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This week in The Space Review… “Gateway” architectures: a major “Flexible Path” step to the Moon and Mars after the International Space Station?NASA’s new exploration plan, as unveiled last week, appears to endorse the “Flexible Path” option in the Augustine Committee report. Harley Thronson and Ted Talay describe some of the studies that have been done on what could be a major element of such exploration. An agency in transitionLast Monday the White House released a NASA budget proposal that would make major changes to NASA’s human spaceflight programs. Jeff Foust reports on the changes and the reaction to them, and how this could be the beginning of a far more fundamental change for the agency. Maps and buried treasureHow can private enterprise and governments cooperate in human space exploration? Bob Clarebrough offers some rebuttals to common objections about such cooperation. Beating a dead space horse (yeah, Defying Gravity, again…)Defying Gravity may no longer be on the air, but fans of the show can watch it again on a newly-released DVD set. Dwayne Day reviews the set, providing an opportunity to revisit the series. Review: Choice, Not FateNASA’s 2011 budget proposal would begin a major redirection of the agency from being driven by destinations to being driven by capabilities. Jeff Foust reviews a book by one space policy analyst who argues that is exactly the right direction the agency should be moving in. Previous articles:The real questionThe White House is expected to announce today a change in course for NASA’s human spaceflight program, and the rumored changes have already stoked debate on Capitol Hill and elsewhere. Jeff Foust discusses those potential changes, and a much larger question that may be overlooked. Ares evolutionMonday might mark the beginning of the end of the Ares 1 launch vehicle, a concept with many supporters but also many detractors. Former NASA astronaut and associate administrator Scott Horowitz provides his insights into the development of the Ares 1 and why it’s still the right vehicle for NASA. If Constellation diesSo what will happen if, as expected, the White House’s new plan ends the Ares 1 and 5 launch vehicles? Taylor Dinerman suggests that Congress will feel the need to “correct” that decision. The EMP threat: fact, fiction, and response (part 2)Yousaf Butt concludes his two-part examination of the threat of electromagnetic pulse (EMP) by describing the threat posed by geomagnetic storms triggered by solar activity. How to build a Shuttle-derived heavy-lift programThe changes in NASA’s exploration strategy, if enacted, could leave NASA without a heavy-lift launch vehicle. Edward Ellegood proposes a way for interested states to lobby for the development of one. Review: “Space Tourists” provides a rare glimpse of KazakhstanOne of the prize-winning films at the recent Sundance Film Festival was a documentary about space tourism. Ryan Kobrick reviews the film and finds that it’s about a lot more than one person’s quest to fly into space. Death from the skies? Ho-hum.A new report last week suggested that near Earth object survey efforts require significant additional funding. Jeff Foust examines why the relative lack of money so far may in fact be a rational decision, and what could be done to improve their funding prospects. The EMP threat: fact, fiction, and response (part 1)Electromagnetic pulses, with their ability to destroy electronics and disrupt the power grid, are closely associated with nuclear weapons, but such phenomena can also be created by geomagnetic storms. In the first of a two-part article, Yousaf Butt provides a primer on EMP and how serious a threat weapons-generated pulses are. Review: One Small StepAnother book about the history of the space age? Jeff Foust reviews a book that claims to offer the “inside story” about the history of human spaceflight. The future of science and human spaceflightThe new space exploration policy expected to be released in the coming weeks will offer a new opportunity to examine the intersection of space science and human spaceflight. Jeff Foust reports on what policy and science experts think the relationship between the two fields should be in the future. Space systems and missile defense in 2010The recent test of a Chinese missile interceptor demonstrates that missile defense is becoming a bigger issue around the world and not just in the US. Taylor Dinerman describes the implications this has for space-based systems that can be used to support such systems. The spaceport glutLast week a Florida airport became the latest licensed spaceport in the US. Jeff Foust reviews the current state of spaceports and examines whether, at this stage of the industry’s development, there may be too many of them. Space fetishism: obsession or rational action?A recent article criticized space advocates for unduly focusing on some technologies or ideologies as the key to humanity’s future in space. John K. Strickland, Jr. responds by noting that while at times people do go too far with such “fetishes”, there are rational reasons for some of the advocacy.
