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This week in The Space Review… Dancing in the dark: The orbital rendezvous of SJ-12 and SJ-06FEarlier this month two Chinese satellites made a close approach to, and perhaps even made contact with, each other. Brian Weeden examines the facts about this event and its implications for space security. DM-2 and the future of SRBsThis week NASA and ATK are scheduled to perform the second test-firing of a five-segment solid rocket motor originally developed for the Ares 1. Jeff Foust describes the planning for the test and its significance given the uncertain future of NASA’s human spaceflight plans. Review: Eyes in the SkyThis month marked the 50th anniversary of the first successful CORONA reconnaissance satellite mission. Dwayne Day reviews a recent book that examines the early history of CORONA and related efforts to track what was going on in the Soviet Union. Note: Because of the Labor Day holiday next week’s issue will be published on Tuesday, September 7. Previous articles:SETI at 50Fifty years after the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) started, efforts have yielded no evidence of other civilizations, but the search continues. Jeff Foust reports on the past and future of SETI as discussed at a recent event. This space intentionally left blank: The limits of Chinese Military PowerLast week the Defense Department released its latest version of a report on the military capabilities of the People’s Republic of China. Dwayne Day examines what the report includes, and what it does not, about China’s military space projects. Because it’s thereWho should go into space, and why? Bob Clarebrough makes the case for broader participation in space exploration by people who can communicate the experience in a myriad of ways. Review: How It EndsHow does it all end: life, the universe, and everything? Jeff Foust reviews a book by an astronomer who explains how it all will, or at least could, end for humans, the universe, and everything in between. Is the Merlin engine the workhorse of future spaceflight?All eyes are on SpaceX as it seeks to lower the cost of space access and open up new markets. Stewart Money argues that the company’s most important innovation may not be its launch vehicles or spacecraft but a rocket engine that could be for space what another engine was for the automotive industry. A tale of two museumsThe quest to land one of the space shuttles upon their retirement continues, pitting museums across the country against once another. Jeff Foust pays a visit to a pair of Ohio museums, one a leading candidate for a shuttle and one simply struggling to stay alive. Can the UK aerospace base drive human space efforts forward?The UK is reconsidering its approach to space exploration with a new government and the formation of a space agency. Andrew Weston examines how the country’s rich aerospace heritage might provide the support for a reinvigorated space program. Review: Packing for MarsHuman spaceflight involves dealing with a wide range of physiological and psychological issues, some of which can be a little, well, delicate. Jeff Foust reviews a book that doesn’t shy away from discussing these topics, and even puts an entertaining spin on them. Griffin’s critique of NASA’s new directionMike Griffin spent nearly four years in charge of NASA building up an exploration architecture that the administration now wants to dismantle in favor of a new approach to human space exploration. Jeff Foust reports on what Griffin said about that new direction, and what is a “real” space program, in a speech last week. A milestone for solar sailingIn June Japan’s IKAROS spacecraft because the first to successfully deploy a solar sail in orbit, a long-awaited achievement for the small community of solar sailing exports. Kieran Carroll provides an overview of that achievement and the current state of solar sailing as discussed at a recent conference. Public interest in space, by the numbersIt’s challenging enough to measure the popularity of sports; is it possible to do the same with space? Drew Hagquist examines some metrics that can try to quantify public support for spaceflight. Review: The Big Questions: The UniverseAstronomy is the subject some of the biggest and most fundamental questions about out existence. Jeff Foust reviews a book that examines some of these big questions, including both those that have been resolved and those still unanswered. Space travel as explorationWhat exactly does “exploration” mean as a rationale for spaceflight? Stephen Pyne examines the history of exploration on Earth as a means of better understanding the significance of the exploration of space. Parsing the policySince the release of the new national space policy just over a month ago, many people have analyzed the policy, scrutinizing the language in search of an underlying message. Jeff Foust reports on what people both inside and outside the administration are saying about the policy’s meaning and intent. Review: The Work of His HandsOne of the most popular activities for astronauts in orbit is to gaze down on the Earth. Jeff Foust reviews a book by an astronaut that includes photography