May 25, 2011
Media Appearances to promote a New Start to the Space Program
Media appearances promoting a new start to the space porgram will include the John Batchelor show tonight http://johnbatchelorshow.com/, WBZ News Radio, and CBS News Radio this weekend.
Apollo Astronauts Neil Armstrong, Jim Lovell, and Gene Cernan Blast Administration for Cancelling
Today, three Apollo astronauts blasted President Obama for his decision to cancel the Constellation program to return to the moon and go to Mars. Neil Armstrong, Jim Lovell, and Gene Cernan.
“Obama’s advisers, in searching for a new and different NASA strategy with which the president could be favorably identified, ignored NASA’s operational mandate and strayed widely from President Kennedy’s vision."
Astronauts: Obama grounding space program
“Obama’s advisers, in searching for a new and different NASA strategy with which the president could be favorably identified, ignored NASA’s operational mandate and strayed widely from President Kennedy’s vision."
Astronauts: Obama grounding space program
May 6, 2011
Go Bold or Bust
Any plan to resurrect human space exploration will fail if it has no exact timeline when each step will occur, and if it stretches out over decades. The first danger is easy to understand; vague plans just never get carried out. JFK took us to the Moon because he specified we do it "in this decade." Without that goal, we may never have made it or perhaps given up after the Apollo 1 disaster. But we perservered as a nation and accomplished the impossible!
The second danger; 'decades-to-payoff,' is perhaps an even greater factor. Who will put up with billions in funding for something they may not live to see? The best plan in the world will fail if there's no payoff anywhere in sight to get excited about.
This is why undefined plans to get to Mars perhaps by 2035 are unlikely to attract the support needed to actually happen. The public won't get excited, and funding will be easy pickings for members of Congress who want to use that money for pork projects instead; and with the payoff decades in the future, who would notice?
Further, other nations will take advantage of American surrender of technological leadership, and will go where we won't--taking tech investments and the resulting highly-paid jobs from the US. Indeed, China has announced plans to land on the Moon around 2017-2020, they begin building their space station this year, and will have ready heavy lift rockets by 2014. Why should we effectively abandon human space exploration and let other countries reap all the rewards, investments, jobs and innovations?
Therefore, we encourage the public to support a bold and exciting space program which will excite the public and which will offer continued payoffs to build public--and thus Congressional--support. Here is an example of a bold plan, using as its core Buzz Aldrin's Mars colony plans:
Sample Timeline to Mars, Asteroids and the Moon:
2011 Begin development of ion or nuclear propulsion which would allow far shorter (and safer) voyages to Mars and beyond. This would be used for the first voyages if ready, otherwise use conventional rockets.
2011 Begin design and construction of a heavy lift rocket and lander to be ready no later than 2016. America built the Apollo system in just six years from scratch--with today's technology, existing development work on Constellation and 50 years of experience, it is ridiculous to claim we can't do it in the same or less time as in the 1960's.
2011 Begin development of automated Lunar/Mars water ice processing systems to make fuel, breathing air and drinking water.
2012 Begin using the space station to simulate long term Mars missions.
2014 or 2016 Launch a Mars soil and water return mission - make sure nothing is hazardous to humans, answer questions regarding past or present life, and to learn how better deal with Martian dust.
2016 Get a heavy lift rocket system in operation by this time and/or use "Shuttle-C" or other concepts until heavy lift is ready. As they are completed, spacecraft, landers and habitation modules would be parked at the space station for extensive testing.
2016 Return to the Moon: short trips to scout locations for a permanent base and investigate Lunar water ice for fuel and life support.
2016 Mars launch window for many possible launches.
2017 Begin long-term missions to the Moon to test systems for Mars. Establish a small colony living in similar modules as would be used on Mars. The Moon is the ideal test bed for long-term habitation technologies and physiological studies yet is just days to home in the event of emergencies. Technology which can be later used on Mars will be developed to extract metals, gasses and minerals from Moon rocks as well as to create fuel and breathing air from ice.