The future of American human space exploration and the “Critical Path”While the future of NASA’s human spaceflight program is currently uncertain, some aspects of future policy appear inevitable. Roger Handberg argues one likely change is how the US works with international partners. Big Black and the new bird: the NRO and the early Space ShuttleAs the shuttle program winds down, some are studying the early history of the shuttle and the policy decisions that led to its development. Dwayne Day describes how some documents help explain how the NRO came to use the shuttle and the concerns it had on relying on it. The exoplanet explosionOver the last 15 years astronomers have discovered over 400 planets around other stars. Jeff Foust reports on how a NASA mission promises to generate a flood of additional discoveries, including the first exoplanets similar in size and orbit to the Earth. Smashing RORSATs: the origin of the F-15 ASAT programThere has been increased interest in recent years in antisatellite weapons, but this is not the first time major space powers have pursued them. Dwayne Day discusses how newly-released government documents shed new light on the US decision in the 1970s to pursue one ASAT program.
A comic book, the Cold War, and the MoonFor some, science fiction and speculation helped generate interest in space exploration. Taylor Dinerman suggests that, in Europe, a couple of volumes of a popular comic book series may have been equally influential. NASA’s dangerous new yearThe next several months will be critical to NASA and its future plans as the White House prepares a new space exploration policy. Taylor Dinerman warns of the potential dangers facing NASA if the White House changes course or doesn’t raise then agency’s budget. Complexity and dangerSome argue that human spaceflight is such a complex, dangerous venture that it should be left to government agencies. Bob Clarebrough counters that private ventures are just as capable as governments, if not more so, to explore the solar system. A lighter shade of black: the (non) mystery of STS-51JA handful of shuttle flights in the 1980s and 1990s were classified military missions, and details about only one of those missions have been released. Dwayne Day provides some more information about this particular shuttle mission and why it may remain the only one to be declassified for years to come. Review: By Any Means NecessaryNearly a decade after orbital space tourism became a reality, there have been remarkably few first-person accounts of these journeys. Jeff Foust reviews a book by Greg Olsen that recounts his space travel adventure. Space fetishism: space activism’s obsession with technological and ideological saviorsMany space activists have pinned their hopes for humanity’s future in space on specific technologies or ideologies. Dwayne Day describes why such “fetishism” is doomed to fail. Britain’s new space agency: a provincial subcommittee or a national asset?Earlier this month the British government announced that, at long last, it would create a standalone space agency. Taylor Dinerman examines the impact this new agency could have and the importance of keeping civil and military space efforts separate. Why should humans go to Mars?Mars is widely seen as the long-term goal for human space exploration, even among those who don’t favor near-term missions there, but why go to Mars at all? Frank Stratford argues that exploring Mars is all about preserving, and challenging, humanity. Review: Selling PeaceTwenty years ago the door to greater commercial cooperation in space with Russia opened, albeit slowly and with considerable opposition in some quarters. Jeff Foust reviews an insider’s account of the efforts to take advantage of Russian space capabilities in commercial ventures. Gallery: SpaceShipTwo rolloutA collection of images from the rollout of SpaceShipTwo in Mojave, California, earlier this month. Blown awayLast week Virgin Galactic unveiled its suborbital space tourism vehicle, SpaceShipTwo. Jeff Foust reports from the event that very nearly got swept away by Mother Nature. SpaceShipTwo and the modern imaginationAs Virgin Galactic presses ahead with its plans, the industry is anxious to see just how many people are interested in paying to fly to space. Taylor Dinerman argues that it may depend on just how the experience of spaceflight is perceived by those initial customers. Where’s the Space Council?During the 2008 presidential campaign Barack Obama promised to reinstate the National Space Council, but nearly a year into his presidency he has yet to do so. Dwayne Day examines the some of the potential reasons why the council hasn’t been reestablished. Space tourism is not a hoax: an open letter to Heinz PfefferA