from a stint on the International Space Station, coupled with a religious message. Recasting the debate about commercial crewOne of the most controversial elements of the White House’s plan for NASA, commercial crew, has suffered setbacks in Congress in recent weeks. Jeff Foust reports on how proponents of commercial crew believe that the effort’s long-term success may hinge on resetting the terms of the debate about it. A new debate, part 2If radically reshaping and even breaking apart NASA is out of the question, what else can be done to reinvigorate the space agency? Bob Clarebrough examines the critical requirements for any successful effort to reform the agency. The man who painted my futureSpace artist Robert McCall passed away on February 26th of this year. Bob Mahoney recounts how a particular painting by McCall inspired him into the space industry and ponders, in light of recent developments, when the artist’s grand vistas of a spacefaring civilization might become reality. Review: The Edge of PhysicsAs astronomy and physics have become more specialized, the requirements for performing research have become increasingly demanding. Jeff Foust reviews a book that is part review of our state of knowledge in these subjects, and part travelogue to the extreme locations on Earth where this research is performed. Critical partnerships for the future of human space explorationThe size of the challenges associated with human exploration beyond Earth orbit is likely beyond what any single space agency is willing to spend to carry out those missions. Andre Bormanis describes the types of partnerships that are critical to making such exploration possible.
The real message of a controversial statementNASA found itself embroiled in controversy earlier this month over a comment made by the agency’s administrator in a Middle Eastern television interview. Jeff Foust finds that the real message is not in the administrator’s ill-advised words but in the reaction to them. Should we care about other planets?As NASA and other space agencies seek evidence of past or present life on Mars and elsewhere, there’s the risk such exploration could contaminate those worlds. Linda Billings discusses the options to prevent such contamination, including even not exploring them at all. Review: Carnarvon and ApolloMore than 40 years after Apollo 11, it’s worth remembering that sites around the world helped make that mission, and the ones that preceded and followed it, a success. Jeff Foust reviews a book that examines the role of a little-known tracking station in Australia had on NASA’s early spaceflights and the impact it had on its host town. The gap in NewSpace business plansLast week came word that Rocketplane has filed for bankruptcy, ending its long but ultimately unsuccessful effort to develop new suborbital and orbital launch vehicles. Jeff Foust examines how the company’s failure can be linked, at least in part, to a gap in financing models for NewSpace companies. Weather and launch failuresWeather is a frequent cause of launch delays and has been linked to a number of launch failures over the years. Wayne Eleazer examines two such launch failures and what they say about the launch decision process. Review: The Eerie SilenceThis year marks the 50th anniversary of SETI, an effort that has yet to detect evidence of intelligent life beyond Earth. Jeff Foust reviews a book that offers a critical analysis of SETI and how the effort should be changed to better look for other civilizations in the universe. A change in tone in national space policyLast week the White House released a new national space policy. Jeff Foust reports on how the new policy reflects as much a change in tenor as a change in substance over previous policies. A new debateFor the last several months the space community has been gripped by the debate on the future of NASA’s human spaceflight program. Bob Clarebrough argues that it may be better to debate exactly what role NASA should play in a future with expanded commercial space capabilities. About those scrapped Atlas ICBMsWayne Eleazer follows up a recent article on the use of suplus ICBMs as launch vehicles by discussing what happened to one class of ICBMs that were particularly desirable as launchers. Does a moonbase make for a good video game?A new videogame out today, developed in cooperation with NASA, transports players to a moonbase 15 years from now. Jeff Foust checks out the game and its effectiveness in inspiring a new generation of scientists and engineers. Rebuttal to “The EMP threat: fact, fiction, and response”William Radasky and Peter Vincent Pry, who served on the EMP Commission, respond to an article earlier this year that argued that solar storms pose a greater EMP threat than nuclear weapons. Picking up the torch vs. dropping the ballHave recent achievements demonstrated that the development of space launch systems is now within the realm of individual investors? Dwayne Day criticizes a recent analysis that tried to make that case. An embarrassment of richesIt sounds like the perfect definition of “swords into plowshares”: converting ICBMs into satellite launch vehicles. Wayne Eleazer discusses the controversy