It is important not to reinvent the U.S. space program, especially concerning human missions to Mars. While everything is not perfect, we can’t afford another reset of national space policy when the next president takes office.
The Alliance for Space Development is firmly focused on the development that must precede a successful settlement effort regardless of the location — the moon, Mars, free space or asteroids — despite criticism that the alliance has not advocated on lunar settlement this year.
Private spacecraft are visiting the ISS, and NASA has publicly stated that the next space station(s) must be privately owned and operated. Today’s discussions about space activities aren’t merely about exploring space, but about developing and settling it.
On the heels of a closed-door meeting that concluded space development and settlement should be long-term goals of the United States, a separate group of 11 organizations announced a new coalition that will promote policies to achieve those goals.
Space exploration evangelist Rick Tumlinson says he nearly choked on his almond milk when President Obama declared during his State of the Union address that we are going into space not just to explore but to stay.
NASA has pushed back a widely anticipated decision on the design of its Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM) until January as it seeks to understand if the technology offered by one option is worth its additional complexity and cost.
NASA will decide Dec. 16 whether to shift a small asteroid into orbit around the Moon, or grab a boulder from a larger asteroid and move that to lunar orbit.
Yvonne Pendleton, who became director of the Lunar Science Institute in 2010 and now leads SSERVI, is shepherding the organization through the transition.
Harris’ Network and Space Operations and Maintenance Contract is one of several being eyed for consolidation as the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center copes with shrinking budgets.
India and the United States will collaborate on a radar Earth observing satellite and in robotic Mars exploration.
A NASA white paper says: “Explorers go with the intent of returning to tell their story and point the way for future forays. Pioneers go with the intent to establish a permanent presence.”
Creating an economic zone of influence that encompasses our solar system will be the single most difficult endeavor the human race has ever attempted.
U.S. government witnesses agreed that developing a new U.S. rocket engine is a priority, but were unable to map out a clear path forward.
NASA’s Human Research Program and the National Space Biomedical Research Institute will fund 26 proposals to investigate questions about astronaut health and performance on future deep-space exploration missions.
I am deeply concerned about the state of NASA’s human spaceflight program and, ultimately, American leadership in space for the 21st century.
In recent years, members of Congress and their staffs have been relatively receptive to Carberry’s message.