controversial op-ed in Space News last month about space tourism is still reverberating through the industry. David Ashford writes an open letter to one of the authors of that piece countering its arguments. Review: Krafft Ehricke’s Extraterrestrial ImperativeIn a quest to develop new, compelling rationales for space exploration, some are revisiting past arguments. Jeff Foust reviews a book about one man’s effort to frame space exploration as essential to the preservation of civilization. Building up a new market for suborbital spaceflightOn Monday Virgin Galactic will formally unveil its suborbital spacecraft, SpaceShipTwo, and much of the focus of that event will be on space tourism. Jeff Foust reports on an emerging alternative market for these vehicles that its proponents believe could someday be bigger than tourism. Ares 1, the space advocacy community, and the mediaLast week NASA released the latest results from the Ares 1-X test flight in October. John Jurist criticizes some space advocates and the media for misunderstanding or misrepresenting what that test, and other Ares 1 development efforts, mean for the program. How safe is safe enough?Last week the House Science and Technology Committee held a hearing comparing the safety of Constellation versus commercial alternatives. Jeff Foust summarizes the meeting and examines if the committee was asking the right questions about the future of human spaceflight. How damaging is “Climategate” to NASA?A set of leaked emails from a UK research institute have created a controversy in some circles about the state of climate research and global warming. Taylor Dinerman wonders what implications this debate has for NASA. First stop for Flexible Path?The “Flexible Path” option included in the Augustine committee report has attracted a lot of interest, but where exactly should that path begin? Dan Lester proposes using the Earth-Moon L1 point as a logical starting point for journeys beyond low Earth orbit. From Fulton to FalconSome people have become impatient with the pace of progress in the development of the commercial space industry. Bob Clarebrough looks back two centuries to the development of a different industry to find lessons of innovation for today’s space entrepreneurs. Just how soft is NASA’s soft power going to be?A joint statement issued during President Obama’s visit to China earlier this month included a passage about cooperation in space exploration. Taylor Dinerman warns that the US should not appear to be too eager to work with the Chinese. Instruments of God’s creationThe Hubble Space Telescope is one of the most famous spacecraft ever launched, allowing astronomers to peer back to the early history of the universe. Dwayne Day describes a new Smithsonian exhibit that features two instruments that flew on the telescope. Review: Energy CrisisThe latest surge in interest in space-based solar power comes at a time of increasing concern about the availability of existing energy sources and their effect on the environment. Jeff Foust reviews a book that attempts to prove that space is the solution to our energy woes. Spy satellites lose their mystiqueThe NRO and Congress are grappling with the direction the nation’s reconnaissance satellite program should go. Taylor Dinerman argues that this is evidence that, thanks to past failures, the NRO doesn’t have the influence and prestige it once did on Capitol Hill. Dysfunctional space advocacyIt’s a critical time for the future of NASA’s human spaceflight efforts, which makes space advocacy as important as it has been in years. Jeff Foust finds, though, that activists don’t appear to be operating at the level they should if they want to make a difference in the ongoing debate. Space tourism is no hoaxA provocative essay in Space News last week called space tourism a “hoax” and its purveyors “con men”. Stephen Ashworth counters that space tourism is, in fact, essential to the future of spaceflight. Gorilla theaterPETA has long had a reputation for over-the-top ads and antics to promote their agenda; what would be in store when they turned their attention to NASA? Dwayne Day reports that the result was something rather underwhelming. A good old-fashioned space rushWhat could get industry and government alike motivated to support human space exploration? Jim Gagnon suggests it might be the space equivalent of a land rush. Things are rough all over…NASA is routinely criticized for failing to bring in projects on time and schedule. Dwayne Day notes that for all of NASA’s problems, the Defense Department’s project management woes are far more serious, with potentially bigger implications. Solar sailing gets its second windThe concept of solar sailing is particularly attractive for some missions, but to date no one has been able to successfully launch one. Jeff Foust reports on a new bid by The Planetary Society to do that, and by doing so build upon the legacy of one of its co-founders. All