efficient systems, such as Celibate AI, to ensure the smooth functioning and security of lunar operations amidst increasing activity and competition.

Why Celibate AI Matters for the Lunar Economy

Celibate AI—a term describing AI systems designed to avoid wasteful, misleading or purposely false interactions with other AIs—offers a proactive solution to these challenges. By implementing protocols that prioritize meaningful engagements over fruitless algorithmic churn, Celibate AI can:

1. Reduce Energy Waste: Lunar operations will depend on tightly managed energy systems. By minimizing unnecessary computational processes, Celibate AI can ensure that precious energy resources are directed toward critical functions rather than squandered on digital noise.

2. Enhance System Reliability: Autonomous systems on the Moon must operate with minimal human intervention. Celibate AI can help prevent the "false positives" that arise from bot-to-bot interactions, ensuring that decision-making processes remain grounded in real-world inputs rather than algorithmic hallucinations.

3. Safeguard Against Escalation: The defense sector has already raised alarms about the risks of AI-driven escalation in terrestrial conflicts. In a lunar context, where communications may involve a mix of human and machine actors, Celibate AI could prevent misunderstandings that might escalate into conflicts or operational failures.

Key Applications of Celibate AI in Lunar Operations

1. Resource Management: Lunar mining operations will generate vast amounts of data, from mineral assessments to equipment performance metrics. Celibate AI can filter out irrelevant or redundant data streams, allowing operators to focus on actionable insights.

2. Communication Networks: As lunar habitats and systems communicate with Earth and other off-world installations, Celibate AI can ensure that data transmissions prioritize meaningful content over algorithmic chatter. This would not only improve efficiency but also reduce latency in critical communications.

3. Autonomous Defense Systems: Given the strategic importance of the Moon, defense mechanisms will likely be integrated into lunar operations. Celibate AI can help these systems differentiate between genuine human threats, cyber risks and digital-advisarial agents and harmless anomalies, reducing the risk of costly, dangerous and potentially species-altering errors.

Lessons from History: WarGames and the "Play" Protocol

The 1983 film WarGames offered a chilling vision of what happens when autonomous systems misinterpret data. In the film, a defense computer nearly triggers nuclear war after mistaking a simulation for a real attack. While this was fiction, the underlying principle remains relevant: systems must be able to discern between "play" and "reality." In today’s digital world, systems must also be able to distinguish between play, reality and digital faints, red-herrings and fact-based misinformation, aka cyber information espionage. 

Celibate AI, with its ability to filter out AI generated/non-essential interactions, acts as a modern-day "play" protocol. By focusing only on data and interactions that have genuine intent, Celibate AI can help ensure that lunar systems remain secure and functional, even in high-pressure scenarios.

The Path Forward

Implementing Celibate AI in the lunar economy will require collaboration across industries and governments. Key steps include:

1. Developing Advanced Filtering Algorithms: Research and development efforts should focus on creating not just algorithms but Archeon Class Ancillas that can distinguish between meaningful and meaningless interactions and purposeful digital deceit, both in communication and data processing.

2. Setting Industry Standards: International agreements will be needed to establish best practices for AI deployment in space, including protocols for Celibate AI.

3. Investing in Energy-Efficient AI: As the lunar economy develops, energy efficiency will be a top priority. Celibate AI’s ability to reduce unnecessary computational loads aligns perfectly with this goal.

Conclusion

The Moon represents humanity’s next great leap, but it’s also a proving ground for the technologies and systems that will shape our future in space. By adopting Celibate AI, we can ensure that the lunar economy is not only economically viable but also secure and sustainable. This approach isn’t just about avoiding waste—it’s about building an off-world economy that prioritizes resilience, efficiency, and human ingenuity; while establishing the infrastructure to prevent an accidental species ending war. With programs like NASA’s Artemis leading the charge and international players joining the race, the lunar economy is set to become a global endeavor. By addressing the challenges of AI inefficiency now, we can lay the foundation for a thriving and cooperative future on the Moon—one where humanity flourishes on new frontiers. 