2018 Assemble at the space station the first of several interplanetary manned spacecraft, consisting perhaps of Bigelow-style inflatable modules to provide sufficient room for a long voyage, fuel and rocket modules, landers, Mars airplane, and more. Such craft could be tested on trips to the moon and asteroids before going to Mars. Like the shuttle, these would be reusable spaceships.
2018 Use this ideal launch window to send unmanned cargo ships with supplies, habitats, etc. to Mars for testing and for later use by later crewed launches. Robots would set up and operate equipment for long durations.
2018-2021 Possible missions to near-Earth asteroids and/or comets. This would further build experience for long duration spaceflights, while expanding our knowledge of the solar system.
Throughout this timeline would be robotic precursor missions to Mars and other destinations, including a Mars soil return mission and establishing several telecommunications satellites around Mars. Starting about 2017 there would be manned missions to the Moon and to a near-Earth asteroid, getting the public excited. Beyond Mars could come human missions to more asteroids and comets, a Venus orbital expedition, as well as voyages to such fascinating outer-planet moons as Titan, Europa and Enceladus.
This plan packs a lot of exciting action into just a few years. Will the public get excited? You bet! Will this help rebuild our economy and attract tech investments? You bet! Will this interest kids in studying science? You bet! Will Congress fund this? Yes, but only if the public demands it. That's you and and everyone together. Please support these goals: demand Congress support this bold plan, and ask your friends to join too. Please also help get your organization to join the Coalition to push this bold vision. Together we can succeed, sign up today and invite your friends.
Read Buzz Aldrin's interview where he outlines how to establish a Mars colony:
http://buzzaldrin.com/buzz-aldrin-is-not-all-that-impressed-with-walking-on-the-moon
Bold works! Go bold or bust!
The second danger; 'decades-to-payoff,' is perhaps an even greater factor. Who will put up with billions in funding for something they may not live to see? The best plan in the world will fail if there's no payoff anywhere in sight to get excited about.
This is why undefined plans to get to Mars perhaps by 2035 are unlikely to attract the support needed to actually happen. The public won't get excited, and funding will be easy pickings for members of Congress who want to use that money for pork projects instead; and with the payoff decades in the future, who would notice?
Further, other nations will take advantage of American surrender of technological leadership, and will go where we won't--taking tech investments and the resulting highly-paid jobs from the US. Indeed, China has announced plans to land on the Moon around 2017-2020, they begin building their space station this year, and will have ready heavy lift rockets by 2014. Why should we effectively abandon human space exploration and let other countries reap all the rewards, investments, jobs and innovations?
Therefore, we encourage the public to support a bold and exciting space program which will excite the public and which will offer continued payoffs to build public--and thus Congressional--support. Here is an example of a bold plan, using as its core Buzz Aldrin's Mars colony plans:
Sample Timeline to Mars, Asteroids and the Moon:
2011 Begin development of ion or nuclear propulsion which would allow far shorter (and safer) voyages to Mars and beyond. This would be used for the first voyages if ready, otherwise use conventional rockets.
2011 Begin design and construction of a heavy lift rocket and lander to be ready no later than 2016. America built the Apollo system in just six years from scratch--with today's technology, existing development work on Constellation and 50 years of experience, it is ridiculous to claim we can't do it in the same or less time as in the 1960's.
2011 Begin development of automated Lunar/Mars water ice processing systems to make fuel, breathing air and drinking water.
2012 Begin using the space station to simulate long term Mars missions.
2014 or 2016 Launch a Mars soil and water return mission - make sure nothing is hazardous to humans, answer questions regarding past or present life, and to learn how better deal with Martian dust.
2016 Get a heavy lift rocket system in operation by this time and/or use "Shuttle-C" or other concepts until heavy lift is ready. As they are completed, spacecraft, landers and habitation modules would be parked at the space station for extensive testing.
2016 Return to the Moon: short trips to scout locations for a permanent base and investigate Lunar water ice for fuel and life support.