these worlds are yours, except the Moon and Mars (attempt no landing there)Much of the attention about the Augustine Committee report was with one of its options, called the Flexible Path. Michael Huang argues that while the committee might appear to prefer it, there are a number of problems with that architecture. Studying a legendTaylor Dinerman reviews a book that offers a new perspective on the life of early space pioneer Konstantin Tsiolkovskii. Augustine’s questionable adjectiveA key element of the Augustine Committee’s report was its emphasis on commercial providers to help support NASA’s space exploration efforts. Taylor Dinerman cautions that may be too much to ask the nascent NewSpace industry at this stage in its development. A wild finish for the Lunar Lander ChallengeThe Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge wrapped up at the end of October with the remaining prize money awarded to two teams. Jeff Foust reports on the conclusion of the competition, a bit of controversy, and future plans. Losing gravityThe short-lived TV series Defying Gravity went off the air before American viewers could see all 13 episodes. Dwayne Day recounts what you missed and what the series’ failure says about public interest in space exploration. Review: The Case for PlutoMore than three years after Pluto was “demoted” from planetary status, the decision remains controversial. Jeff Foust reviews the latest book to examine the debate and how Pluto should fit into the solar system’s pantheon of worlds. Boring but important policy developmentsNASA’s exploration program has been getting all the space policy attention in recent months, but it’s not the only space policy issue of interest in Washington. Jeff Foust reports on a couple of lesser-known, but important, issues that are making some headway in Congress and the White House. Don’t forget the robotsWhile people focus on the future of NASA’s human spaceflight efforts, its robotic missions are also facing a variety of issues. Taylor Dinerman discusses those concerns and potential future budget pressures on those missions. An open letter to President ObamaThe Planetary Society’s Louis Friedman calls on the president to take the report of the Augustine Committee and turn it into a blueprint for a bold new space exploration program. Breaking up may be good to doDARPA is studying a concept of taking a large spacecraft and splitting it up into several smaller, interconnected components. Jeff Foust reports on the implications this could have not just for spacecraft development but the overall industry. And now we waitFor months the space community had been waiting for it, and on Thursday they finally got it: the final report of the Augustine committee. Jeff Foust reports on the reaction and how the report is the next step, but not the last step, in crafting a new space policy. Saddam’s space programBefore the first Gulf War, Iraq was actively developing a launch vehicle for placing a satellite into orbit—and perhaps other purposes. Dwayne Day looks at what’s known about this effort from a United Nations report. Is the RLV industry emerging from hibernation?The development of reusable launch vehicles has been left almost entirely to entrepreneurial space companies for nearly a decade. Taylor Dinerman sees some encouraging signs that big companies and the government are taking a renewed interest in the field. Clinical immortality and space settlementNew research shows that babies born in 2007 will have a median lifespan of 104 years. Sam Dinkin looks at how further improvements in morbidity can make space settlement imminent. Launcher out capabilityMany exploration architectures that feature heavy-lift launch vehicles do so because they are an efficient way of launching large payloads. Ronald Menich argues for a more robust approach of using smaller vehicles that provides redundancy in the event of a launch failure. Using the space station: where does the US go from here?With the International Space Station nearly completely assembled, attention now turns to how to best utilize it. Taylor Dinerman explains how that will depend on how much access scientists will have to it once the shuttle is retired. How competitive is commercial launch?A coalition of commercial satellite operators is seeking policy changes that would open up the launch market to EELVs and even Chinese vehicles. Jeff Foust reports on those efforts and the perspectives of the commercial launch industry. The second fifty years: expanding human presence on the space frontierMany see Mars as the ultimate goal of any new space exploration policy. Doris Hamill describes the steps needed to make human missions to the Red Planet possible. Capsule reviewsJeff Foust briefly reviews a couple of new books, one featuring a tour of observatories in the American Southwest, and the other providing technical details of an unconventional launch concept. The promise of innovation from