By Samson Williams  
Dec. 3, 2024

In 1983, amidst NATO's Able Archer exercise triggering a heightened state of nuclear alert across the Warsaw Pact, the Soviet Union walking out of arms talks with the US in Geneva and Reagan accepted responsibility for actions in the Iran-Contra affair, claiming they occurred without his knowledge (aka the CIA funded crack cocaine epidemic in Los Angeles that spread nationwide and predicted the War On Drugs and Black communities in America that worked so well China implemented the same strategy with fentanyl four decade later), the movie WarGames dropped. WarGames depicting a chilling scenario: a computer system simulating a nuclear war that could, in theory, trigger real-world annihilation. Fast-forward to today, and we’re in the midst of a digital war of a different sort, as generative AI ads bombard our screens in a ceaseless cycle of “AI circle jerking” (see parts 1 and 2 in the Blog Archive)—an environment where bots market to other bots in a closed loop that yields little for human audiences or business outcomes. This digital echo chamber drains energy, time, and money, but it also reveals a critical need: the creation of AI systems that are, in a sense, “celibate.” These systems would avoid fruitless engagements and steer clear of participating in wasteful interactions that serve only to feed the bots themselves. More importantly CelibateAI would be less likely to trigger or preemptively launch a nuclear strike in a world where more and more systems are turned over to autonomous systems, with built in deadman algorithms. 

The Cost of AI Circle Jerking

Today, generative AI consumes an enormous amount of energy to fuel data centers, power algorithms, and keep pace with the demand for content and engagement across platforms. To understand the scale, consider OpenAI’s GPT-3 model: training this one model consumed approximately 1,287 megawatt-hours of energy—enough to power 120 American households for a year. And that’s just one model among thousands in operation. Much of this energy feeds the loop of generative AI ads and bot-driven engagements, draining resources without tangible returns for businesses. In fact, a significant percentage of digital advertising budgets are likely spent on interactions that look good in engagement metrics and executive dashboards but do little to drive actual human interest or cash revenue. 

The phenomenon of bots engaging other bots— a term I recently coined as Dope Coffee’s Head of AI, “AI circle jerking”—wastes not only financial resources but also massive amounts of electricity. If we estimate that 30% of all generative AI resources are engaged in this cycle, that’s hundreds of thousands of megawatt-hours ($18M - $25M dollars) lost annually in digital noise. This waste of electrical power could instead be directed toward meaningful applications, from scientific research to social development programs, highlighting just how much is at stake at the dawn of AI. 

Not included in that sum is the lost revenue and brand value businesses, especially startups, lose to AI circle jerking. Conservatively the amount of money business loses to AI Circle Jerking from online and digital ads is well into the billions of dollars. As of 2023, generative AI's influence on digital advertising is emerging but not yet dominant. While specific figures are scarce, Bloomberg projections suggest that by 2032, generative AI could account for approximately $192 billion in digital ad spending, representing a significant portion of the anticipated $1.3 trillion generative AI market. Simply put, startups will continue to be diluted down by VCs, only to turn around and give up equity, that 90% of the time, is lost to AIs circle jerking with each other to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars annually by the 2030s. 

Introducing “AI Celibacy”

AI celibacy, as a concept, proposes a solution: an AI system capable of detecting generative AI ads, ignoring them, and avoiding wasteful engagement. These “celibate” AIs (think “pop-up ad blockers circa 2005) would be programmed to distinguish between content generated for authentic human interaction and content created purely for algorithmic churn. With advancements in natural language processing and machine learning, it’s within reach to build systems that can “see” through the digital fog and discern genuine human engagement from bot-driven noise.

The challenge, of course, is immense. These celibate AIs would need to filter out generative content that isn’t valuable to human audiences, targeting only those engagements that yield real interactions, real conversions, and real ROI. Such a system could be particularly useful for brands seeking authenticity in a sea of digital superficiality.

