Articles previously published in The Space Review:January - June 2009 | July - December 2008 | January - June 2008 | July - December 2007 | January - June 2007 | July - December 2006 | January - June 2006 | July - December 2005 | January - June 2005 | July - December 2004 | January - June 2004 | February - December 2003
March 2009:Satellites, launches, and the recessionHow are big commercial space companies, including the operators of commercial communications satellites, coping with the economic crisis? Jeff Foust reports that these operators are surprisingly optimistic about their prospects, even as other parts of the industry are more concerned. Is the Chinese manned space program a military program?Some on the West have argued that China’s planned mini space station will be a military facility of some kind. Chen Lan describes the role the military plays in China’s human space program and why those concerns are largely unfounded. Can space tourism survive the economic downturn?In today’s economy, spending on luxury items, including private trips into space, can be difficult to justify. Taylor Dinerman examines the prospects for some of the leading companies in the space tourism field. The last one out can turn off the lights…Last week another veteran space journalist, Mark Carreau, lost his job as part of a wave of job cuts hitting the newspaper industry. Dwayne Day worries about the effects these layoffs will have on overall coverage of space issues. Silent Running, running deeperThe movie Silent Running was recently described in this publication as a rare example of a liberal science fiction movie. Larry Klaes argues that it demonstrates the need to balance the needs of the Earth with space exploration. Establishing a global space lobbying organization: Yuri’s FoundationOne challenge for space advocates has been in building consensus around a specific goal or mission. John Leonard suggests one solution in a form of a foundation featuring astronauts and other space leaders. Beginning the journey of a thousand miles?Should the United States and China cooperate in space, and if so, how? Dean Cheng describes both the obstacles to working together and the prospects for meaningful cooperation in the near term. Does the ISS have a future?As the International Space Station approaches completion, now is the time to examine what the station’s long-term future should be. Taylor Dinerman outlines the questions about the station that will have to be answered. Battle’s LawsOne of the key lessons of space efforts throughout the Space Age is the importance of proper systems engineering. Dwayne Day recounts an early event that demonstrated that need, and the rules that were promulgated as a result. Liberals, space activists, and the Great Orange SatanAre liberals really opposed to space exploration and settlement? Ferris Valyn examines just how interested they are in space and what more can be done to convince them to support it. From Project Gemini to the final frontierAs NASA raced towards the Moon 40 years ago, Star Trek aired on TV. Dwayne Day describes his role in the intersection of the two. Review: EarthriseArguably one of the most influential images of the Space Age was that of the Earth rising above the Moon’s horizon as seen by Apollo 8. Eve Lichtgarn reviews a book that examines the history behind that image and its effect on society. The space economy: a public-private partnership?What effect is the economic crisis having on the space industry? Jeff Foust reports that space might be insulated from the worst of the crisis because of its close ties with government. “Space cadet” politicsSome space enthusiasts are known for their fierce advocacy for the topic that doesn’t always match up with the traditional divisions of political thought. Nader Elhefnawy examines the intersection of space advocacy and political philosophy. Chandrayaan 2 and the evolution of India’s space programIndia’s first lunar mission, Chandrayaan 1, has been a major step forward for that nation’s space program. Taylor Dinerman describes how the follow-on mission could further establish India as a major space power. Not a bang, but a whimperWhen rockets fail, they often do so in a spectacular explosion. Dwayne Day recounts one little-known event where a launch vehicle failed far less spectacularly. Review: The Saturn V F-1 EngineThe powerful F-1 engine helped propel the United States to the Moon 40 years ago, but not long after was abandoned, like the Saturn 5. Jeff Foust reviews a book that provides a detailed history of the development of that engine. Is the US serious about space policy?The space community has focused intently of late on civil, commercial, and military space policy issues. However, as Jeff Foust reports, the problem is implementing those policies, and the degree to which the highest levels of government are interested in those issues. A space launch vehicle by any other name…Tensions are rising about the impending launch of what North Korea claims is a space launch vehicle but what the US, Japan, and others believe is a long-range ballistic missile. Brian Weeden examines how to tell the difference between the two. Phasing DragonChina’s plans to develop a small space station have made their way back into the news in the last week. Dwayne Day suggests that these reports say less about Chinese plans than about western biases and fears. Launch failures: an Atlas Groundhog DayNormally when a launch failure takes place the cause is identified and corrected. Wayne Eleazer describes a case where that course of events took place, only to have the same failure happen again.
