http://www.thespacereview.com/ Articles, essays, and commentary about all facets of space exploration en-us Copyright 2003-2008 Jeff Foust Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:00:00 GMT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss jeff@thespacereview.com jeff@thespacereview.com http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1253/1 The recent success of India's first lunar mission has catapulted the country into the ranks of the elite spacefaring nations. Taylor Dinerman sees this as an opportunity to include them on the ISS project as a way of injecting new ideas and resources for the endeavor. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1252/1 While President-Elect Obama stated during the campaign his support for the key goals of the Vision for Space Exploration, many people are offering the incoming administration advice on new approaches. Jeff Foust reports on two new reports that offer alternatives that would slow down the push to send humans back to the Moon. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:59:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1251/1 Does the rebounding Russian economy mean that the country will take a bigger role in space projects? Nader Elhefnawy looks at just how strong the Russian economy is and will become in the near future, and how that may translate to increased space activities. info@thespacereview.com (Nader Elhefnawy) Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:58:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1250/1 Space exploration is more than about launch vehicles and spacecraft; it also includes the broader implications to society of a spacefaring civilization. Jeff Foust reviews a book that tries to tackle this wide-ranging and weighty topic. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:57:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1249/1 Change was a major theme of the 2008 presidential campaign, and President-Elect Barack Obama will presumably be bringing some change to space policy as his administration takes office. Jeff Foust examines some elements of the Obama campaign's space policy that themselves could use a bit of change as they're implemented. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1248/1 It sounds like a broken record: once again, major US military space programs are facing cost overruns and delays. Dwayne Day reviews the problems with milspace efforts and what causes are at their roots. zirconic1@cox.net (Dwayne A. Day) Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:59:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1247/1 A change in administrations means a change in the leaders of most Cabinet-level agencies. Taylor Dinerman warns that one potential candidate to become the next transportation secretary could have ominous implications for the nascent space tourism industry. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:58:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1246/1 Russia is bouncing back, both politically and economically, from the post-Soviet collapse of the 1990s, as was vividly demonstrated this summer with its invasion of Georgia. In the first of a two-part article, Nader Elhefnawy examines what this resurgence means for Russia's space program. info@thespacereview.com (Nader Elhefnawy) Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:57:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1245/1 Long before the ISS and the Shuttle-Mir program, NASA got its first experience with long-duration spaceflight with Skylab. Jeff Foust reviews the authorized biography of the commander of the final and longest mission to America's first space station. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:56:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1244/1 The current economic crisis has led to calls for a new stimulus package to revive the American economy. Taylor Dinerman explains why it's important that a little bit of any such initiative include some additional funding for NASA. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1243/1 Whomever is elected president this week will face some tough choices upon taking office, including their approach to space. Eric Hedman argues for the need to refine NASA's current exploration vision to be more effective and sustainable. ehedman@ldcglobal.com (Eric Hedman) Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:59:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1242/1 Entrepreneurial "NewSpace" and established "OldSpace" companies don't interact much, and have differing perspectives on emerging markets and their development. Jeff Foust reports on these contrasting viewpoints as discussed as a recent conference, as well as some NewSpace developments that were discussed at the event. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:58:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/gallery/23 A collection images from the second and final day of the 2008 Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:57:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1241/1 What's it like to experience weightlessness? Gregory Cecil provides a first-person account from a recent flight on a Zero Gravity Corp. plane. info@thespacereview.com (Gregory Cecil) Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:56:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1240/1 Last year Armadillo Aerospace came close to winning the Lunar Lander Challenge but was stymied by technical glitches. Jeff Foust reports from this year's event to see if Armadillo could outmaneuver Murphy's Law and finally win the prize. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/gallery/22 A collection images from the first day of the 2008 Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:59:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1239/1 Space has been a realm almost exclusively for professionals over the last half-century. Andrew Tubbiolo explains why it will be important for amateurs to become more involved developing technology for space settlement, and how it can be done. andrew.tubbiolo@gmail.com (Andrew Tubbiolo) Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:58:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1238/1 The Island One space colony concept was one of the few space settlement projects with detailed development cost estimates. Nader Elhefnawy goes back and examines those costs and assumptions more than 30 years later and examines what needs to change to make space colonization happen. info@thespacereview.com (Nader Elhefnawy) Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:57:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1237/1 This month marked the 50th anniversary of the final mission of a high-altitude balloon project that sent people to the edge of space. John Keel reviews the history of Project Manhigh and its significance at the beginning of the Space Age. jckeel@gmail.com (John C. Keel) Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:56:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1236/1 The ongoing turmoil that has rocked financial markets around the world has some asking what this crisis means for the space industry. Jeff Foust looks at some potential implications to government and big aerospace efforts, as well as how entrepreneurial ventures hope to weather the storm. