Posted by Raimondo Pictet | 5 comments
NASA’s bold new plan
Three months ago, NASA conducted the first test takeoff of the rocket that was supposed to replace the Space Shuttle: Ares 1. Nine billion dollars have already been spent on the Constellation program to develop Ares 1, the Orion capsule that would sit on top, and the heavy launcher Ares V.
The Constellation program originated from Bush’s “Vision for Space Exploration” instigated in 2004. Send men to the Moon in 2020, build up some sort of permanent base up there and then head for Mars! That sounded cool alright.
Yesterday, the Obama administration announced a big and difficult decision within the budget proposal for fiscal year 2011. That is, the cancellation of the entire Constellation program. The sadest part is the billions of dollars that have been virtually flushed down the drain. In fact, 2.5 billion more dollars will have to be spent to close the program.
Norman R. Augustine, chairman of the Review of United States Human Space Flight Plans Committee, stated that the Constellation program was “highly unlikely to get humans to the International Space Station before its planned de-orbit.” Canceling the Constellation program will make more funds available to maintain the International Space Station in orbit.
Then what’s the plan for actually sending American astronauts in space? The Space Shuttle is retiring by the end of 2010. Make way for the commercial space race! NASA’s COTS (Commercial Orbital Transportation Serivices) program will seek to help the private sector develop sustainable space technologies, and will probably be expanded to cover manned space transportation systems.
As Will Whitehorn – President of Virgin Galactic – said in a commercial for SpaceShipTwo, “access to space really does matter for the future of mankind, and currently we only have fifty year-old space systems to get there, which are very expensive, and very environmentally damaging.” The Constellation Program wasn’t, in terms of propulsion systems and energetic efficiency, very innovative.
According a factsheet published yesterday on the White House’s official website, “the [Constellation] program was over budget, behind schedule, and lacking in innovation due to a failure to invest in critical new technologies.”
Obama is not planning on sinking the American aspiration to return to the moon altogether. The problem with the Constellation program was that it was meant to repeat the achievements of the Apollo program half a century later, without significantly developing sustainable systems that would actually end up benefiting the nation in a near or distant future. Obama’s plan is to shift the funds to develop new technologies, and re-boost areas such as robotic space exploration, science and Earth observations, lately underfunded because of the Constellation program.
“Imagine trips to Mars that take weeks instead of nearly a year; people fanning out across the inner solar system, exploring the Moon, asteroids and Mars nearly simultaneously in a steady stream of firsts… That is what the President’s plan for NASA will enable, once we develop the new capabilities to make it a reality,” stated NASA Administrator and ex-astronaut Charlie Bolden during yesterday’s press conference.
Obama is not proposing to cancel the Constellation program because of a lack of funds: NASA’s overall budget will see a six billion dollar increase over the five next years. In fact, while many today are lamenting this dramatic turn of direction NASA will take (if the bill makes its way through Congress), others rejoice the dawn of a new era. Bolden stated “today we are launching a bold and ambitious new space initiative to enable us to explore new worlds, develop more innovative technologies, foster new industries, increase our understanding of the earth, expand our presence in the solar system, and inspire the next-generation of explorers…”
I never actually thought against the Constellation program. After reading the news for the first time, I was outraged. Soon enough, I realized that I had never actually given a second thought on the matter. Perhaps I was excited to see past achievements re-enacted during my lifetime. The Apollo era has always fascinated me, but all I have been able to do is watch Ron Howard’s Apollo 13 countless times.
Here is a statement by one of space exploration’s most important pioneers:
“Today I wish to endorse strongly the President’s new direction for NASA. As an Apollo astronaut, I know the importance of always pushing new frontiers as we explore space. The truth is, that we have already been to the Moon – some 40 years ago. A near-term focus on lowering the cost of access to space and on developing key, cutting-edge technologies to take us further, faster, is just what our Nation needs to maintain its position as the leader in space exploration for the rest of this century. We need to be in this for the long haul, and this program will allow us to again be pushing the boundaries to achieve new and challenging things beyond Earth. I hope NASA will embrace this new direction as much as I do, and help us all continue to use space exploration to drive prosperity and innovation right here on Earth.
“I also believe the steps we will be taking following the President’s direction will best position NASA and other space agencies to send humans to Mars and other exciting destinations as quickly as possible. To do that, we will need to support many types of game-changing technologies NASA and its partners will be developing. Mars is the next frontier for humankind, and NASA will be leading the way there if we aggressively support the President’s plans.
“Finally, I am excited to think that the development of commercial capabilities to send humans into low earth orbit will likely result in so many more earthlings being able to experience the transformative power of spaceflight. I can personally attest to the fact that the experience results in a different perspective on life on Earth, and on our future as a species. I applaud the President for working to make this dream a reality.
Buzz Aldrin
Feb. 1, 2010
You have to admit, that is pretty convincing. I think this new plan has been very well thought out. Or maybe Bush’s plan wasn’t thought out at all in the first place.
There are millions of comments around the web criticizing the administration’s decision. Some of which arguing we should return to the moon as planned because the Apollo program generated 14 times more wealth than it cost by having pioneered the development of kitchen electronics and teflon frying pans. If you’re one of those who don’t agree with Buzz, I strongly recommend you read all the different statements by the various professionals out there and NASA’s official budget overview. I wasn’t convinced a few hours ago, since I am one of those crazy dudes who believe space exploration is essential to our survival on the long run. The new plans might not seem as inspiring as Bush’s “vision”, but they surely are more sustainable.
I guess I will have a long beard when man will at last set foot on the moon again. Unless he speaks Chinese.
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Photo by Clara Molden
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