Technology: Reports
Endorsements Coming In for Obama's Space Plan
"President Obama’s new plan for NASA, released February 1st, is endorsed by bipartisan groups representing governors, former legislators, astronauts, and former NASA senior managers and a half dozen editorial boards." See the Commercial Space Federation's links to all and the good news for commercial space.
Solar Power Satellites
The latest issue of the "Online Journal of Space Communication" is devoted to Solar Power Satellites. "Evidence is building that 2010 will be the year this turns from an idea to the beginning of reality."
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.
Industry Consensus Statement on Improved Access to Space
“What role can—and should—the US government play in supporting the development of low-cost, responsive space transportation (flexible, quick access to space)? That is the question tackled in a one-page statement released today that represents the consensus of over two dozen companies and organizations in the industry. The genesis of this document was a one-day meeting held at the request of the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) in Los Angeles last October immediately before the Space Frontier Conference. AFRL wanted industry feedback on what it can do to promote the development of responsive space options by entrepreneurial firms. Those participants later decided to compile their opinions into a single document, although not at the request, nor with the endorsement, of AFRL.”
NASA ARC Wins Funding for Innovative Technology Partnerships
“NASA’s Vision for Space Exploration calls for robots and humans to return to the moon, Mars and beyond. And NASA Ames’ innovative partnerships with industry and academia will ensure cost-effective development of the breakthrough technologies needed. Responding to a call from the NASA Headquarters’ Innovative Partnerships Program (IPP), Ames and its collaborators recently submitted eight proposals for seed fund consideration. On the basis of technical merit, feasibility and leveraging of internal and external resources, Ames’ proposals were selected for award in four technically diverse areas encompassing the Science, Exploration Systems, Space Operations and Aeronautics mission directorates.” These projects are all public-private partnerships between government (NASA), academia and industry.
Can Power from Space Compete: The Future of Electricity Markets and the Competitive Challenge to Satellite Solar Power
“Satellite solar power (SSP) has been suggested as an alternative to terrestrial energy resources for electricity generation. In this study, we consider the market for electricity from the present (2000) to 2020, roughly the year when many experts expect SSP to be technically achievable. We identify several key challenges for SSP in competing with conventional electricity generation in developed and developing countries, discuss the role of market and economic analysis as technical development of SSP continues during the coming years, and suggest future research directions to improve understanding of the potential economic viability of SSP.”
Opening Space for Humanity:Applying Open Source Concepts to Human Space Activities
“Open source can clearly be applied in the space software area, including modeling and design tools, testing, ground software, and flight software. The paradigm can, however, be extended beyond software, in areas such as system design, compilation of reference data, system verification & validation procedures and associated results, and relevant education and training materials. Many individuals around the world are highly motivated towards contributing to the expansion of humanity into space. Applying open source principles towards space activities can provide them with a means of doing so. A new organization, DevelopSpace, has been created to aid in the advancement of such activities, focused on building up the technical foundations for human space activities, and doing so in an open manner.”
Space Solar Power
The National Space Society (NSS) has prepared a major overview of Space Solar Power (SSP) that includes a short summary article, links to their SSP Library, the path-breaking October 2007 SBSP Report to the US National Security Space Office (http://www.nss.org/settlement/ssp/library/nsso.htm), links to many web pages, articles, videos and audio interviews on this subject. They intend to keep this page updated so it can function as an integrated SSP site in itself. It is highly recommended as a rich resource.