university space systems: are we meeting it?Many in the space industry have emphasized the importance of supporting university-built small satellites, but what benefits do such programs provide beyond their educational value? Michael Swartwout identifies two key innovations that have shaped the smallsat field as a whole. The Emperor needs new clothesThe spirit of innovation and experimentation that dominated the early years of the Space Age in the US has faded. Brian Horais argues that the country needs to embrace this spirit again to maintain its lead in space technology. Thinking a little differently at NASAA few months into the job, NASA and those in Washington who deal with space are starting to get used to new administrator Charles Bolden. However, as Jeff Foust reports, Bolden is not the type of person who appears willing to get used to Washington. To reach ever further: a mission and a vision for NASAThe last few decades of NASA may seem like to many to be a disjointed collection of programs, both successes or failures. Doris Hamill argues that, upon closer inspection, there is a clear mission and vision for the agency that connects those efforts. Schriever V: in dubious battleEarlier this year the US military conducted the latest in a series of war games about military operations in space. Taylor Dinerman questions how relevant and useful these exercises are. Water on the MoonAs scientists sift through the data from last week’s LCROSS impacts, other recent findings suggest that water may be far more common on the Moon than onc thought. Arlin Crotts makes the case for an alternative source of the water. Which way is up?The fact that NASA’s exploration program has run into budget and other difficulties is hardly surprising; the question now is how the White House and Congress will respond to the conclusions of the Augustine committee report. Dwayne Day summarizes a recent forum that brought together experts from government, industry, and elsewhere to tackle this issue. A committee member speaksWith the Augustine committee’s work nearly done, some of its members are starting to speak individually about their work. Jeff Foust reports on a speech last week by a committee member who provided his own insights into the work on crafting a new direction for NASA’s human spaceflight plans. The other 40th anniversaryThis summer marked the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11, but this month marks a very different, yet important, 40th anniversary. Bob Werb recalls the work of Gerard K. O’Neill and how it set into motion a completely new way to look at spaceflight. Is Ares 1 too little, too late?A center of attention in the current review of NASA’s exploration plans is the fate of the Ares 1. Edward Ellegood argues that while its technical problems might be overcome, its cost and schedule issues make it unwise to continue. Five years later, is now the time?A center of attention in the current review of NASA’s exploration plans is the fate of the Ares 1. Edward Ellegood argues that while its technical problems might be overcome, its cost and schedule issues make it unwise to continue. The gospel according to MikeIn his nearly four years as NASA administrator Mike Griffin left a major impact on the space agency, particularly in the implementation of exploration. Taylor Dinerman uses a book of speeches by Griffin as administrator to reflect on his time in office. Adios, Star PeopleNASA’s LCROSS spacecraft is on track to hit a crater on the Moon early Friday. Dwayne Day imagines the mission as a cover for something more belligerent in this short story. A tipping point for commercial crew?In recent weeks several companies have expressed new or renewed interest in developing commercial systems for carrying people to low Earth orbit. Jeff Foust reports on these recent developments and the potential political opposition to any greater emphasis on commercial crew transportation. In the space industry, who is a contractor and who is commercial?The Augustine committee report has provided new impetus to efforts to further commercialize space access. Taylor Dinerman describes the challenges of separating true commercial companies from those that are primarily government contractors. An electrifying conference?Earlier this month a Canadian organization hosted a three-day conference on space-based solar power. Jonathan Coopersmith summarizes the conference and the key issues facing this concept. The space security implications of missile defenseThe Obama Administration recently decided to replace planned ground-based interceptors in Europe with SM-3 missiles. Brian Weeden describes how this decision has implications for space security, since it was a modified SM-3 that intercepted a decaying US satellite last year. Planet Hollywood, part 2: Red PlanetNearly a decade ago space enthusiasts had high hopes as two Mars-themed movies hit the theaters; both were disappointments. Dwayne Day