What will be the future for Space Exploration?
JUST WHERE WILL WE BE BOLDLY GOING INTO SPACE?
After researching over 200 space exploration missions from Project Mercury to the current Space Shuttle discovery missions I still cannot see clearly the way forward after Space Shuttle ceases this year. It has been an absolute thrill to trace step by step the human fascination with the progressive and aggressive determination to keep this habit going!
Atlantis first launched 25 years ago in 1985 by NASA was scheduled for its final launch on April 21st 2010 .This launch was one of only three remaining missions left in NASA’s Shuttle program. No further programs after Shuttle are expected until 2014, and even this date is doubtful. With a World in freeful financial meltdown recession, it is not unsurprisingly crystal clear whether it will be ‘New Frontiers ‘ or ‘Final Frontiers’. One thing seems certain though ! whatever it is , it will have to have massive justification for such a pheunomenal budget.
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There has in my opinion to be a clearly defined purpose with everything NASA has put forward to justify the common interest we have with space exploration, if it does not enhance and advance innovative knowledge then I guess we would have questioned it decades ago. Instead for those who have embraced this great adventure we have in a way become part of its long process.It was Neil Armstrong who said “ Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of man’s desire to understand.”and: “Science has not yet mastered prophecy. We predict too much for the next year and yet far too little for the next 10.”
With every beginning there has to first be a believable vision: For the Russian Cosmonaut program its mission was to succeed at any cost to be the first Nation to place a man in space. When Yuri Gagarin was chosen, he chose to believe it would happen, the possibilities of failure no doubt was not an option for him. Unique bravado was required for any man to suit up, strap himself in, and fly solo on a Vostok rocket that had already seen tragedy in testing.
Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin born march 9 1934 – 27 March 1968) became a hero of the Soviet Union as on 12 April 1961, he became the first human to fly outside the higher heavens of planet Earths’ atmosphere, and the first to orbit the Earth. Just over 8 years later the world is spellbound with the first Lunar landing, so much so NASA returned there 5 more times. Space shuttle during that time was already being conceived in the big womb of Americas vast space technology industry. They knew then the only way forward, with the least expense was to design a re-usable space craft, tough enough to go up again months later. Cleverly this idea would embrace other Nations as well as unite joint missions with Russia, China , Canada, the UK and others.
So far we have seen since 1981 three decades of perpetual astronaut travel the introduction of mission specialists who have performed hundreds of experiments for many different countries. Yes perhaps even Kennedy would not have believed that? So what now? Will another Nation return to the Moon, and if so for what purpose ? Will space stations be developed further, and increased outside of ISS (Internation Space Station)? Do we really believe strongly that commercial space travel will be affordable beyond the super rich with pilots such as Brian Binnie (Space Ship 1) leading the way. Believe you me I love the whole Space Exploration mandate, but have to admit that at the moment I am really not sure I would trust anyone other than a bone fide Nasa trained Astronaut to ‘Fly me around the Moon and back’. Who for example is going to give this the green light, whose decision will it be to take that risk, imagine all the health and safety issues (I can see that being a 10,000 page document just for starters! )
I really do not believe it is just me being cynical because in stark relaity space exploration is more than just a swift couple of Orbits around old faithful planet Earth, this is serious stuff, and we must always remember that. Nasa administrator Michael Griffin has said previously “I’m concerned about our ability to bring these new capabilities online by 2014. “If we do not quickly come to grips with this issue, we may have a prolonged gap between the end of the shuttle programme and the beginning of operational capability in our new systems, like that which occurred between 1975 and 1981, when we transitioned from Apollo to space shuttle.” He rightly also pointed out at the time that the gap led to the loss of engineering know-how within NASA.
To complete the International Space Station (ISS) by 2010 was a goal for the Bush government. Although its primary role is for research, we know that the ISS can also serve as intermediary between here and the moon. This was the Space Shuttle’s main purpose to help finish the assembly of the international Space Station. Shuttle’s retirement would see a new spacecraft developed that has to be capable of ferrying passengers and cargo to the ISS, and beyond our orbit to other worlds. A huge goal eh, sounds like competing with Captain James T Kirks job (though at least he had the Starship Enterprise and the equipment to achieve that).
This new proposed spacecraft will possibly be named: Crew Exploration Vehicle, with the project name’ Project Constellation’ Reaearching this we know that to date, every space vehicle placed into orbit has been propelled solely by rocket engines with both rocket and air breathing propulsion systems producing thrust by combusting various fuels with an oxidizer. Technology boffins tell us that an air-breathing engine will not function out in space, but it can get a vehicle into space while realizing significant reductions in take-off weight. This means that the current vision for the next SLV is to have multiple stages, one of which would incorporate an air breathing propulsion system that would operate before the vehicle leaves the Earth’s atmosphere. We know that all, the solid rocket boosters of the Space Shuttle separate while still in the atmosphere, which simply tells us that the whole first stage of the Shuttle could be replaced by an air-breathing engine. Brian Binnie and his record breaking Spaceship One operates just like this whilst riding piggyback on ‘The White Knight’ which is two J85GE-5s) powered aircraft right up until it reaches an altitude of 50,000 feet. What happens next is the spacecraft separates from its carrier and the rocket-powered stage of the ascent begins to the amazing achievement of outer space.
2014 is only 4 years away, and between now and then any sustainable project will have to go at some pace before regular space travel begins again, for NASA anyway! One must also not discount entirely other countries who see space exploration as their goal, China is looking at the Moon, it has already had Chinese Astronauts working on various Shuttle missions, and has the funds to pursue very seriously missions to more deeper space. Whatever happens we can expect a very international competitive spirit, of which working together can only ensure that quality , safety and genius remains, as it did on those early Mercury days…. Gary Royston Cole (16th May 2010)
If all else fails its Buzz Lightyear to the rescue!, “To infinity and beyond”
May 30th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Dude…..that post takes the cake !!!CHeers mate !!
June 19th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
Terrific work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the web. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this post higher!