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This week in The Space Review… Lessons for the future of human space flightAs the Augustine commission reviews NASA’s human spaceflight plans, it is receiving no shortage of advice. Former NASA associate administrator Wes Huntress offers some lessons learned for the future of human space exploration. To boldly go… anywhere?The Star Trek franchise got a much-needed and successful re-launch with its latest movie. Eric Sterner argues that it’s also time to re-think what NASA does and how much we are willing to spend to support it. Big Sky RanchYou may not have heard of Bill King, but he was one of the pioneers of America’s satellite reconnaissance program. Dwayne Day recalls the life and career of King, who recently passed away. North Korea’s missiles: how will they use their ultimate assetNorth Korea appears to be preparing for another missile test, perhaps disguised again as a satellite launch attempt. Taylor Dinerman looks at how the West’s reaction, including South Korea’s development of its own space launch system, could affect the North’s plans. Review: A Dictionary of the Space AgeSpace is legendary for having its own distinct jargon, from formal acronyms to informal slang. Jeff Foust reviews a book that provides a detailed set of definitions for those words and their origins. Previous articles:Constellation and its challengersThe committee charged with examining the future of NASA’s human spaceflight programs kicked off its work last week with a public hearing in Washington. Jeff Foust reviews the event, which largely shaped up to be an examination of Constellation and several potential alternatives. Gum in the KeyholeA proposal for a new series of reconnaissance satellites that are only marginally different from an older series has generated opposition from one key member of Congress. Dwayne Day looks at what may be for the intelligence community another case of political theater. Launching a spaceportLast week New Mexico held ceremonies for the groundbreaking of Spaceport America. Jeff Foust reports on the events, including the delayed appearance of a highly-anticipated aircraft, and what the spaceport means to the people of southern New Mexico. Gallery: WhiteKnightTwo Overflight of Las Cruces International AirportPhotos of the flight of WhiteKnightTwo over the Las Cruces, New Mexico airport on June 20. Why is it so hard to go back to the Moon?Next month marks the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11, and serves as a reminder of what we have not accomplished in space in the intervening decades. Taylor Dinerman wonders just how it will be before the United States, or someone else, sends people back there. Space policy 101: military space 2009Military space in the US has its own set of challenges and problems to deal with independent of civil space. In the conclusion of a two-part article, Dwayne Day reports on a recent symposium that examined the current state of military space policy. NASA and soft power, againNASA’s efforts have contributed to the prestige and “soft power” of the US in international relations throughout much of the last half-century. Taylor Dinerman discusses how the US can further develop that soft power through enhanced international cooperation. Space and (or versus) the environmentDevelopment of space tourism ventures has raised the hackles of some environmentalists who worry about the greenhouse gas emissions of suborbital systems. Jeff Foust notes that a bigger concern in the long run may be with the effect such systems have on the ozone layer. The gun pointed at the head of the universeSpace debris had gotten increased attention in recent months, particularly after the Iridium-Cosmos collision in February. Dwayne Day reports on a recent Capitol Hill event that discussed the problem and what can be done to mitigate it. How to cut budgets and influence policyAs the Augustine committee begins work this week on its review of NASA’s human spaceflight plans, its analysis takes place in the shadow of both near-term and out-year budget cuts. Michael Huang wonders if this is part of a strategy that could imperil the future of human spaceflight at NASA overall. Preview: Live from the MoonIn an era when we take live TV from the shuttle and space station for granted, it’s hard for many to recall a time when such video was novel. Jeff Foust reviews an upcoming documentary that recounts the development of the cameras and other technologies needed to provide live television from the surface of the Moon. Space policy 101: civil space 2009What are the prospects for national civil space policy in light of a new administration and a review of NASA’s human spaceflight efforts? In the first of a two-part article, Dwayne Day reports on a conference last week that examined these and related issues. An uptick for space tourismA few months ago there seemed to be little progress in many aspects of both orbital and suborbital tourism. Jeff Foust discusses how that’s changed somewhat, for the better, thanks to some recent developments. Should India and the US cooperate on space solar power?While the United States has a clear interest in alternative energy, India’s needs are arguably even greater. Taylor Dinerman argues that the two countries should work together to develop space-based solar power solutions that can benefit them both. Can the private sector make a breakthrough in space access?Many people have pinned their hopes for a revolution in low-cost space access on efforts by the private sector. John McGowan, though, questions whether such projects have the resources and patience needed for such a breakthrough. Review: The New Moon RaceWhat are China and other countries really planning, and are capable of doing, in terms of robotic and human lunar missions? Jeff Foust reviews a book that attempt to answer that question. Waiting for AugustineIt’s been over three weeks since the White House announced the panel led by Norm Augustine to review NASA’s human spaceflight plans, and very little has taken place publicly since then. Jeff Foust reports on reactions from a variety of people on what the panel should do, and one potential panel member’s thoughts on the philosophy of civil space efforts in general. A solution to the space station’s long-term futureHow can NASA continue to operate the International Space Station, now a “national laboratory”, for years to come while