reviews the second of those two films, Red Planet, which while not a good movie was at least the better of the two. The $3-billion-a-year questionThe debate in the two weeks since the Augustine committee released its summary report has focused on which report option to pursue and how to get the extra funding needed to carry out that option. Jeff Foust argues that a bigger question has been ignored: why we do human space exploration in the first place. NASA’s next step: Augustine (and Obama) versus CongressThe Augustine committee’s summary report got a strong, and not necessarily positive, reaction in two Congressional hearings last week. Taylor Dinerman describes how this debate could put more pressure on the White House to provide additional funding for the current Constellation program.
Human space flight: in praise of (a modified) Option 4BWhich of the several options presented by the Augustine committee should the White House and Congress adopt? Edward Ellegood makes the case for a version of one of the options that could close the gap and preserve thousands of jobs. Planet Hollywood, part 1: Mission to MarsNearly a decade ago space enthusiasts had high hopes as two Mars-themed movies hit the theaters; both were disappointments. Dwayne Day reviews the first of those films, Mission to Mars, whose efforts at technical accuracy were spoiled by a bad plot. A Xombie over MojaveLast week Masten Space Systems became the latest team to attempt a flight in the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge. Jeff Foust reports on the flight which, while not qualifying for any prize money, demonstrated the progress the small company has made. Playing the waiting (and winning) gameOn Saturday Armadillo Aerospace performed a pair of flights in pursuit of Level 2 of the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge. Jeff Foust reports on the flights and the waiting on both the weather and the competition. Gallery: Armadillo Aerospace Lunar Lander Challenge Level 2 flightPhotos from the Lunar Lander Challenge Level 2 flights by Armadillo Aerospace on September 12. PANdora’s BoxThe mysterious PAN launch took place last week as satellite observers and other speculated on what the purpose of the satellite launched by that Atlas 5 was. Dwayne Day summarizes what we now know—and don’t know—about PAN. Can we sustain a commercial launch industry to meet NASA’s needs?The release of the Augustine committee’s summary report last week provided more fodder for the debate about the commercialization of cargo and crew transportation to low Earth orbit. Edward Ellegood looks to the lessons from the EELV program to see whether and how this could work.
Taming the fire: the Ares 1 first stage development testLast week ATK carried out a successful static test of a five-segment rocket motor designed to be the first stage of the Ares 1. John Jurist provides an eyewitness account of the test and its implications for the controversial launch vehicle. Tyrannosaurs flying F-14s!The early space age featured magazines with cover art of fantastic spaceflight concepts. Dwayne Day describes how at least in one case the contents didn’t match up with the cover. NASA, politics, science, and skepticismA proposed NASA Earth sciences mission could provide a new level of accuracy in climate data. Taylor Dinerman warns, though, that the agency needs to tread carefully to avoid getting mired into climate change disputes. “COTS-like”: the future of space procurementNASA’s COTS program has demonstrated a new approach to developing commercial capabilities that can serve government and industry needs. Max Vozoff describes how the same model can help a cash-strapped space agency develop other capabilities it might not otherwise be able to afford. When space and art intersectMany people in the space field are happy to talk about scientific and technical issues, but rarely discuss the interaction with, and relevance of, art. Jeff Foust looks at some recent examples of the role of art in space and space art, and how it could help generate interest in space among the public. We watch so you don’t have toWhen Defying Gravity premiered last month, it was met by collective groans from space-savvy viewers who perceived it just a bad soap opera set in space. Dwayne Day kept watching, though, and finds that later episodes have gotten better—or at least not as bad. Iridium: were they right too soon?The 1990s saw the rise and fall of several companies planning LEO satellite communications systems, which later found renewed life after going through Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Taylor Dinerman argues that as these companies now plan to refresh their satellite fleets they can offer some lessons for government satellite efforts. The Sputnik non-surpriseIt’s been widely accepted for decades that the launch of Sputnik took the world, and especially the US, by surprise. Dwayne Day finds an article written just a year after