(S)ex objectsAstronomer Neil deGrasse Tyson became famous—or infamous, depending on your point of view—for advocating that Pluto be demoted from planetary status. Taylor Dinerman reviews a book by Tyson that discusses the contretemps. Mars Science Laboratory: the technical reasons behind its delayNASA, as well as Mars scientists and exploration advocates around the world, suffered a setback in December when the agency was forced to delay the launch of the Mars Science Laboratory mission by two years. Adrian Brown describes the technical issues with that complex spacecraft that forced the delay. Mars Science Laboratory: the budgetary reasons behind its delayIn a companion article, Adrian Brown examines Mars Science Laboratory’s budget overruns and the effect the mission’s delay, and resulting additional costs, will have on other Mars and planetary missions. Space weapons: soft power versus soft politicsDoes the perception, real or otherwise, that the US is interested in developing space weapons damage American “soft power” in world affairs? Taylor Dinerman argues that the topic is more complex than some believe. In search of other EarthsNASA is set to launch a mission designed to look for Earth-like extrasolar planets. Jeff Foust looks at the mission and the larger quest of looking for evidence of life in the universe. The green green grass of EarthThe movie Silent Running was one of the few highlights of a “wasteland” for science fiction films between 2001 and Star Wars. Dwayne Day examines the movies as a rare link between space and the environmental movement. February 2009:Billiards in spaceThis month’s collision between Iridium and Russian satellites caused some people to ask why the incident could not have been avoided. Brian Weeden explains the difficulties of monitoring potential collisions and offers some proposals for improved monitoring and coordination. Do we need a new National Space Council?The Obama Administration appears committed to fulfilling a campaign pledge to reestablish the National Space Council in some form. Taylor Dinerman wonders, given its past record and the difficulties of the bureaucracy, if this is such a good idea. Florida’s mess: how did we get here?In recent weeks news reports and public comments have put Florida’s space efforts in a rather harsh spotlight. Tim Bailey reviews the history of the state’s efforts to promote the commercial space industry, and where things went wrong. First steps towards point-to-point spaceflightPoint-to-point suborbital spaceflight has attracted the interest of many commercial space enthusiasts, but the technical and other hurdles that have to be overcome makes it not a near-term market. Nonetheless, Jeff Foust reports, some in both the public and private sectors are laying the groundwork for its future. 2009 plus oneThe movie 2010 never had the cultural impact that 2001 had. As the year 2010 approaches, Dwayne Day looks at both films and why 2010 fell short of its predecessor. A bilateral approach from maritime law to prevent incidents in spaceSeveral recent events have raised concerns about space weapons and the potential to cause serious harm in orbit through the proliferation of debris. Michael Listner offers a proposal for an agreement based on maritime law that could ease those concerns without getting caught up in contentious issues like space weapons. The once and future space touristCharles Simonyi is not the first space tourist, but next month he will become the first to make a return trip to space. Jeff Foust interviews Simonyi on his plans for his mission, why he decided to purchase a second trip, and his thoughts on the future of commercial spaceflight. Galileo and the Chinese: one thing after anotherJust when Europe had resolved its issues with the US regarding the Galileo satellite navigation system, a new obstacle has emerged: China, and its plans for its own system. Taylor Dinerman examines the prospects for Galileo given China’s plans and other developments. CERN and MarsWhile space advocates struggle to win support for exploration missions, particle physicists have worked together to get funding for a major new particle accelerator, even while admitting the esoteric nature of the science it will perform. Frank Stratford looks for lessons from this effort that could be applied to space. Review: The Crowded UniverseThe field of extrasolar planets has exploded in the last 15 years as astronomers have discovered hundreds of such worlds around other stars. Jeff Foust reviews a book by a leading scientist on the topic that reviews the science, missions, and policy developments during this time. Virgin looks beyond space tourismCommercial suborbital spaceflight is most commonly associated with space tourism, and both are linked to Virgin Galactic. However, Jeff Foust reports that the company is interested in a variety of additional markets beyond tourism, from science to smallsat launches. Lincoln and railroads, Obama and RLVs?Government investment in railroads during the Civil War helped tie the country together and make it an economic powerhouse. Taylor Dinerman suggests that a similar benefit to the economy might come if the current administration helps enable the development of reusable launch vehicles. Chasing the ZondIn 1968 a US Navy vessel got to witness the recovery of a Soviet capsule during the height of the race for the Moon. Dwayne Day describes this incident and what influence, if any, it had on NASA’s decision to send Apollo 8 to the Moon. Space as frontierMany space advocates have linked space to previous frontiers on Earth as analogies for the eventual migration of people into the solar system. Nader Elhefnawy explains why this explanation may be a poor fit given the challenges of space and the advancement of other technologies. Darwin and evolutionary progress to the starsThis week marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin. Stephen Ashworth examines how evolutionary theory might apply to humanity’s transition to a spacefaring species. A good job with a lousy title: notes for the next NASA administratorWhomever the Obama Administration selects to be the next NASA administrator is going to face a number of challenging issues. Taylor Dinerman examines those issues, and the importance for NASA to communicate its message to the American public. That was then…A common lament of space advocates is that the public today is nowhere near as interested in and supportive of space exploration as they were in the 1960s. Jeff Foust