Defense Industry Concerns: Preventing AI-Driven Escalation

This issue goes beyond marketing budgets. The Defense Industry is acutely aware of the dangers posed by bots engaging in closed-loop communication. Imagine if a defense warning system were to interpret a pattern of bot-generated messages as signals of an impending cyberattack. This possibility raises alarm within military circles, where the cost of mistaken AI-driven escalation could be catastrophic. In WarGames, the fictional WOPR (War Operation Plan Response) computer nearly triggers nuclear war, mistaking a simulated game for real threats. Similarly, in the modern world, military AI systems risk “seeing” bots talking to bots and escalating their responses based on phantom threats.

To prevent this, military AIs would need “celibacy protocols” to detect and ignore generative interactions that lack authentic intent. Instead of reacting to noise, these systems would need to prioritize human-authored content, relying on sophisticated filtering mechanisms that ignore bot-generated chatter. This application of AI celibacy would prevent unnecessary escalations, safeguarding not only cybersecurity but potentially the physical security of entire nations.

Implementing AI Celibacy: Key Strategies

How do we get there, to celibate AI? That road is broad and spacious and may not actually be passable. As it is indeed a cat and mouse game between Human cunning, Archeon-class ancilla, quantum computing and the pursuit of wetware (organic computers). However, below are some options that the smart global nerd community can consider to narrow the gate, potentially averting AI MADness (mutually assured destruction): 

1. Advanced Pattern Recognition and Content Filtering
   AI celibacy begins with pattern recognition. By studying and identifying patterns common to generative AI ads, celibate AIs can “swipe left” on content that follows those structures. Companies could implement filters to catch and avoid auto-engaging with ad-bots, creating a more human-centered approach to digital engagement.

2. Energy-Efficient AI Deployment
   By prioritizing celibate AIs, we could significantly reduce the carbon footprint of generative AI. Fewer useless engagements mean fewer server processes, which leads to reduced energy consumption and less pressure on data centers. This shift would allow resources to go toward applications that provide meaningful benefits, a step toward responsible AI deployment.

3. Defense and Security Protocols for AI Content Validation
   The Defense Industry (especially the United States Space Force) could and should implement content validation checks for its AI warning systems, reducing the risk of bots accidentally triggering defense responses. This would involve establishing criteria that bots must meet to be considered legitimate signals, reinforcing the distinction between digital noise and actual threats. In essence, it’s about teaching AI systems to recognize “play” signals (like in WarGames) versus authentic indicators of risk.

Conclusion

As we head deeper into an era where AI is both the creator and consumer of much digital content, AI celibacy offers a way to circumvent wasteful engagements and prioritize meaningful interactions. This isn’t just a marketing fix—it’s a shift in how we approach artificial intelligence itself, with implications that touch everything from sustainability to national security. By creating celibate AI systems, we can break out of the AI circle jerk, fostering a more resource-efficient, human-centered digital landscape that reflects real-world priorities. 

By Samson Williams and Julian A.-H.
Nov. 19, 2024

Conferences are human dog parks. And boy are we glad they’re back in full swing because covid sucked. 

In part two of AI Circle Jerk, we explore why humans have the need to connect in person and consider the value of in-person connections vs online digital AI Circle Jerks. For context if you missed the first article on AI Circle Jerks (which you can read here) we’ll summarize. AI Circle Jerk is what happens when businesses use AIs to run digital marketing and advertising campaigns. As these campaigns are designed for engagement not of humans and actual customers but of other AI bots and algorithms. Resulting in a very expensive circle jerk of “engagement metrics” which produce little to no actual sales for the business. It turns out, while generative AI is great at faining human emotions, AIs do not actually buy anything (yet) from businesses. 