the launch that explains why it shouldn’t have been surprising. Giving NASA a clear missionA common refrain among space advocates is that NASA is given too much to do and too little funding to accomplish it. G. Ryan Faith makes the case for giving NASA a straightforward mission—space exploration—and prioritizing its tasks accordingly. Protecting the space workforceCancellation of Defense Department programs and the uncertainty surrounding NASA’s exploration plans could lead to the loss of thousands of aerospace jobs. Taylor Dinerman warns that such cuts could lead to a brain drain like the ones seen after previous mass layoffs. Is the near-Earth space frontier closed?Much of what made the Space Age possible was driven by the development of ICBMs and related spacecraft systems. Andrew Tubbiolo argues that this legacy may make it more difficult for commercial and civil entities to expand their activities in Earth orbit. Review: Pluto ConfidentialThe recent IAU General Assembly has come and gone without any changes in the definition of “planet” or Pluto’s classification. Jeff Foust reviews a new book that takes yet another look at the controversy surrounding Pluto’s status and how it compares to previous planetary controversies. Coping with the closingSpace enthusiasts have coped with the relative lack of progress in the four decades since humans first walked on the Moon in varying ways. John Hickman describes these various approaches and how they can pose obstacles to the future. Still on the ground floorSeveral years ago there was renewed interest in the concept of the space elevator, but that enthusiasm has yet to translate into major progress. Jeff Foust reports on a recent conference where the space elevator community took stock of the current situation and made plans to forge ahead. PAN’s labyrinthAn Atlas 5 is scheduled to launch next month a mysterious satellite identified only as PAN. Dwayne Day sheds a little more light on this spacecraft and its possible mission. Review: The New Solar SystemHundreds of books have been published about the solar system, making it difficult for new ones to stand out. Jeff Foust reviews one that succeeds at standing out thanks to updated material and good design. Why is human Mars exploration so surprisingly hard?In the heady aftermath of Apollo 11, it appeared likely humans would journey to Mars by the end of the century; 40 years later, though, such missions seem as far in the future as ever. James Oberg discusses why such missions have proven far more difficult than originally envisioned and how we’ll know that we’re finally ready to go. Doubts about depotsOn-orbit propellant depots are getting increased attention as a possible part of alternative space exploration architectures being studies by the Augustine committee. However, Josh Hopkins argues that proponents of the concept need to address a number of technical and business issues regarding them. Ares 1 launch abort: technical analysis and policy implicationsAn Air Force analysis leaked last month concludes that there are phases of flight of the Ares 1 from which the Orion capsule could not safely escape. Kirk Woellert examines both the rationale for leaking the report and its technical merits. Remembering the lessons of SEIAs the Augustine committee completes its work, the next big question will be how the White House and Congress act on its conclusions. Taylor Dinerman looks back on the late, lamented Space Exploration Initiative for insights on how not to act. Launch failureLast month the publishers of LAUNCH Magazine officially pulled the plug on that space publication. Dwayne Day reflects on what its passing means for space journalism, online and in print. The crucible of manBritain is undertaking another review of its national space policy, leading the country down the path of creating a full-fledged space agency. Andrew Weston makes the case for the country to be even more ambitious with its long-term space goals. Review: Heavenly AmbitionsMany expect the Obama Administration to change course in the area of military space policy, moving away from the philosophy of “space dominance” endorsed by the previous administration. Jeff Foust reviews a new book that examines changes in space policy and explains why space dominance is problematic, at best. Microspace and human spaceflightAt first glance, there doesn’t seem to be much in common between the burgeoning small satellite industry and human spaceflight. However, Grant Bonin argues that the philosophy that has guided smallsat developers over the years may be key to enabling breakthroughs in human access to space. The ISS: a very expensive educationAs the International Space Station nears completion, what will the US and others get for the massive investment put into the project? At the very least, says Taylor Dinerman, they’ve learned how to run (or not run) major space projects.
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