2016 Mars launch window for many possible launches.
2018 Use this ideal launch window to send unmanned cargo ships with supplies, habitats, etc. to Mars for testing and for later use by later crewed launches. Robots would set up and operate equipment for long durations.
2018-2021 Possible missions to near-Earth asteroids and/or comets. This would further build experience for long duration spaceflights, while expanding our knowledge of the solar system.
 |
| The Next Step... Mars |
2020-2022-2025 Possible launch of the first human Mars mission. Astronauts would set up living modules, power systems, equipment to extract minerals and metals, equipment to make and store liquid oxygen & hydrogen for fuel and drinking water from ice, etc.
2025-2027? Launch of the next Mars permanent colony crew. Each crew would stay at minimum until the next return launch window, with some choosing to stay permanently. Additional supplies, habitation and manufacturing modules would arrive at each 26-month launch window.
2025-2027? Launch of the next Mars permanent colony crew. Each crew would stay at minimum until the next return launch window, with some choosing to stay permanently. Additional supplies, habitation and manufacturing modules would arrive at each 26-month launch window.
Throughout this timeline would be robotic precursor missions to Mars and other destinations, including a Mars soil return mission and establishing several telecommunications satellites around Mars. Starting about 2017 there would be manned missions to the Moon and to a near-Earth asteroid, getting the public excited. Beyond Mars could come human missions to more asteroids and comets, a Venus orbital expedition, as well as voyages to such fascinating outer-planet moons as Titan, Europa and Enceladus.
 |
| Outer Planetary Moon Landings in the Future |
The 50th anniversary of the Moon landing, in 2019, should be commemorated not as a wistful look back at a period when America did great things, but celebrated by astronauts from an asteroid and from the Moon! By this time, America's economy would rock! As the reinvigorated high-tech leader in the world, job growth would be in overdrive as would be tech investments, and spinoff inventions might offer advances in clean, plentiful energy and new ways to clean up the environment. The 60th anniversary in 2029 should find permanent bases on the Moon and Mars, and other exciting voyages in the solar system occurring regularly.
Remember the perspective: the Bear Stearns bailout cost about $30 billion. Just one year in Iraq and Afghanistan costs about $130 billion. Let's show where our priorities should be and launch a bright, exciting future for all Americans--and rebuild our economy as a result. Funding for the space program is always an investment; an investment in leadership in technology and jobs. Perhaps several trips could be made to the Moon and Mars for the cost of just a year in Afghanistan and Iraq.
This plan packs a lot of exciting action into just a few years. Will the public get excited? You bet! Will this help rebuild our economy and attract tech investments? You bet! Will this interest kids in studying science? You bet! Will Congress fund this? Yes, but only if the public demands it. That's you and and everyone together. Please support these goals: demand Congress support this bold plan, and ask your friends to join too. Please also help get your organization to join the Coalition to push this bold vision. Together we can succeed, sign up today and invite your friends.
http://buzzaldrin.com/buzz-aldrin-is-not-all-that-impressed-with-walking-on-the-moon
Bold works! Go bold or bust!
May 5, 2011
50th Anniversary of America's First Man in Space!
Let us remember America's first man in space! 50 years today, Alan Shepard made history as America launched a bold space program which would take us to the Moon in under a decade. Alan Shepard would later be the commander of Apollo 14.
With the cancellation of Constellation and plans to return to the moon, as well as the retirement of the space shuttles, let us not end our human exploration of space on this 50th year, but rededicate our great nation to return to the Moon and visit an asteroid in this decade; and land on Mars by 2025 or sooner.
Call your members of Congress 202-224-3121 and the White House in support of a new, bold space program! Blog it! Get the word out on Twitter, Facebook and email!
Read the story of the IBM computers used for the mission and tracking:
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9216469/IBM_celebrates_tech_behind_first_U.S._manned_space_flight?taxonomyId=13
Please enjoy these photos of Alan Shepard's accomplishments both on America's first manned launch and Apollo 14.