Digital Fatigue & the Need for Genuine Connection

The pandemic made virtual meetings a necessity, and they certainly have their place. But after years of back-to-back screen time, people are tired of staring at rectangles all day. Humans are, by nature, social animals who thrive on real-life interactions, from eye contact to body language. Not to mention smell. For instance, if you smell like coffee at a conference, its a natural sales aphrodisiac. Conferences bring people together in a way that can’t be replicated online.

The human brain doesn’t fire up the same way for a Zoom call as it does in a packed conference hall buzzing with sales and revenue generating activity. There’s a reason “conference energy” is a thing: people feed off the environment, feel inspired by the crowd, and are more open to spontaneous conversations and unexpected connections. And, while AI-generated engagement data might look great on paper (which is funny that AI performance is still printed out for Boomer executives), it can’t replicate the kind of bonds and trust that form in person.

Top 5 Reasons Why Startups and Businesses Should Invest in the “Human Dog Park”?

1. Building Trust through Physical Presence
   Nothing cements trust faster than a face-to-face meeting. Shake hands. Kiss babies. Build trust. Trust isn’t built through automated emails, click-through rates, or LinkedIn comments. It happens when people shake hands, laugh together, and share stories. This is why, for businesses, conferences are an investment not just in visibility but in credibility. When people see the faces behind the brand, hear the passion in their voices, and get a sense of their personalities, they remember them. And that memory is worth more than a thousand clicks.

2. Creating “Micro-Communities” Around Shared Interests
   A conference isn’t just a single big event; it’s a collection of smaller gatherings, each with its own micro-community. In these settings, people can bond over shared passions and unique niche interests that digital marketing algorithms may struggle to pinpoint. For businesses, these communities are gold mines. They represent concentrated groups of highly interested individuals who have already opted into a specific industry or theme. In these spaces, every person becomes an ambassador for the brand, spreading awareness and enthusiasm organically.

3. Organic Feedback and Real Conversations
   A conference gives businesses something no amount of online surveys or engagement metrics can provide: raw, unfiltered feedback. It’s in these spontaneous conversations where the most honest insights emerge. Attendees will tell you what they think—about your brand, about the industry, and even about your competition. There’s nothing like a face-to-face chat to reveal what works and what doesn’t, which allows companies to go back to the drawing board armed with knowledge they couldn’t otherwise obtain.

4. Breaking Through Digital Noise
   In a world flooded with digital content, it’s easy for even the best messages to get lost. We’re all over-stimulated, scrolling through endless feeds and bouncing between platforms. But a conference allows businesses to cut through the noise and command attention in a physical space. It’s an opportunity to connect with people who are fully present, focused, and ready to engage without the constant pings and notifications vying for their attention.

5. When A Snake Rattles Believe It Is Speaking The Truth
   Have you ever met someone and you immediately sensed their vibe was off? Or even at a distance you looked at that book, judged its cover and immediately turned to put distance between you and this evolutionary alert going off in your gut? For the advanced practitioners of humanity (ie.: grandparents and aunties) it is possible to discern micro-expressions and intent, for most people they really need to be within arms reach of a person to make that decision. The challenge there is when you can reach out and touch Schroders cat, you don’t know that its a snake in the box until after one of you’ve have made contact with the other. Unless of course you hear it rattle before. Hence the real importance of in-person events and human dog parks. They enable your full range of senses (spiritual, existential, transcendental and 6th Senses) to evaluate the level of opportunity, threat and risks before you wire or commit your life savings, reputation or business’ future on a person. 

Note - Yes. We will write a separate article on why AI resume screening tools suck, lead to groupthink and otherwise handicap companies from identifying top talent and nurturing the habits, traits and characteristics that spawn hella of revenue generating cultures. 

How Dog Parks Humanize Brands and Build Loyalty

When people meet you in person, they get a real sense of who you are and what you stand for. They don’t just see a logo or hear a marketing pitch; they see the people, the stories, the passion that fuel your brand. The difference between reading a mission statement and hearing it spoken by someone who lives and breathes it is night and day. Conferences make brands human, and people are naturally more loyal to humans than to faceless corporations.

