Space Missions: Web Articles
Every Space Mission From the Last 50 Years On One Map? | Popular Science
"Well, here it is. National Geographic has plotted the route of every space mission carried out over the last 50 years onto a map of the solar system, giving a nice visual look at the history of space travel. Each line represents a different space mission, highlighting notable missions, including those from different countries, those of historical significance, and those which have failed." National Geographic has outdone themselves on this one, so check it out.
Returning to the moon: The Economist Debate
Natasha Loder moderates this Economist-sponsored debate titled, Returning to the Moon with the proposition that "This House should not send humans back to the Moon". Mike Gold, Director of the Washington, DC Office and Corporate Counsel for Bigelow Aerospace defends the motion. Gregg Maryniak, Director, James S. McDonnell Planetarium and VP, Energy and Aerospace, Saint Louis Science Centre is against the motion. Actually, Gold argues for returning to the moon utilizing commercial space sector capabilities and Maryniak argues for NASA returning to the moon but teamed with the commercial space sector. Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX President and Patti Grace Smith Aerospace Consultant and Former FAA Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation provide their postions, as guests of the debate. About 120 people provided commentary on the arguments. Check out the results by clicking the Summary box and get Loder's interesting summing up. This is a great way to get high-quality public input on a space-related challenge.
Astronomical Ink: Lunar reminiscences, or: we have a problem at 40 years | Knight Science Journalism Tracker
"It was a Cold War project that consumed a nation, defined a presidency and united the world". This collection of online articles on the 40th anniversay of the Apollo 11 mission from around the world is worth looking at. They were collected by the "Tracker" who is sponsored by the Knight Science Journalism project, and he is also a science journalist of some renown. He proposed three possible outcomes a decade hence at the 50th anniversary and for those of us still on the planet, it will be intersting to see which one emerges.
Shuttle Endeavour blasts off; debris strikes mulled | The Space Shot
This article focuses on what the Ecliptic Enterprises video cameras, attached to the STS-127 spacecraft, captured in both live and recorded versions about the debris falling from the external tank during the early July 15, 2009 launch period. The camera was mounted on the side of the external tank and clearly shows foam and/or ice hitting the Orbiter's heat shield surface. The astronauts will scan the area of suspected impact using the Endeavor's robot arm with a camera attached to the end prior to docking to the International Space Station. This "situational awareness" capability has transformed the ability to track performance and assess status of space missions and has become standard procedure for support of safe and efficient operations. The application of these commercial video tools for monitoring the ISS complex and future commercial cargo and crew transport operations will provide major benefits to both NASA and Eclliptic. This is an ongoing commercial space success story.
Open space - The Engineer
"There is a potentially potent force driving the development of space technology. One with a huge budget, an imagination unbridled by political red tape and the desire to fulfill a lifelong ambition whatever the cost: the space tourist. Space tourism, or private space exploration, is still an exceptionally new industry. Its nascent moment came in 2001 when US multi-millionaire Dennis Tito paid fledgling space tourism company Space Adventures around $20m (£12m) to be sent to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket. Five other millionaires have followed in his footsteps, most recently UK-born video-game developer Richard Garriot, who spent 10 days aboard the ISS at a reported cost of $30m. Considering the huge sums flying about, it is tempting to wonder what relevance these voyages could have to the rest of us. However, many believe that the dreams of this handful of millionaires have paved the way for a new generation of space technology that could put not just tourists but a host of scientific payloads into orbit at a fraction of today's costs." Garriott's trip is stimulating interesting discussions in the UK regarding space commerce. Thanks to Doug Messien of Parabolic Arc for this good find.
Space blanket deflects dangerous radiation | R&D
"Alien creatures are the least of NASA's worries when it comes to moon travel. There are several potential threats to future missions—with space radiation at the top of the list. Now, a group of students at North Carolina State University has developed a "blanket" of sorts that covers lunar outposts—the astronauts' living quarters—to provide astronauts protection against radiation while also generating and storing power."
Congressional Budget Office Report on NASA Released | NASA Watch
"In response to a directive in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has updated its 2004 report analyzing the budgetary implications of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) vision for the nation’s space exploration program."..."According to NASA, its current plans will require an average of $19.1 billion of funding annually from 2010 through 2025, with the Constellation program accounting for about half of the total by 2017. Under its current plans, the agency also intends to conduct 79 new robotic science missions through 2025, requiring funding of $4.7 billion annually, and to perform aeronautics research, at a cost of about $460 million annually." Commercial space appears to be evident only in the near future for support of crew and cargo transport operations. Operations is an area to be drastically cut in favor of space exploration funding expansion. Considering that the ISS operations are scheduled to continue and lunar operations to expand initially as Earth-based monitoring and then on the surface using directed robots, this budget shifting seems problematical.
World's Hardiest Organisms Face 3 Years in Space - Popular Mechanics
“When a Russian spacecraft sets off late in 2009 to scrape samples off the Martian moon Phobos, at least 10 of Earth’s toughest life-forms will be going along for the ride. The pioneering experiment, sponsored by the nonprofit Planetary Society, will test whether life can tolerate the deadly hazards of space for three years—long enough to hopscotch between planets.” How is this related to commercial space? This is one of the first studies to expose life to space for long durations beyond the magnetosphere that protects Earth from the worst radiation effects. Human habitation on the Moon for commercial purposes would also expose life to this high-energy radiation so this preliminary study can have broader value.