NASA commemorated Alan Shepard's historic mission by naming a crater on Mars after him
(Photo credits: NASA)
With the cancellation of Constellation and plans to return to the moon, as well as the retirement of the space shuttles, let us not end our human exploration of space on this 50th year, but rededicate our great nation to return to the Moon and visit an asteroid in this decade; and land on Mars by 2025 or sooner.
Call your members of Congress 202-224-3121 and the White House in support of a new, bold space program! Blog it! Get the word out on Twitter, Facebook and email!
Read the story of the IBM computers used for the mission and tracking:
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9216469/IBM_celebrates_tech_behind_first_U.S._manned_space_flight?taxonomyId=13
Please enjoy these photos of Alan Shepard's accomplishments both on America's first manned launch and Apollo 14.
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(Photo credits: NASA)
April 26, 2011
YOU Can Commemorate 50 Years of Human Spaceflight--By Helping Launch a New Space Program!
Two historic anniversaries occur in May. May 5th, 1961 was the day Alan Shepard became the first American in space, and May 25, 1961, the day President Kennedy launched the nation to land on the Moon "in this decade."
Lets not wait decades to next send Americans beyond Earth orbit. We can return to the Moon and establish a permanent base there to test components for Mars in this decade. We can go to an asteroid in this decade. And perhaps by 2025 we can launch the mission to Mars which will open a wonderful chapter in human history as we land on Mars!
Remember it took just six years to build the complete Apollo system--Saturn rockets, capsule, lunar lander, launch pad, computers, spacesuits, rovers--everything! Now, after fifty years of experience in space and great advances in technology, the idea we must wait decades is ridiculous!
You can help make this happen! Here's the campaign:
Between now and May 25, let's all spread the word to call Congress and the White House in support of a new "in this decade" plan to return to the Moon and visit an asteroid in this decade; and to land on Mars as soon afterwards as possible, perhaps by 2025.
Space is a national priority and Congress and the White House must offer sufficient support, or we effectively cede leadership in high technology to those nations willing to take bold actions. They, not us will reap the rewards of high tech leadership, jobs and investments. They, not us will reap the rewards from new technologies developed as they reach new worlds without us. That's our future if we sit this out and accept a second-class status in the world.
So lets go bold and make this a big campaign which will help make history.
Call Congress at 202-224-3121, the White House is 202-456-1111.
Tweet it, Facebook it, email it; let's make this huge!
Let's launch a new space program now!
Lets not wait decades to next send Americans beyond Earth orbit. We can return to the Moon and establish a permanent base there to test components for Mars in this decade. We can go to an asteroid in this decade. And perhaps by 2025 we can launch the mission to Mars which will open a wonderful chapter in human history as we land on Mars!
Remember it took just six years to build the complete Apollo system--Saturn rockets, capsule, lunar lander, launch pad, computers, spacesuits, rovers--everything! Now, after fifty years of experience in space and great advances in technology, the idea we must wait decades is ridiculous!
You can help make this happen! Here's the campaign:
Between now and May 25, let's all spread the word to call Congress and the White House in support of a new "in this decade" plan to return to the Moon and visit an asteroid in this decade; and to land on Mars as soon afterwards as possible, perhaps by 2025.
Space is a national priority and Congress and the White House must offer sufficient support, or we effectively cede leadership in high technology to those nations willing to take bold actions. They, not us will reap the rewards of high tech leadership, jobs and investments. They, not us will reap the rewards from new technologies developed as they reach new worlds without us. That's our future if we sit this out and accept a second-class status in the world.
So lets go bold and make this a big campaign which will help make history.
Call Congress at 202-224-3121, the White House is 202-456-1111.
Tweet it, Facebook it, email it; let's make this huge!
Let's launch a new space program now!
