Societal Benefits: Reports
Space, Gravity and the Physiology of Aging: Parallel or Convergent Disciplines?
Vernikos and Schneider are space life scientists who have conducted research for years within NASA on the similarities and intriguing differences between the rapid aging effects seen during the gravity deficit experienced in spaceflight, in best rest which simulates some of these changes on Earth by minimizing gravity effects, and within the aging process as we grow older and tend to be much less active. They conclude that the research in these areas is actually converging to the benefit of better understanding of the critical role of gravity in keeping us fit and active. They prepared this short review article for a journal titled, "Gerontology", but it is accessible to all interested readers. There are potential commercial applications to utilizing this knowledge to allow us to experience "active aging" and lead a more vital life.
Review of Human Spaceflight Plans Committee - Final Report | NASA
Here's the options agenda to support heated discussions over the next few days and weeks by NASA and the Obama administration. Commercial space seems to be baselined.
NASA Chief Onboard with Commercial Spaceflight, Suborbital Science & Innovation Prizes
Bolden says NASA must leverage the power and innovation of American industry and the American entrepreneur as it is tasked to do.
Sustainable Utilization of the ISS Beyond 2015 | IAC 2009
"This International Astronautical Congress (IAC) session summary addresses the significant and unique value of the International Space Station (ISS), with growing potential to deliver future benefits beyond 2015, in areas such as: biotechnology and life sciences; Earth imaging; engineering research and technology; materials science; and various commercial applications. Presenters also considered how enhanced management of operations costs can maximize ISS productivity."
Chairs: Paul Eckert, Boeing (Human Space Endeavours Symposium); Helmut Luttman, EADS Astrium (Space Operations Symposium)
Rapporteur: Rachid Amekrane, EADS Astrium (Human Space Endeavours Symposium)
Humans to Mars: Logical Step or Dangerous Distraction? | AIAA Space 2009
"This paper examines post-Apollo proposals for human exploration of Mars and assesses their failure to win enduring political and public support. There are lessons to be learned that are applicable to current exploration efforts. Foremost among them is that the path to solar system exploration that has dominated the space community's thinking since the 1950s may not be a logical or politically feasible approach for the 21st century. The paper proposes that human exploration of the Moon and Mars should be decoupled and treated as separate ventures with each justified by its own merits and pursued at its own pace." Good arguments are made for this viewpoint which include the role of commercial space and public benefits.
Severe Space Weather Events:Understanding Societal and Economic Impacts: A Workshop Report
"The adverse effects of extreme space weather on modern technology--power grid outages, high-frequency communication blackouts, spacecraft anomalies--are well known and well documented, and the physical processes underlying space weather are generally well understood. Less well documented and understood, however, are the potential economic and societal impacts of the disruption of critical technological systems by severe space weather. As a first step toward determining the socioeconomic impacts of extreme space weather events and addressing the questions of space weather risk assessment and management, a public workshop was held in May 2008."
Innovation-Driven Economic Development Model
The Collaborative Economics organization prepared this report for the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, acting as subcontractor to the California Space Authority and their Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development grant (WIRED - Dept of Labor) to the State of California. Its content can be summarized by the quote below (from a report of the Strengthening America's Communities Advisory Committee) that is highly applicable to global collaboration for economic growth in commercial space.
"Globalization has fundamentally transformed the American economy. Regions - defined by economic rather than political boundaries - are the new building blocks of prosperity. In the 21st Century, America's communities will derive economic strength by acting regionally to compete globally. Innovation and entrepreneurship are the new engines of job creation, productivity, growth, economic prosperity and healthy communities" The Commercial Space Gateway is designed to help foster this strategy.
Mid & Long-term Prospects for Human Spaceflight | Center for Strategic & International Studies
"The next decade, ushered in by the new U.S. president and his administration, will be crucial to space exploration. Indeed, during the next decade, the Space Shuttle will have to be retired, the International Space Station (ISS) made a visible success, and humans returned to the moon. In fact, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently identified retirement of the Space Shuttle as one of the 13 most urgent issues that the new administration will need to address. Accordingly, CSIS put together a select working group to provide objective, bipartisan, and pragmatic insights into this complex set of issues." These recommendations have major relevance to the future of entrepreneurial space commerce. This May 2009 report can be purchased online at this url.
Lunar Science: Window to the Past and Stepping Stone to the Future | NLSI
This recent white paper sent to the Augustine Panel by NASA describes how "the NLSI will bring together scientists and engineers from the academic community and NASA Centers to advance lunar science, support both human and robotic missions to the Moon, train the next generation of lunar scientists and communicate the excitement of this scientific exploration to the public." The Google Lunar X-prize announced in Sept '07 has galvanized the emerging entrepreneurial space community. Nineteen international teams are registered and this will inevitably spur development of a commercial lunar industry. NASA is having policy discussions focused on allowing NASA to buy services including payload transport to the Moon from these companies once reliable capabilities are demonstrated. NLSI is pursuing options to contribute small science payloads to private missions to the Moon". Stay tuned.
Fifty Years and Beyond | NASA Headquarters
This is an excellent short (20 page) profile of NASA and some of its people in 2008 on its 50th birthday. Written by key staff in the NASA History Office it will be of interest to NASA veterans as well as the general public.