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1235/1 A small satellite launched with China's latest manned mission has raised speculation that it might have been used to test ASAT technology. Brian Weeden examines the information known about the satellite and argues that such appearances might be in the eye of the beholder. brian.weeden@gmail.com (Brian Weeden) Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:59:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1234/1 A number of launch vehicle failures over the years have been linked to the same problems that caused failures years or even decades ago. Wayne Eleazer discusses some examples of this trend and its implications for the future. info@thespacereview.com (Wayne Eleazer) Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:58:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1233/1 Just before Sputnik inaugurated the Space Age, science writer Willy Ley discussed the status of America's missile programs. Dwayne Day looks back on this essay as a window into the culture of an era just before spaceflight began. zirconic1@cox.net (Dwayne A. Day) Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:57:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1232/1 After Apollo 11 successfully landed humans on the Moon, some claimed that there had been no race to the Moon at all between the United States and the Soviet Union. Taylor Dinerman looks at the reasons behind those claims and what significance they have today. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:56:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1231/1 The space race at the beginning of the space age greatly accelerated the development of human spaceflight, raising the question of what would have happened without that competition. Dwayne Day examines the current state of Indian and Chinese human spaceflight planning to see what a more "normal" development might be like -- if there is such a thing. zirconic1@cox.net (Dwayne A. Day) Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1230/1 The Rocket Racing League was created three years ago to combine elements of the aerospace and racing industries into a new entertainment experience. The league still hasn't started competitive races, Jeff Foust notes, but it has helped contributed to the development of two NewSpace companies. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:59:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1229/1 The recent financial crisis has demonstrated the problems with public-private partnerships, at least in the United States. Taylor Dinerman examines the problems with such partnerships in the space arena, and why Europe has been more successful with such efforts. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:58:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1228/1 One market of interest to entrepreneurial space companies is sounding rocket flights of various experiments. John Jurist crunches the numbers and proposes one way to help make the business case for reusable sounding rockets close. info@thespacereview.com (John M. Jurist) Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:57:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1227/1 If large-scale human spaceflight programs are difficult to sustain and maintain public interest in, what is the alternative? Claude Lafleur argues that the search for life, and worlds that can sustain it, is a worthy alternative. info@thespacereview.com (Claude Lafleur) Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:56:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1226/1 Richard Garriott's flight to the ISS later this month is a another step forward for more than just space tourism. Taylor Dinerman explains how the flight may help clear the way for commercial research and other work on the station. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1225/1 The retirement of the shuttle, a change of presidents, and other factors all put the future of space exploration in question in the US. In the first of a two-part essay, Claude Lafleur reviews the lessons that spaceflight advocates have -- or at least should have -- learned over the last few decades. info@thespacereview.com (Claude Lafleur) Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:59:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1224/1 The delay in receiving signals from Explorer 1, America's first satellite, as it completed its first orbit has been seized upon by at least one person as evidence of new physics. Stuart Harris looks back at the mission and discusses why that delay can be explained with conventional orbital mechanics. info@thespacereview.com (Stuart Harris) Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:58:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1223/1 Solar sails have been a promising space transportation technology that has been just around the corner for decades. Jeff Foust reviews a book that examines how solar sails work and what missions they could be used for, if they're ever successfully flown. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:57:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1222/1 In the four years since SpaceShipOne captured the X Prize, the fledgling NewSpace industry has been looking for another major milestone to demonstrate its progress. As Jeff Foust writes, that next step may have taken place Sunday night with the successful Falcon 1 launch. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1221/1 The government is pressing ahead with plans to purchase and operate a pair of medium-resolution imagery satellites for defense and intelligence applications. Thomas Snitch argues that government, industry, and taxpayers would all be better served by procuring those images from existing commercial providers. info@thespacereview.com (Thomas Snitch) Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:59:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1220/1 Advocates of space commercialization and settlement have argued that space-based resources are key to helping solve problems on Earth. Nader Elhefnawy explains why instead solving problems on Earth in the short term is key to being able to access those resources at all. info@thespacereview.com (Nader Elhefnawy) Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:58:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1219/1 A French space policy expert has recently proposed creating an international consortium to manage to exploration of the Moon. Taylor Dinerman discusses why this approach, while sounding more efficient, may be less effective than continued international and commercial competition. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:57:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1218/1 During this election season many have been curious about what the next president will do in the realm of space policy. Anthony Young reviews a classic book that explains why presidents have relatively limited influence in crafting space policy. info@thespacereview.com (Anthony Young) Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:56:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1217/1 Last week the defense and intelligence communities agreed to procure a pair of medium-resolution imagery satellites despite the existence of similar commercial systems and a national policy that places a priority on procuring such imagery from commercial providers. Taylor Dinerman examines why this program is going forward and what it means for the remote sensing industry. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:30:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1216/1 What roles will entrepreneurs play in opening the space frontier? Bob Clarebrough examines the roles of profit and passion in entrepreneurs' efforts to create new space markets. bobclarebrough@aol.com (Bob Clarebrough) Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:29:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1215/1 Mike Okuda is best known as a longtime graphic designer for "Star Trek", but he has also designed logos and patches for NASA. Dwayne Day interviews Okuda about his work in both the worlds of fiction and reality. zirconic1@cox.net (Dwayne A. Day) Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:28:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1214/1 One of the biggest worries in the space industry today is whether there will be enough people to fill positions vacated by retiring scientists and engineers. Jeff Foust reviews a book that could help address that problem by better explaining to the general public exactly what scientists do. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:27:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1213/1 The US Air Force has come under scrutiny in recent months for neglecting its nuclear forces. Retired general James Armor argues the Air Force has also been neglecting its space mission, something that could have potentially serious consequences for national security in the future. info@thespacereview.com (James Armor) Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:30:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1212/1 Some have proposed developing space-based missile defense systems to strike missiles in their earliest phases of flight. Brian Weeden explains why such an approach suffers from technical and political problems. brian.weeden@gmail.com (Brian Weeden) Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:29:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1211/1 Dwayne Day talks with an artist who spent much of his career working at NASA illustrating aviation and space projects. zirconic1@cox.net (Dwayne A. Day) Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:28:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1210/1 Developing space solar power requires billions of dollars and years of work. However, Jeff Foust reports that some progress can be made in just a few months and with a much smaller amount of money, so long as you don't mind a little made-for-TV drama. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:27:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1209/1 Space solar power has been billed as a way to meet the growing energy demands of the world. Taylor Dinerman notes that SSP can also serve as a means of avoiding potential future conflicts about energy. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:26:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1208/1 There has been no shortage of speculation about what Barack Obama would do in the arena of space policy if elected President this November. Adrian Brown offers some advice from the past for Obama. info@thespacereview.com (Adrian Brown) Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:25:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1207/1 Last month SpaceX suffered another failure of its Falcon 1 launch vehicle. Jeff Foust reports, though, that the company is not only confident that they've identified and resolved the problem that caused the most recent failure, they're continuing to make ambitious plans for the long term. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:30:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1206/1 An air show might not be the most exciting thing for a hardcore "space junkie", but then the EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh is no ordinary air show. Eric Hedman recounts some of the highlights of the event from the perspective of a space enthusiast. ehedman@ldcglobal.com (Eric Hedman) Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:29:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1205/1 Relatively crude ballistic missiles, like the Scuds Iraq used in the first Gulf War, are thought to have relatively little military value. However, Taylor Dinerman explains how they can boost the morale of the countries that use them, making missile defense, including space-based systems, all the more important. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:28:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1204/1 Anthony Young recalls a special moment nearly 40 years ago and why it's important for the future as well. info@thespacereview.com (Anthony Young) Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:27:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1203/1 The concept of commercial human spaceflight has gone from science fiction to the cusp of reality in recent years, thanks to the work of a number of visionaries. Patricia Hynes recognizes those people and highlights an upcoming conference on the subject. info@thespacereview.com (Patricia Hynes) Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:26:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1202/1 Deep sea explorers are often dismissive or disparaging of space exploration. However, Dwayne Day explains how the two fields, which initially took different paths, are starting to look like, and influence, each other. info@thespacereview.com (Dwayne A. Day) Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:30:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1201/1 Geopolitical tensions have created concern that US astronauts may not be able to access the International Space Station after the shuttle is retired in 2010. Taylor Dinerman reviews the alternatives for getting people to and from the station, from commercial developments to extending the life of the shuttle. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:29:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1200/1 Did the hydrazine fuel tank on the USA 193 spacecraft really pose a risk to people and property, as the US government claimed when it made the decision to intercept the satellite before reentry? Yousaf Butt discusses some newly-released studies that suggest that the tank would have broken up in the atmosphere harmlessly. info@thespacereview.com (Yousaf Butt) Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:28:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1199/1 Many people have all but given up on governments to explore and develop space, putting their hopes instead on entrepreneurs. Nader Elhefnawy warns that this could be a bad strategy, given the risks and long wait for returns associated with space ventures. info@thespacereview.com (Nader Elhefnawy) Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:27:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1198/1 TThe common perception of Britain when it comes to space is one of apathy. Andrew Weston argues that there is considerable public interest in space in the UK, waiting to be harnessed by the British government in the form of a coherent policy. info@thespacereview.com (Andrew Weston) Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:26:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1197/1 Mission patches can provide a window into the world of classified space programs. Roger Guillemette and Dwayne A. Day return to a subject they previously explored here by looking at another set of patches from classified missions and launches. info@thespacereview.com (Roger Guillemette and Dwayne A. Day) Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1196/1 Last week marked the 15th anniversary of the first flight of the DC-X, a vehicle that promised to help revolutionize access to space. Jeff Foust reports on a conference that brought together veterans of that program to both look back on the program and look ahead to the future of space transportation. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:59:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1195/1 The intercept of USA 193 has gotten some recent attention again with new analyses of the risks the spacecraft and its tank of hydrazine posed. James Oberg talks with some of the key people involved in the decision to bring down the satellite and how they judged the risks it posed. info@thespacereview.com (James Oberg) Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:58:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1194/1 At the Mars Society conference earlier this month, society members chose an innovative small satellite mission as the organization's next major project. Tom Hill and Alex Kirk describe how their project will advance the ultimate goal of sending humans to Mars. info@thespacereview.com (Tom Hill and Alex Kirk) Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:57:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1193/1 The recent US-Poland missile defense deal is only the beginning of changes in European missile defense and related areas. Taylor Dinerman describes how those changes will affect, among other things, European military space efforts. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:56:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1192/1 The last couple of weeks has seen a flurry of activity on space policy issues from the two major presidential candidates. Jeff Foust reports on the policy statements made by both campaigns as well as a recent debate on space issues by representatives of the campaigns. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1191/1 Many commercial space ventures have grandiose visions and broad aims. Bob Clarebrough explains why these companies might be better off developing a much narrower focus that is easier to explain to and convince investors and to achieve market success. bobclarebrough@aol.com (Bob Clarebrough) Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:59:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1190/1 Finding compelling rationales for government human spaceflight programs can be difficult. Greg Anderson argues that one explanation that might work is that, without such efforts, governments might be able to exercise little authority over private human expeditions and settlements beyond Earth. GregA13055@aol.com (Greg Anderson) Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:58:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1189/1 Astronomers have discovered objects that appear to be from the distant Oort Cloud in orbits that come closer to the Sun than Neptune. Taylor Dinerman describes how NASA and partners could use those objects mount a mission to explore those distant icy bodies. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:57:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1188/1 Last month NASA released a study which concluded the current Constellation architecture was superior to an alternative, DIRECT, that has been developed by some current and former NASA engineers. Stephen Metschan responds to that study and argues time is short to prevent the destruction of shuttle infrastructure that could be used by DIRECT. info@thespacereview.com (Stephen Metschan) Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1187/1 When Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said earlier this month that he would not delay NASA's Constellation program by five years if elected, it was seen as a major shift in policy. However, Jeff Foust notes, that statement was more of a reconciliation of contradictory statements the campaign had issued on the topic since the end of last year than a new development. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:59:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1186/1 In a speech in Florida earlier this month, presidential candidate Barack Obama proposed re-establishing the National Aeronautics and Space Council. Ferris Valyn explains how a new council could help redefine national space policy and tap into the broader space community. ferris.valyn@gmail.com (Ferris Valyn) Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:58:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1185/1 In an essay in a French newspaper last week, the honorary president of Arianespace made the case for additional government funding to upgrade the company's Ariane 5 booster. Taylor Dinerman wonders why, given the company's success in the commercial launch market, it needs to seek government help. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:57:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1184/1 Later this week the Applied Physics Lab will host a conference on how a planet should be defined. Jeff Foust reports that, two years after the IAU approved an official definition for the term, some scientists are still clamoring for a change. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:56:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/gallery/21 A collection of photos from the unveiling of Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnightTwo aircraft in Mojave, California on July 28. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:55:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1183/1 Last week Virgin Galactic and Scaled Composites unveiled WhiteKnightTwo, the carrier aircraft that will be used to launch SpaceShipTwo. Jeff Foust reports on the event, including the emphasis on applications beyond space tourism for that unique airplane. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:30:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1182/1 Last week NASA administrator Mike Griffin marked the 50th anniversary of the enactment of the law that created the space agency by appearing at the EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Eric Hedman reviews what Griffin had to say about issues with the exploration architecture and Griffin's plans for the future. ehedman@ldcglobal.com (Eric Hedman) Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:29:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1181/1 One hundred years ago, Americans were exploring a new frontier: the Arctic. Michael Robinson notes that then, as now, there needs to be a discussion of not just how to explore, but also why. info@thespacereview.com (Michael Robinson) Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:28:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1180/1 An animated film about three flies who stow away on Apollo 11 might sound like a recipe for cinematic disaster. However, Taylor Dinerman notes, the film is a sign that space exploration is still a topic of interest for filmmakers and the general public alike. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:27:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1179/1 NASA has decided to focus the COTS program on vehicles that can deliver only cargo to the ISS, not people. However, Jeff Foust reports that many in the industry and Congress think that a COTS crewed capability is essential to not only the long-term success of the program but for also the Vision for Space Exploration. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1178/1 France is leading an effort to create a unified European Union space policy. Taylor Dinerman examines the reasons why the EU desires a more robust space policy and its implications for cooperation with the US and other nations. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1177/1 The Constellation program has come under criticism from several quarters for its cost, schedule, and potential technical issues. David L. Christensen argues that what's needed is a more robust approach that makes better use of shuttle and EELV hardware. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1176/1 MirCorp had an audacious, if ultimately unsuccessful, business plan: commercialize the Russian space station Mir. Jeff Foust reviews a new documentary that tells the story of, and dispels some myths about, that effort. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1175/1 Amitai Etzioni responds to a recent essay on the space policies of Barack Obama and John F. Kennedy by arguing for the importance of "near space" versus human space exploration. info@thespacereview.com (James McLane) Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1174/1 Many of the arguments constructed in support of spaceflight focus on the importance of exploration. Rand Simberg questions that focus and argues that it would be more effective to find other, more compelling arguments. info@thespacereview.com (Rand Simberg) Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1173/1 Both civil and commercial spaceflight appears to be approaching a turning point, thanks to events ranging from the retirement of the shuttle to the development of commercial suborbital vehicles. Jeff Foust reports that what remains unclear is the direction and magnitude of the impending changes. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1172/1 What will the next four years bring to military space policy in the US and elsewhere? Taylor Dinerman predicts little in the way of major upheavals, but still some opportunities for the next administration to affect change. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1171/1 While Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has been compared to John F. Kennedy, Obama has been far less supportive of human spaceflight today than Kennedy was nearly 50 years ago. Michael Huang makes the case for Obama to change course. info@thespacereview.com (Michael Huang) Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1170/1 A number of efforts are underway around the world to get students involved with the design and assembly of satellites. Taylor Dinerman notes that these efforts are critical to the development of the next generation of the aerospace workforce. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:30:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1169/1 Energy policy has become a hot topic in this presidential election year, and the candidates have often invoked the Apollo program when describing their proposals. Jeff Foust argues that, while this may seem flattering, new energy programs could pose a fiscal threat to government space exploration efforts. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:30:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1168/1 Winning political support for long-term space exploration projects is difficult, but there are historical precedents for successfully garnering continued support for major government programs. Greg Anderson looks at how those programs provide lessons for space advocates today. GregA13055@aol.com (Greg Anderson) Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:30:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1167/1 Spacecraft returning to Earth require descent and landing systems that can be complex, heavy, and prone to failure. James McLane describes a proposal for an innovative alternative that puts the burden of landing on the ground. info@thespacereview.com (James McLane) Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:30:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1166/1 When suborbital and orbital space tourism finally takes off, how will customers prepare for their flights? Jeff Foust reviews a book that examines the potential training regimes for these flights in great detail. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:30:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1165/1 Four years after SpaceShipOne soared into space, the promise of a vibrant suborbital space tourism industry remains unrealized as vehicle development plans are delayed or fail outright. Jeff Foust studies the current state of the industry and looks for common factors that could explain the delays. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1164/1 The French government recently released a new military space policy that calls for the development of new spacecraft and other resources. Taylor Dinerman explores the policy and concludes that it is really just a continuation of existing policy that puts geopolitical strategy over operational priorities. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1163/1 Dwayne Day provides a photoessay of the NASA pavilion at the just-concluded Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington. zirconic1@cox.net (Dwayne Day) Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1162/1 Jeff Foust reviews two new books, one a star-studded look at the history of the universe, and the other an overview of an unconventional proposal for reaching orbit. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1161/1 In an experiment in short fiction, Dwayne Day examines a what-if: had the Apollo landings been staged, what would happen now that NASA plans to return to the Moon? zirconic1@cox.net (Dwayne Day) Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1160/1 What drives humans to pursue space exploration? Jeff Foust reports on a recent speech by Neil deGrasse Tyson where the astrophysicist took on that question, as well as some widely-held beliefs of space advocates. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1159/1 Is NASA a "fascist" organization? And what exactly does that mean? Dwayne Day critiques some of the more extreme rhetoric about the space agency that has emerged from the blogosphere. zirconic1@cox.net (Dwayne Day) Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1158/1 Glitches in the development of the Orion spacecraft and Ares 1 problem have raised questions in some quarters about whether there are more serious problems with those efforts. Eric Hedman says that open and frequent communications for any major project are key to both their progress and their perception by outsiders. ehedman@ldcglobal.com (Eric Hedman) Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1157/1 This week NASA is taking part in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, while another exhibit on the future of space exploration finds a temporary home at the National Air and Space Museum. Jeff Foust offers a review of both. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1156/1 The early, hyperactive years of the Space Age benefited from the superpower competition between the United States and the Soviet Union. However, Nader Elhefnawy argues, long-term economic cycles also played a role, and can also explain the sluggish progress since then. info@thespacereview.com (Nader Elhefnawy) Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1155/1 For years the US Defense Department has issued annual reports on China's military efforts, some of which have included claims about space weapons technology of dubious validity. Dwayne Day reviews those claims and suggests that these are signs that the Pentagon does not put a high priority on producing these reports. zirconic1@cox.net (Dwayne Day) Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1154/1 Entrepreneurial space companies offer the potential for tremendous payoffs if their innovative technologies achieve a market breakthrough, but also carry high risks of failure. Taylor Dinerman examines how the challenge of assessing financial risks of these companies may be as difficult as the technology itself. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1153/1 Stephen Ashworth responds to a recent essay critical of space solar power, arguing that developments in areas like low-cost space access will make the technology economically feasible in time. sa@astronist.demon.co.uk (Stephen Ashworth) Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1152/1 Everyone agrees on the importance of low-cost space access, but previous efforts to achieve it, from the space shuttle to the X-33, have failed. Charles Miller and Jeff Foust argue that the right approach is to focus on the broader industry, not a specific program. info@thespacereview.com (Charles Miller and Jeff Foust) Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1151/1 Parts of the space industry are mature enough that investors and insurers know what they're getting into. However, as Taylor Dinerman notes, new ventures and new markets are much harder to understand, requiring a different kind of risk mindset. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1150/1 Earlier this month several teams of college students descended on a remote region of Utah to test their designs for Mars rovers. Kevin Sloan and Alex Kirk report on how the teams and their rovers fared. info@thespacereview.com (Kevin Sloan and Alex Kirk) Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1149/1 While some space-related sci-fi series strive for realism, they can fall short in areas like plot and characters. Dwayne Day encounters this in his review of the latest installments of the Japanese anime series "Moonlight Mile". zirconic1@cox.net (Dwayne Day) Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1148/1 TFour years ago this week, SpaceShipOne soared into the history books as the first non-governmental manned spacecraft to reach space. Jeff Foust reviews a book that offers new details about the development and testing of this vehicle. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1147/1 Interest in space solar power has grown in the last year, in large part because of a study of the concept performed by a Defense Department office. Dwayne Day argues, however, that this enthusiasm is largely misplaced, given the lack of clout possessed by this office as well as the significant technical challenges space solar power still faces. zirconic1@cox.net (Dwayne Day) Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1146/1 The next president will face a number of major issues related to space policy upon taking office next January. Eligar Sadeh examines those issues as discussed at a forum earlier this year. info@thespacereview.com (Eligar Sadeh) Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1145/1 How important are European missile defense sites given Iranian missile and weapons development? Taylor Dinerman draws historical analogies to the early Space Age to make his case. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1144/1 The Discovery Channel kicked off this week a six-hour documentary about the space program featuring "never before seen footage". Robert Pearlman notes that while that description is not entirely accurate, "When We Left Earth" does offer footage like you've never seen before. robert@collectspace.com (Robert Pearlman) Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1143/1 The Hubble Space Telescope has survived a long series of technical and programmatic challenges to become perhaps the most revered telescope or spacecraft in history. Jeff Foust reviews a book that provides a new history of the space telescope and its place in astronomy. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1142/1 Last Friday representatives of the three remaining major presidential candidates gathered in Washington to discuss space policy. Jeff Foust reports that the discussion ended with many of the questions about the candidates' policies left unanswered. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:30:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1141/1 What's the best way for a presidential candidate to distinguish himself or herself on the campaign trail? Greg Zsidisin contends that one way it to proclaim themselves as both a supporter of space exploration and a reformer of NASA. gregnjny@yahoo.com (Greg Zsidisin) Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:30:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1140/1 Relations between China and the US, as well as China and Taiwan, have been a source of tension for some time. Taylor Dinerman suggests that one way to improve those relations would be to invite both countries to participate on the ISS. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:30:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1139/1 Last month the Canadian government blocked the acquisition of its largest space company, MDA, by an American firm. Chris Gainor argues that the decision now puts the spotlight on the government and its neglect of Canada's space program. info@thespacereview.com (Chris Gainor) Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:30:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1138/1 Mars can be a hostile world, and getting spacecraft to that planet has never been an easy task. However, as Jeff Foust reports, the recent successful landing of Phoenix demonstrated that sometimes even on Mars there are second chances. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Tue, 27 May 2008 13:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1137/1 The high-tech world of spaceflight would seem to have little room for rituals and superstitions, but that turns out to be far from the case. Alan Murphy examines some of those traditions and why they're adopted. info@thespacereview.com (Alan Murphy) Tue, 27 May 2008 13:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1136/1 NASA and its international partners on the ISS have been trying to deal with a problem with a critical joint that rotates some of the station's solar panels. Taylor Dinerman reviews the problem and examines its implications for the future of the orbiting outpost. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Tue, 27 May 2008 13:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1135/1 NASA's current exploration architecture, including the Ares 1 and 5 rockets, has come under criticism from some corners because of technical, financial, and schedule issues. In the conclusion of his two-part article, Stephen Metschan discusses one alternative to the current approach as well as why his team continues to press ahead with the concept. info@thespacereview.com (Stephen Metschan) Tue, 27 May 2008 13:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1134/1 Getting people to express their opinions about space sometimes requires embracing new approaches and techniques. Greg Zsidisin announces a new contest for people to create online videos about the future of human spaceflight. gregnjny@yahoo.com (Greg Zsidisin) Tue, 27 May 2008 13:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1133/1 NASA's current exploration architecture, including the Ares 1 and 5 rockets, has come under criticism from some corners because of technical, financial, and schedule issues. In the first of a two-part article, Stephen Metschan argues that the root of these problems is that Ares does not take enough advantage of existing shuttle infrastructure. info@thespacereview.com (Stephen Metschan) Mon, 19 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1132/1 Last week European officials proposed converting the Automated Transfer Vehicle into a spacecraft capable of carrying people to and from the ISS. Irina Kerner describes the obstacles, as much political as technical, this concept faces. irina.kerner@googlemail.com (Irina Kerner) Mon, 19 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1131/1 Although there are still a number of space magazines being published today, there are others no longer in existence that left a legacy. Thomas J. Frieling recounts the history, and the demise, of one such publication. tfrielin@uga.edu (Thomas J. Frieling) Mon, 19 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1130/1 What role should NASA have in the development and promotion of space solar power? Taylor Dinerman suggests that the space agency's role will have to be limited given all the other projects it's grappling with. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 19 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1129/1 To some, scramjet technology offers few near-term prospects for developing low-cost reusable spaceplanes. Ajay Kothari argues that the issue is not with scramjets themselves, but in the types of vehicles they're used. info@thespacereview.com (Ajay Kothari) Mon, 19 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1128/1 In the early years of the Space Age one source of inspiration for would-be rocket scientists was a new series of Tom Swift books. Anthony Young recalls the effects those books had on him, and the need for something similar today. info@thespacereview.com (Anthony Young) Mon, 19 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1127/1 On-orbit propellant depots has for years been an interesting concept, but one that was still far in the future. Jeff Foust reports on why some people believe that the depots' time has nearly come. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 12 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1126/1 While some RLV companies have faded away over the years, a few have managed to survive, if not yet prosper. Taylor Dinerman takes a look at what set two of those companies apart. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 12 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1125/1 With the current presidential candidates showing lukewarm interest, at best, at continuing the Vision for Space Exploration, developing a strong rationale for returning to the Moon becomes ever more important. Eric Hedman argues that it's vital to play up the long-term benefits to society of exploration. ehedman@ldcglobal.com (Eric Hedman) Mon, 12 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1124/1 As president, John F. Kennedy provided the nation's infant space program with strong direction and a bold goal. However, Jeff Brooks notes, the Massachusetts Democrats currently in Congress don't share Kennedy's public support for human spaceflight. director@committee4spaceadvocacy.org (Jeff Brooks) Mon, 12 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1123/1 While one small helicopter company had an odd proposal in the 1960s to develop a giant helicopter to retrieve Saturn 5 stages, a much larger helicopter company took a different tack. Dwayne Day unearths a concept from that era of using a large helicopter to ferry missiles. zirconic1@cox.net (Dwayne Day) Mon, 12 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1122/1 The 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Space Age has triggered a wave of historical accounts about that era, but less about the prehistory of the Space Age. Jeff Foust reviews a book that provides an overview of the decades of effort that led to the first satellite launches. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 12 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1121/1 With budgets likely to be constrained in the years and decades to come, how can NASA carry out the Vision for Space Exploration and other efforts? Charles Miller and Jeff Foust argue that the key is the development of cheap, reliable access to space. info@thespacereview.com (Charles Miller and Jeff Foust) Mon, 05 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1120/1 In an era of online publications (like this one), are magazines an anachronism? Dwayne Day examines the strengths and weaknesses of space magazines as an introduction to a review of a number of these publications. zirconic1@cox.net (Dwayne Day) Mon, 05 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1119/1 Dwayne Day provides brief reviews of major space-related magazines currently published in the United States and elsewhere. zirconic1@cox.net (Dwayne Day) Mon, 05 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1118/1 Suborbital point-to-point spaceflight would seem to be a logical step between the current generation of suborbital vehicles under development and orbital RLVs. David Hoerr cautions that such vehicles face considerable technological obstacles to their development. info@thespacereview.com (David Hoerr) Mon, 05 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1117/1 The UK is considering a revision to a national space policy that currently doesn't support human spaceflight. Jeff Foust reports on comments made by two prominent British scientists on opposite sides of the issue. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 05 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1116/1 As Congress gears up to reauthorize NASA, there is a natural debate about the future and long-term goals for the space agency. Greg Zsidisin worries that we could be in danger of repeating the same mistakes made over three decades ago. info@thespacereview.com (Greg Zsidisin) Mon, 05 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1115/1 In the 1960s the US Navy developed the POPPY series of satellites designed to identify the location of Soviet radars and naval vessels. Dwayne Day examines the history of this satellite program, including new information on the role these satellites played in the Cold War. zirconic1@cox.net (Dwayne Day) Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1114/1 While NASA has all but abandoned efforts to develop reusable launch vehicle technology, RLV efforts continue elsewhere in government and the private sector. Taylor Dinerman explores the status of those efforts, including some surprising new developments from a large aerospace company. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1113/1 The intercept of USA 193 earlier this year required the cooperation of multiple agencies and the combination of data from various sources. Wayne Eleazer compares that to an earlier effort to create a "Space Test Range" during the SDI era. info@thespacereview.com (Robert Eleazer) Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1112/1 If you can't get a chance to fly on the space shuttle in its final years, what's the best way to experience what a shuttle launch is like? Jeff Foust reviews a highly-detailed simulator of a shuttle launch at the Kennedy Space Center's visitor center. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1111/1 What do NASA's former leaders think about the agency's plans to return to the Moon? Jeff Foust reports on what three former administrators recently said about that, as well as the best and worst decisions they made when they led the space agency. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1110/1 While Canada blocked the sale of MDA's space business to a US company earlier this month, SSTL agreed to be acquired by EADS Astrium. Taylor Dinerman examines both deals and their strategic implications for Canada and the UK. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1109/1 As the presidential campaign grinds on, the various space advocacy and industry groups are determining what stand, if any, they should take on the candidates' space positions. Greg Zsidisin concludes his analysis of the topic with a review of those groups' positions and why the issue is so important. info@thespacereview.com (Greg Zsidisin) Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1108/1 A subgenre of science fiction tries to tell stories about the near future of spaceflight. Dwayne Day reviews one such anime series and finds that what it offers in attention to detail it lacks in plot and character. zirconic1@cox.net (Dwayne Day) Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1107/1 In the early years of the Space Age, NASA pursued efforts to develop nuclear-powered rockets that held the promise of opening up the solar system. Jeff Foust reviews a book that examined the technology and policy issues associated with that ultimately failed effort. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1106/1 Even as space advocates seek to increase NASA's budget, the agency itself and the Bush Administration have claimed that budgets that keep pace with inflation are sufficient for NASA to implement the Vision for Space Exploration. However, as Charles Miller and Jeff Foust argue, even that modest budgetary goal may be impossible to maintain given the fiscal pressures the nation will be facing in the years to come. info@thespacereview.com (Charles Miller and Jeff Foust) Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:30:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1105/1 While presidential candidate Barack Obama has proposed delaying NASA's Constellation program to pay for an early education initiative, the response from the pro-space community has been surprisingly muted. Greg Zsidisin examines why, given the nature of such organizations, that may be the case. info@thespacereview.com (Greg Zsidisin) Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:30:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1104/1 PBS recently aired a Nova episode about military space station projects in the US and USSR during the Cold War. Dwayne Day identifies several errors in the program's discussion of the Air Force's MOL project. zirconic1@cox.net (Dwayne Day) Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:30:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1103/1 Although point-to-point suborbital spaceflight holds great promise for opening new markets, there's little private-sector interest in funding the development of such vehicles today. Taylor Dinerman explains how the military could jumpstart this sector in much the same way it did the air cargo business decades ago. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:30:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1102/1 One thing the space advocacy movement has been missing for some time is an effective political action committee. Jeff Brooks announces the formation of a PAC for space exploration and how his organization will work to raise the profile of space policy in Washington. director@committee4spaceadvocacy.org (Jeff Brooks) Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:30:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1101/1 In preparation for an accident that fortunately never came, rescue crews practiced techniques to recover Apollo astronauts. Dwayne Day reveals the small but important role played by a large, ungainly helicopter to support those efforts. zirconic1@cox.net (Dwayne Day) Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:30:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1100/1 Since late last year Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has proposed delaying NASA's Constellation program for five years to help pay for an education initiative. Greg Zsidisin examines what Obama has proposed and what the candidate said to him about it in a recent town hall meeting. info@thespacereview.com (Greg Zsidisin) Mon, 07 Apr 2008 07:30:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1099/1 If the commercial human spaceflight market emerges as some anticipate, there will soon be demand for a new kind of job: commercial rocket pilot. Jeff Foust reports on how pilots can prepare for such work, and why at least one person things the occupation will be far less glamorous than one might expect. jeff@thespacereview.com (Jeff Foust) Mon, 07 Apr 2008 07:30:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1098/1 Last week members of Congress wrung their hands over the anticipated job losses at the Kennedy Space Center and elsewhere as the shuttle is retired. Taylor Dinerman argues that the solution is for Congress and the White House to act to provide additional funding to speed up the development of its successor, not to extend the life of the shuttle. info@thespacereview.com (Taylor Dinerman) Mon, 07 Apr 2008 07:30:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1097/1 Should you challenge people making bizarre statements, or simply ignore them? That's the question Dwayne Day grapples with as he recounts the reaction to an earlier essay about claims of evidence of alien life on the Moon. uplink@cox.net (Dwayne Day) Mon, 07 Apr 2008 07:30:00 GMT http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1096/1 The recent passing of Arthur C. Clarke came just before the 40th anniversary of the release of "2001: A Space Odyssey". Jim McDade uses these events as an opportunity for reflection on both that seminal work as well as our own prospects for the future. info@thespacereview.com (Jim McDade) Mon, 07 Apr 2008 07:30:00 GMT