also funding its exploration plans? Edward Ellegood suggests the solution may be an approach like the one used for managing national labs on the ground. Look! Up in the air! No, down on the ground! The NRO’s domestic ground stationsIn order for its reconnaissance satellites to return data back to the Earth, the NRO needed to establish a network of ground stations. Dwayne Day discusses a newly-declassified document that, for the first time, reveals the details of that system. SSP: a spherical architectureSpace solar power systems will have to be very large and complex in order to generate large amounts of power. Trevor Brown suggests an alternative architecture that could make such systems much simpler. Bolden’s burdensAfter months of waiting, space advocates finally got their wish Saturday: a nominee for NASA administrator. Jeff Foust reports on the reaction to the selection of Charles Bolden and what is in store for the former astronaut as he prepares to take over the space agency. The GAO, the media, and GPSAccording to some news reports last week, the GPS system is on the verge of failure because of delays in launching new satellites. Taylor Dinerman discusses why there’s less to be worried about than what those hyperbolic reports claimed. Making lemons into lemonadeWhat would have happened if an Apollo mission had been unable to leave Earth orbit? Dwayne Day describes one contingency mission that had been proposed in such circumstances, and its national security implications. Cars versus rocketsWhat does NASA have in common with the nation’s troubled automakers? Michael Potter argues that both suffer from some fundamental organizational issues, and that NASA would benefit from better leveraging the capabilities and potential of the private sector. Review: One Giant LeapThe 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 is approaching, and with it comes a new wave of books revisiting that historic mission. Jeff Foust reviews one book that examines some of the overlooked photography of the mission. To boldly go: the urgent need for a revitalized investment in space technologyNASA long invested in development of advanced technologies, but in recent years that effort withered as the agency concentrated on plans to return to the Moon. John Mankins explains why it’s necessary for NASA and the nation to reinvigorate its technology development efforts. The god that failedIn the mid-1970s articles and books promised a grand future in the form of space colonies, a future that has not been realized. Dwayne Day looks back at one such description of such a future, and why it hasn’t happened. Exchanging uncertaintiesIt appears increasingly likely that the White House will nominate someone for NASA administrator in the immediate future, solving one problem long identified by NASA’s supporters. However, Jeff Foust notes that whoever is selected won’t be able to make all the uncertainties surrounding the space agency go away. NASA and the book of lawsNorm Augustine, picked by the White House to lead a new panel on the future of NASA’s human spaceflight programs, is best known for promulgating a series of “laws” about management practices. Taylor Dinerman examines what those laws, and other experience by Augustine, could mean for the future of NASA. Space debris: why the US cannot go it aloneIs it really feasible for the US to go off by itself and try and solve the space debris problem? Kirk Woellert provides both technical and policy reasons why that isn’t the case. Review: The NASA Northrop T-38The T-38 aircraft has been used by NASA astronauts for decades as a tool for both transportation and training. Eric Hedman reviews a book by a former astronaut that offers a photographic look at that classic aircraft. Mirrors in the darkFor two decades astronomers used an unusual telescope in Arizona composed of six smaller mirrors. Dwayne Day examines the potential links between that telescope and a cancelled military space project. Bob Park gets his wish: “It’s time for another Augustine Report”Last week the White House announced plans for a new review of NASA’s human spaceflight program led by Norm Augustine, who chaired another space policy review nearly 20 years ago. Michael Huang expresses concern that the choice of Augustine as panel chair may lead to conclusions that could put the overall program in jeopardy. Space cadets from OzThe Australian government recently released a defense policy white paper that includes an increased emphasis on space. Taylor Dinerman discusses how this shift will influence both domestic space policy as well as relations with other nations. Cheap access to space: lessons from past breakthroughsOne of the primary challenges of spaceflight in recent decades has been trying to reduce the cost of space access. John McGowan describes the importance of doing a larger number of small scale efforts to find the right combination of technologies and techniques that could make a breakthrough possible. Review: Einstein’s TelescopeStruggling to tell the difference between dark matter and dark energy? Jeff Foust reviews a book that helps explain these mysterious components of our universe and what astronomers know and don’t know about them. Doing more for less (or the same) in space scienceWhile NASA may be getting a modest budget increase overall in 2010, its space science program has a challenge of doing increasingly complex missions within a relatively constrained budget. Jeff Foust reports on what some NASA officials say are the best ways for NASA to balance cost, performance, and risk for its ambitious slate of science missions. Unilateral orbital cleanupThe removal of orbital debris accumulating around the Earth is often described to be an international problem. Taylor Dinerman discusses how it might be more expedient for the United States to start on this on its own rather than wait for a multinational effort to form. The vital need for America to develop space solar powerWhile there has been considerable discussion about how to develop space-based solar power, there has been less examination of why it’s needed. Mike Snead explains why solar power from space might be the only way to meet the world’s growing demands for energy in the next century. Review: License to OrbitCapturing the dynamic nature of the entrepreneurial aspect of the space business can be difficult for the author of a book. Jeff Foust reviews one book that falls