argues that it’s time for advocates to update their strategies and tactics for the present and future rather than try and repeat the past. Launch abortThe publishers of Launch magazine recently announced that they are putting the magazine on hiatus for at least a couple months because of the state of the economy. Dwayne Day discusses the long-running difficulties space magazines like Launch have had remaining in business. Planetary demographics and space colonizationOne reason often proposed for space settlement has been to relieve overpopulation pressures on the Earth. Nader Elhefnawy explains why, because of both demographics and economics, this rationale won’t work. January 2009:A ray of sunshine into a dark worldMuch of the early history of American reconnaissance satellite programs is still classified, even though those systems were long ago declared obsolete. Dwayne Day discusses why a change of administrations might finally lead to the declassification of some of these records. Needed at Obama’s new NASA: the right team at the topFor weeks the space community has engaged in a guessing game on who will replace Mike Griffin as NASA administrator. Dave Huntsman argues that what is really important is not just who gets the top job, but the team of top officials needed to effectively run the agency. A rough honeymoon does not doom a marriagePresident Obama has a lot of issues to deal with in his first 100 days, and is bound to stumble in one area or another. Stokes McMillan hopes that Obama, like Kennedy before him, will use setbacks as an opportunity to seek a new legacy in space. India’s missile defense: changing the nature of the Indo-Pakistani conflictIndia is considering developing a comprehensive missile defense system to protect itself from Pakistan. Taylor Dinerman describes the rationale behind that system and the role satellites might play. Review: Sputnik ManiaThe majority of people today have no first-hand recollection of the reaction to the launch of Sputnik over 50 years ago. Jeff Foust reviews a documentary, recently released on DVD, that describes the mixture of fascination and anxiety that accompanied Sputnik. The ongoing saga of DSP Flight 23Last fall a US missile early warning satellite suddenly failed and started to drift through a crowded orbit. Brian Weeden examines what is known about the spacecraft’s failure and explains why the US government needs to be more open about what happened. Contract protests: a growing cancer on the space industryLast week PlanetSpace announced its plans to protest the award of ISS cargo resupply contracts to two other companies. Taylor Dinerman warns this is the latest sign of a disturbing trend in the industry. Yes we can! How to ensure “change you can believe in” for the space programWhat’s the key for making serious, positive change to NASA in the new administration? Derek Webber argues that what’s needed is a shift from cost-plus to fixed-price contracts. Launch failures: two Thors, one problemLaunch vehicles are complex systems that have to be carefully integrated to be successful. Wayne Eleazer looks at a couple of cases where a lack of end-to-end testing doomed missions. The Mars Consortium approachGovernments seem unwilling to open their pocketbooks to fund human missions to Mars, and private sources of funding are insufficient for such efforts. Frank Stratford proposes a concept that attempts to combine the strengths of both public and private approaches to accelerate human exploration and settlement of Mars. A final defense of ConstellationIt’s widely believed that Mike Griffin is nearing the end of his tenure as NASA administrator, which made a speech he gave last week about Constellation likely one of his last public addresses in that role. Jeff Foust reports on what Griffin said about the various alternatives to Constellation, and what its future prospects might be. License to change: will NASA?The change in administrations offers an opportunity for change throughout government, including NASA. Joan Vernikos and Kathleen M. Connell write that the space agency shouldn’t squander this opportunity by making only superficial changes to its programs. Ike’s gambit: The KH-8 reconnaissance satelliteIn the second half of his examination of the GAMBIT reconnaissance satellite program, Dwayne Day looks at the later history of the program, including efforts to extend the life of the spacecraft in orbit and their use in the Skylab rescue effort. Rethinking TSAT: survivability firstThe military’s TSAT communication satellite program has suffered from budget cuts and schedule delays, and is in the process of being radically revised. Taylor Dinerman argues that a new TSAT program should place a preference on ensuring the spacecraft can survive any potential attack. A possible source of the five-year delay policyAs Barack Obama prepares to take office, some recall when the president-elect first proposed to delay Constellation by five years to fund his education programs. Michael Huang identifies a potential source for that original proposal, and its implications for the administration’s policies. Response to “The problems with ‘The Future of Human Spaceflight’”David Mindell, the director of MIT’s Space, Policy, and Society Research Group, responds to a recent critique of his group’s report on human spaceflight. Ike’s gambit: The development and operations of the KH-7 and KH-8 spy satellitesWhile there are considerable details now available about one of the earliest US spy satellite programs, CORONA, far less is known about another early program, GAMBIT. In the first of a two-part article, Dwayne Day discusses the origins and development of GAMBIT. The problems with “The Future of Human Spaceflight”Last month an MIT group released a report with its recommendations for the future of NASA’s human spaceflight efforts. James Oberg points out some flaws he finds in their reasoning. COTS: the next generationAs NASA’s initial efforts to stimulate development of commercial ISS resupply services result in contracts, what should be the next step for the space agency in stimulating commercial services? Taylor Dinerman examines the possibilities and the obstacles. Review: A History of the Kennedy Space CenterThe Kennedy Space Center has been at the heart of America’s space program for a half-century. Dwayne Day reviews a book that examines the history of the space center and its impact on both the space program and the state. Home |
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