proposals to do so have generated in the US launch industry over the years. An Intrepid quest for a shuttle in New YorkAmong the sites seeking one of NASA’s space shuttles upon their retirement is New York’s Intrepid museum. Jeff Foust examines how the museum stacks up against the competition and whether a shuttle would be good fit in the Big Apple. Space leaders support commercial crew to ISS and accelerated human exploration beyondLast week a diverse group of space industry leaders released a joint letter supporting key elements of NASA’s proposed new direction. Alan Stern provides some background about the letter as well as the letter itself. The diary of Juhzoh Okita, exobiologistEarlier this month the Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa returned to Earth with a capsule scientists hope contains samples of an asteroid. Dwayne Day engages in a bit of fictional speculation about the contents of that capsule. Making the path for human spaceflight less rockyThe administration’s new plan for NASA had led to a debate about destinations, in particular the Moon versus near Earth objects. Dan Lester argues that the real issues revolve around the development of human spaceflight capabilities and the meaning of “space exploration”. SpaceShipOne, government one?Six years ago today SpaceShipOne made history by being the first commercial manned vehicle to fly into space, a milestone seized by many as a triumph for the private sector over the government. Jeff Foust discusses why, today, the public and private sectors need to cooperate, not compete, in this aspect of spaceflight. Individuals pick up the space development torchThe achievement of Elon Musk’s SpaceX launching Falcon 9 outshines recent efforts by Korea, India, and the United States. Sam Dinkin analyses the implications of this transition. Review: Live TV From the MoonToday we take live video coverage of space missions for granted, but in the 1960s such TV coverage was a challenge for more than technical reasons. Jeff Foust reviews a book that examines the effort to take live television to the Moon with the Apollo missions. A new hydrocarbon engine for America?One element of the NASA budget proposal is funding for the development of a new hydrocarbon rocket engine that could be used on a future heavy-lift launch vehicle. Anthony Young examines what lessons that new effort could learn from the development of the F-1 a half-century ago. The need to elevate the debateThe debate about the White House’s plans to cancel Constellation and make other changes to the nation’s human spaceflight program have generated a lot of debate in Capitol Hill since their introduction, but little substance. Jeff Foust says its time to move past the rhetoric into a more substantive debate about NASA’s future direction. The true benefit of human Mars explorationAdvocates of human exploration of Mars are often challenged to defend their support by those who argue there are so many other terrestrial problems that should be solved first. Frank Stratford argues that human Mars exploration can, in fact, demonstrate how we can solve problems closer to home. Review: Man on a MissionSeveral commercial travelers to the International Space Station have now written books or participated in documentaries about their journeys. Jeff Foust reviews one recent documentary about Richard Garriott’s trip to the ISS in 2008. The Falcon 9 fliesSpaceX and commercial space advocates were hoping for the best but also preparing for the worst with the inaugural flight of the Falcon 9; fortunately, they got the former on Friday. Jeff Foust reports on the successful test flight of the new rocket and its implications for industry and policy. Blinded by the lightLike some other 1970s fads, space solar power (SSP) has enjoyed a comeback in the last few years. Dwayne Day contrasts the attention, or lack thereof, SSP received at a pair of recent conferences. Breaking old habitsA new coalition government has taken power in the UK shortly after the formal establishment of a national space agency. Andrew Weston hopes the new government will take the opportunity to revisit some long-held opposition to efforts such as launch vehicle development and human spaceflight. Return to the Planet of the ApesA speech by NASA administrator Charles Bolden at a recent space conference was interrupted by a woman protesting NASA’s plans to perform experiments on monkeys. Dwayne Day wonders if that was really an effective way to get their point across. Brick by brick: a Lego spaceflight paradigmWhat is the best way to develop a sustainable, flexible space exploration architecture? Simon Vanden Bussche describes how the space industry can take a lesson from Lego. Rockets and rhetoric in ChicagoGovernment officials, industry executives, and space activists all traveled to Chicago last weekend for the International Space Development Conference. Jeff Foust reports on two key themes of the conference: NewSpace developments and NASA debates. What will you say if SpaceX’s test rocket fails?The upcoming inaugural launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket comes as the company has become the focus of attention about NASA’s plans to rely