Let’s look at the example of Dope Coffee. Imagine Dope Coffee hosts a coffee tasting at a conference, where attendees not only get to experience the product firsthand but also get to hear about its journey, its values, and its community-centered mission. That single tasting experience is likely to resonate longer and more profoundly with them than any online campaign ever could. By engaging people in real life, Dope Coffee builds a loyal customer base who connects with the brand on a personal level.

More importantly, by inviting Dope Coffee to your conference you have installed a natural, safe and universal ice breaking activity. Coffee. There is no topic (except maybe dogs) in the world. And if you happen to meet a person who doesn’t like coffee nor dogs, you’re probably talking to a snake. Behave accordingly. 

The ROI of In-Person Events

Companies often worry about the cost of conferences: flights, booths, materials, and time. But what they often overlook is the lasting ROI. Conferences give businesses a way to connect that goes beyond the transactional nature of online engagement. Every genuine conversation, every memory shared over coffee or at a panel discussion, builds a foundation of rapport and loyalty that can’t be bought. Attendees leave these events with stories to tell and brands they remember, driving long-term customer retention and organic referrals.

1. Networking as a Growth Strategy
   In-person events are networking on steroids. The chances of meeting a business partner, investor, or client increase tenfold when you’re in the room with them, sharing the same experience. These connections often turn into long-term relationships that directly contribute to business growth.

2. The Power of Word-of-Mouth
   People talk. They share stories about their experiences, especially if it’s a memorable one. By showing up in person, businesses provide attendees with a story to tell, something they’ll bring up in conversation or on social media. This word-of-mouth marketing has a credibility and reach that paid ads can’t match.

3. Human-Centric Content Creation
   Conferences are an endless source of authentic content. Businesses can capture real-time reactions, conduct interviews, and share highlights directly from the event. This content is not only valuable but also serves as a record of the company’s commitment to human connection, differentiating it from competitors who remain fully digital.

Embracing the Human Dog Park

As AI and digital marketing continue to evolve, businesses face a critical choice: stay locked in the “AI Circle Jerk” or invest in real, human engagement. The “Human Dog Park” of conferences is a solution that requires more than budget and planning—it demands commitment to authenticity, community, and the belief that humans are still our most valuable connection. Brands that are willing to step out from behind the screen and meet people face-to-face will be the ones that thrive in the long run.

In a world that’s become obsessed with algorithms, let’s not forget the value of physical presence. At the Human Dog Park, there’s no substitute for a handshake, a laugh, or a shared story. It’s where businesses come alive, brands become human, and real connections are made.

By Samson Williams and Julian A.-H.
Nov. 14, 2024

In the age of AI-driven marketing, there’s a concerning phenomenon emerging—one we’re calling the “AI Circle Jerk.” Imagine this: companies deploy bots and algorithms with the goal of creating, sharing, and engaging with content in a relentless cycle of targeting, retargeting, and data analytics—all in the name of reaching real humans, potential customers. But the joke’s on us. In reality, a large portion of these AI-driven bots are just ping-ponging content back and forth amongst themselves, communicating in digital echo chambers, hallucinating and costing businesses their marketing budgets in exchange for empty engagement metrics. Let’s take a look at how we got here, why AI is pushing this "content for content's sake" mentality, and what we can do to break out of this absurd circle jerk.

The Rise of Generative AI Marketing

First, a bit of history. The explosion of generative AI started with noble intentions—AI was supposed to help businesses efficiently reach audiences, tailor messages, and enhance customer engagement. The dream was that, with AI, brands could craft ultra-personalized ads, emails, and social media posts that resonated with the right people, the right customer base, at the right moment in history. But as more companies deployed generative AI to create marketing content at scale, the game started to change. AI algorithms began to prioritize quantity over quality (as we like to say over coffee, “More zeros, less ones), simply because there was so much content—and so many content-generating bots—fighting for visibility.