short of accurately describing the state of the space tourism industry even when keeping that difficulty in mind. Space 2.0: bringing space tech down to EarthWhile much of the space industry focuses on new rockets and satellites, or emerging markets like space tourism, a whole new aspect of space industry is under development. Burke Fort describes how his group is helping foster the creation of companies that leverage space technology for terrestrial applications. Still a challengeSix months ago Armadillo Aerospace won first prize in Level One of the Lunar Lander Challenge, but there’s still over $1.5 million in prize money up for grabs today. Jeff Foust reports on the plans several teams have to go after that prize money later this year in a revamped competition. Robotic ravens: American ferret satellite operations during the Cold WarWhat started as a handheld receiver that could detect radars from an airliners window turned into a key instrument in the Cold War. Dwayne Day continues his examination of the history of “ferret” satellites by the US military. Space-based solar power: right here, right now?Space-based solar power has frequently been promoted as a long-term solution to the world’s energy needs, but how should governments support it given the current economic crisis? Justin Skarb offers one solution to this conundrum. Sustainability: just another excuse for a UN power grab?A UN committee has proposed a new set of guidelines designed to promote the “sustainability” of space in light of recent ASAT tests and satellite collisions. Taylor Dinerman worries that this effort could be used by some to thwart US military and even commercial ambitions in space. Review: The Pluto FilesIt’s been nearly three years since the IAU approved a definition of the term “planet” that excludes Pluto, and only now has the debate died down somewhat. Jeff Foust reviews a book by one of the key figures in the debate that recounts his role in it and what it means to be a planet. The case for a suborbital COTS programAs some suborbital companies struggle to raise the funding needed to develop their vehicles, NASA is taking an increasing interest in these vehicles’ capabilities to do science. Jeff Foust suggests that this may open the door for a COTS-like program that helps both NASA and industry. Ferrets of the high frontier: US Air Force ferret and heavy ferret satellites of the Cold WarA lesser-known class of spy satellites developed during the Cold War were signals intelligence satellites known as “ferrets”. Dwayne Day provides a detailed history of the development of ferrets based on some newly declassified documents. Space war: going deepHow can the military best protect its satellites from potential attack? Taylor Dinerman proposes that one way may be to put those spacecraft out of harm’s way entirely. Revisiting “Tourists in Space”How rigorous should the medical requirements be for potential space tourists? Dr. Petra Illig takes a critical look at the recommendations made in a recent book on the subject. Has anybody seen our satellite?In the early years of the Space Age, not only were there problems determining if satellites reached orbit, there are also problems figuring out where they came back down. Dwayne Day recounts one such case that was the inspiration for a book and movie. Above the clouds: the White Cloud ocean surveillance satellitesIn the 1970s the NRO and the Navy developed a new series of spacecraft designed to monitor naval vessels on the high seas. Dwayne Day describes the history of this effort, which until recently had been shrouded in secrecy. CERN versus MarsA columnist recently wondered why the space community cannot come together to advocate for major projects in much the same way physicists do for major particle accelerators. Roberto Battiston, a scientist who has worked in both the high energy and space physics fields, explains why the two communities are so different. NASA gets pwned onlineIn an effort to better engage with the public, NASA has held some online competitions in recent weeks to name an ISS module and select the "greatest mission" in the agency’s history. Jeff Foust examines how a comedian and some overzealous voters kept things from going how the agency might have planned. The Ares 1-X test flight: crunch time for ConstellationLater this year NASA plans to carry out the first test launch of the Ares 1 rocket that will be a cornerstone of Project Constellation. Taylor Dinerman discusses what’s on the line for NASA with this launch. Lost over the horizon: Discoverer 1 explores AntarcticaWhen North Korea claimed this month to launch a satellite into orbit, no one else could find any evidence of the spacecraft. Dwayne Day recounts an episode from the early years of the Space Age when the US Air Force claimed to have put a satellite into orbit that may have only reached Antarctica. The Constellation squeezeThere have been critics for some time of NASA’s Constellation program of spacecraft and launch vehicles designed to carry people back to the Moon. Jeff Foust reports that Constellation may now also be threatened indirectly by a new push to keep the shuttle alive beyond 2010. How should we secure our space-based assets as a nation?The White House has proposed negotiating a ban on space weapons, even though there is uncertainty about exactly what would be considered such a device. Christopher Stone argues that other measures can be taken to better protect the safety and security of space assets. Confusion of vision, purpose, and missionAs NASA awaits a new administrator and detailed budget and policy, some are advocating for changes to the agency’s exploration program. Eric Hedman makes the case for a full and open review of the current exploration architecture and its alternatives. North Korea proves the point: ICBMs are proliferatingThis weekend’s launch of a North Korean rocket was supposedly intended to put a satellite into orbit, but many observers considered it a test of a long-range missile. Taylor Dinerman opines on the implications of this launch. Review: Final CountdownWhile some in Congress advocate for extending its life, it’s clear regardless that the shuttle program is in its final years. Jeff Foust reviews a book that provides a general history of the shuttle program and insights into a future without it. Visit the Archive for additional articles. |
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