more on the commercial sector. Alan Stern notes that while immediate success is not assured, a launch failure may only be a temporary setback. Mars as the key to NASA’s futureThe American space industry is facing an uncertain and potentially troubled future. James McLane argues that the best way to reinvigorate it, and the nation, is to sprint to Mars. Dealing with Galaxy 15: Zombiesats and on-orbit servicingA solar storm last month turned a mild-mannered communications satellite into a rogue spacecraft drifting through the GEO belt and threatening to disrupt operations of other satellites there. Brian Weeden reviews the current situation involving Galaxy 15 and its implications for on-orbit servicing and related policy issues. Twin hurdles for commercial human spaceflightOne of hottest areas of debate about the president’s new vision for NASA is its reliance on commercial providers to transport crews to low Earth orbit. Jeff Foust describes the debate about the capabilities of companies to do so safely, and the commercial viability of such ventures. Don’t know much about history: setting the record straight on Rocket MenA book last year provided a fresh look at the race to the Moon, but one that was not with problems. Thomas Frieling examines the problems with the book Rocket Men and the reviews that failed to detect them. Flight of a feather: the QUILL radar satelliteUntil a few years ago little was known about a secret 1960s mission known as QUILL. Dwayne Day describes the insights a new book provides on a radar satellite two decades ahead of its time. The view from Austin on commercial spacet are the prospects for greater commercial use of space in the years to come? Jonathan Coopersmith reports on a recent conference in Texas that examined that issue. The long goodbyeOn Friday the space shuttle Atlantis launched on its final scheduled mission. Jeff Foust reports on the launch and efforts to secure one more mission for that orbiter as the shuttle program approaches its end. Where are we going in space?What might the President’s redesigned space program look like? Philip Stooke describes a plausible exploration program based on the proposed new plans. Beyond, togetherIntegrating technology development into operational missions will be a challenge for NASA. Doris Hamill examines how “mission pull” and “technology push” can help make that happen. Comsats, commercial crew, Congress, and the future of American space explorationIs the commercial sector ready to handle the transport of astronauts to orbit, as the White House has proposed? Alan Stern sees parallels to the emergence of the commercial communications satellite business decades ago as a reason to believe that it is. Rise of the machinesPart of the next Transformers movie will be filmed later this year at the Kennedy Space Center. While no fan of Michael Bay, Dwayne Day says there’s reason to look forward to this. Destination: onwardIn his new direction for NASA, President Obama has directed the space agency to plan for exploration to multiple destinations beyond Earth orbit using new technologies. Doris Hamill explains why this will require a new spirit of cooperation between the operational and research sides of NASA. One last mission?Some in Congress have suggested adding one additional shuttle mission to the three remaining on the current manifest. Taylor Dinerman examines what useful things such a shuttle mission could do beyond simply keeping the shuttle workforce employed into next year. A new eye in the sky to keep an eye on the skyRecent events like an ASAT test and satellite collision have illustrated the importance of space situational awareness to keep track of the growing number of objects in orbit. Jeff Foust reports on one spacecraft planned for launch this year that will aid those efforts. India’s missile defense/anti-satellite nexusIndia has shown recent interest in developing not just a missile defense system but also an ASAT capability. Victoria Samson analyzes these developments and their implications for space security. The next logical step becomes logicalThe International Space Station, now almost completed, has had a long and tortured history. Roger Handberg examines that history and how, after nearly being discarded, the ISS is getting a chance to realize its full potential. Looking for a silver bulletProponents of NASA’s new exploration plan take note of the benefits of relying more on the commercial sector and on enhanced investment in technology. Daniel Handlin argues that this increased reliance may simply repeat the mistakes of the past. The post-American MoonNASA’s revised exploration plan all but ignores the Moon in favor of missions to near Earth asteroids and, later, Mars. Taylor Dinerman considers the prospects should other countries decide to devote their energies to lunar exploration, including establishing bases there. Review: The Privatization of Space ExplorationThe role the commercial sector should play in NASA’s future exploration plans has been a hot topic the last few months. Jeff Foust reviews a book that succinctly examines the rationales and prospects for privatized spaceflight. 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