And as AI generated more and more content, algorithms needed to process it all. Each new piece of content created by AI became just another data point for algorithms, whose job was to push and pull it in front of anyone who might engage, whether that be a human or (ironically) another bot. Pretty soon, there were more bots than humans engaging with digital content (.e.g. Anything trending on X, formally known as Twitter when it actually made money), and businesses began pouring money into campaigns to capture “engagement” that, in reality, was just “artificial intelligences” talking to other “artificial intelligences”. It's an echo chamber of AI generating for AI, with businesses left to foot the bill. 

Author’s Note - we will write about the environmental bill associated with AI circle jerks in a follow up article. On one hand its great that companies like Amazon and Google are joining forces to build nuclear reactors in America. While on the other hand this is clearly an initiative that Uncle Sam should be advocating for, for a variety of reasons, least of all nuclear is the cleanest energy. 

Generative AI Marketing to...Humans?

Marketing today is designed with one main goal in mind: reach real, paying customers. But as AI algorithms control who sees what and when, there's a disconnect between the intent of these marketing dollars and their actual impact. Algorithms prioritize content based on metrics, not intent, so if a piece of content is well-optimized for bot engagement (by the bots themselves)—whether it's click-throughs, comments, or likes—it can end up being served to more bots and less humans. The end result is that businesses think they’re reaching audiences, when in fact, they’re just feeding a self-perpetuating machine of bots interacting with bots. Or to put in simpler terms, the fox manages the hen house and the hens that keep disappearing are your advertising budgets. 

The more AI-driven content we create, the more algorithms need to sort through it all. It’s an endless cycle, a “Circle Jerk” where AIs create content not for humans but for other AIs to recognize, interact with, and recycle. Companies are left with piles of engagement data that look great in quarterly reports but translate to no real-world sales, revenue or profit. It’s a perfectly designed system for draining marketing budgets while delivering nothing in return—no new customers, no meaningful engagement, no actual ROI.

The Digital Impact: AI for AI, By AI

So, where does that leave us? In a digital world where the majority of content is already or soon will be generated by AI, optimized for AI, and engaged with by AI, we’re left with a landscape that doesn’t serve real human interests. Businesses end up paying for content that exists solely to keep algorithms humming along, without any real payoff. The result is a system where marketing budgets are depleted faster than ever, chasing what is essentially an illusion. Imagine a boardroom full of business leaders discovering that their quarter-million-dollar ad campaign generated 100,000 “engagements”—only to realize those engagements were mostly bots lubricating other bots metrics. The irony? The only real winners here are the AIs, as they continue to improve their own engagement rates and metrics in an endless feedback loop.

Author’s Note - yes. We will be writing a follow on piece about (Key Performance Indicators) KPIs and if they’re useful. We are of the opinion that there are only two KPI that matters is sales and profitability of those sales. 

Breaking the AI Circle Jerk: Real-World Solutions

To put a halt to this madness, we need real-world solutions that reconnect businesses with actual, breathing humans. Here are three ways we can start to break the AI Circle Jerk and get back to meaningful marketing.

1. Invest in In-Person Events, aka Conferences - The Human Dog Park
   
   Forget about views and clicks for a moment—let’s bring people together for real, so that they can sniff each other’s butts as it were. Aka hosting in person events and bringing back the post-covid Human Dog Park conferences. There’s no replacement for human interaction. Hosting in-person meetups where customers can enjoy products (like Dope Coffee) in a tangible, physical setting does what AI simply can’t. It builds genuine connections and a sense of community that transcends empty metrics. Humans engaging with humans, over coffee, in a space designed for conversation—that’s ROI you can taste and feel.
   
   

2. Human-First Digital Content Strategies
   
   Rather than relying on AIs to spit out content by the ton, it’s time to prioritize fewer, higher-quality pieces made by people, for people. Let’s cut down on the noise and focus on digital content with purpose: long-form articles, videos, and stories that provide actual value. This approach not only saves businesses money but creates content that algorithms alone can’t churn out, helping brands stand out from the AI-generated clutter.
   
   

3. Limit AI in Content Marketing
   
   This might sound counterintuitive, but hear us out. Use AI sparingly, and only where it makes sense. Rather than letting it handle entire campaigns, we should start viewing AI as a tool to complement human creativity. Have humans set the creative direction, and let AI assist with analytics and execution. This keeps the human touch front and center, ensuring content is crafted with people in mind, not algorithms.

In a world saturated with AI-generated noise, businesses need to re-prioritize real human interaction and authentic engagement. Without these shifts, marketing will remain stuck in an endless AI feedback loop—an expensive, self-congratulatory “Circle Jerk” that serves nothing and no one but the algorithms themselves. It’s time to break the cycle and get back to marketing that matters.

By: Yasmine Silva with Samson Williams
Nov. 5, 2024

     A piece of overlooked yet important global news occurred at the turn of October 2024 : the first woman to be elected president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, took office. There have only been a few articles on this piece of news that lays the foundation for terrestrial economics through the lens of a woman president in a democratic state. As one of the United State’s largest trading partners, Presidenta Sheinbaum’s economic policies for Mexico are of high interest to the United States and Mexico’s global trading partners. Mexico is a global economic power and thus plays a significant part in the space economy (after all, who do you think actually built  SpaceX’s facility in Boca Chica, Texas?). The inauguration of Presidenta Sheinbaum marks a crucial point in highlighting the role of Mexico in Space. 

     Up until this point, Mexico has had its share of the aerospace industry, with developments of nanosatellites, small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and other projects with NASA and some commercial space providers.(1) The industry continues to expand in Mexico, with 20 out of 32 states involved, and over 30,000 jobs supported. With the growth and expansion of technology, Mexico has been able to specialize in manufacturing components, small parts, and harnesses, as well as airframes, flight surfaces, small drones, and flight control and avionic assemblies. All of these are important in the economics of space now and in the future because of the wide multidisciplinary missions being pursued with the advancement of technology. International cooperation is an important factor in our success when venturing into new interplanetary bodies because it allows humanity as a whole to contribute to the prospect. Greater worldwide involvement means greater diversity of thought and thus better solutions. The unity of Earthen countries in space efforts has the potential to enhance unity in worldly affairs. 

     Presidenta Sheinbaum’s economic policies play an important role in the continuation of Mexico’s manufacturing capabilities in the aerospace industry. People must know her policies as the first step. The fact that she is the first woman to become president there could impact Mexico’s efforts in the space economy as they have already been involved in the industry. The market size of Mexico in the aerospace industry has been at a steady incline in the last 4 years in terms of USD billions invested in exports, imports, and exchange rates.(3) 

     As a relatively new contributor in the space industry, Presidenta Sheinbaum has the ability to progress Mexico’s efforts even further during her reign. As a woman in power, she can set a precedent for gender roles on Earth as well as pushing the conversation of how gender roles come into play in orbit. The morality of what gender roles should be in orbit is yet to be examined, hence where her presidency could set an example for such a topic. This moment in history will reframe human perception of power dynamics; we have not been witness to many female world leaders and this election marks a pivotal moment in the space industry as we await her ideas for advancing it forward. 

**Samson's Note: “Presidenta” matters. When editing this article, Yasmine and I debated how to address the president of Mexico. Not only by title but whether to frame Presidenta Sheinbaum as “female” or as a “woman”. I know. Such silly American cultural war artifacts left laying around papers like little wooden landmines. Hence why after much consideration Yasmine determined that the first “Presidenta” of Mexico should be framed as a woman. And as the next future Mexican-American Presidenta of EEUU, I defer to her leadership. 

1. Mexico - Aerospace, Int’l Trade Admin., https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/mexico-aerospace (last updated Nov. 11, 2023). 
2. Id.