April 13, 2011
50th Anniversary of First Man in Space: Russia Announces Plans to go to Moon & Mars, US Announces Final Resting Places for Shuttles
On this date, April 12, 1961, the Russians launched the first man, Yuri Gagarin, into orbit in space; a truly great feat in human history.
This helped inspire Americans to go to the Moon, harnessing American ingenuity and can-do spirit! That first step on the surface of another world was perhaps the greatest feat in human history. It must not be our last great feat.
Russia has announced new plans to build a permanent base on the Moon, mine helium3, and go to Mars--an ambitious program to take the lead in space exploration and technological development.
Important Article:
http://blogs.forbes.com/kenrapoza/2011/04/12/will-russia-win-the-next-space-race/
Going for Helium3:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/8435374/Russia-vows-to-build-base-on-the-Moon.html
The Benefits of Space Exploration--as Seen by Russians:
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/The_Benefits_Of_Space_Exploration_999.html
Today also marks the 30th anniversary of the first space shuttle launch, also a feat worthy of great honor. NASA sadly used the occassion to announce how to dole out the relics of our once-great space program: where the shuttles would be displayed. The administration had earlier cancelled the Ares V rocket which could take Americans to the Moon and Mars, and cancelled even the plans to go to the Moon at all, rendering a US human Mars mission essentially impossible.
It is not too late. Perhaps our leaders can awaken to the dangers of abandoning American leadership in space--losing the jobs, skills, technology, and investments to other countries. A good date to reverse course would be May 5th, the 50th anniversary of America's first man in space; Alan Shepard. A better date might be to use the 50th anniversary of JFK's famous speech that put us on a specific course for the Moon "in this decade." Mr. President, launch America back to leadership in space and you will launch America back to prosperity.
Indeed we could build a manned base on the Moon "in this decade" which would be used to develop and test the technology to use for a Mars mission. We could also complete a manned mission to an asteroid "in this decade." The technological hurtles are far less than those which faced American engineers in 1961 in building Apollo. The rewards in tech investments, jobs and new inventions will help secure a prosperous future for all Americans.
And here's a desperate plea to save the shuttles. Discovery has already been destroyed as a flightworthy spacecraft (many systems were removed for museum display), but you can still accept United Space Alliance's proposal to privately operate Endeavour and Atlantis. You must do it now, for soon after Endeavour's last mission, she too will be gutted and made impossible to ever fly again.
This helped inspire Americans to go to the Moon, harnessing American ingenuity and can-do spirit! That first step on the surface of another world was perhaps the greatest feat in human history. It must not be our last great feat.
Russia has announced new plans to build a permanent base on the Moon, mine helium3, and go to Mars--an ambitious program to take the lead in space exploration and technological development.
Important Article:
http://blogs.forbes.com/kenrapoza/2011/04/12/will-russia-win-the-next-space-race/
Going for Helium3:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/8435374/Russia-vows-to-build-base-on-the-Moon.html
The Benefits of Space Exploration--as Seen by Russians:
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/The_Benefits_Of_Space_Exploration_999.html
Today also marks the 30th anniversary of the first space shuttle launch, also a feat worthy of great honor. NASA sadly used the occassion to announce how to dole out the relics of our once-great space program: where the shuttles would be displayed. The administration had earlier cancelled the Ares V rocket which could take Americans to the Moon and Mars, and cancelled even the plans to go to the Moon at all, rendering a US human Mars mission essentially impossible.
It is not too late. Perhaps our leaders can awaken to the dangers of abandoning American leadership in space--losing the jobs, skills, technology, and investments to other countries. A good date to reverse course would be May 5th, the 50th anniversary of America's first man in space; Alan Shepard. A better date might be to use the 50th anniversary of JFK's famous speech that put us on a specific course for the Moon "in this decade." Mr. President, launch America back to leadership in space and you will launch America back to prosperity.
Indeed we could build a manned base on the Moon "in this decade" which would be used to develop and test the technology to use for a Mars mission. We could also complete a manned mission to an asteroid "in this decade." The technological hurtles are far less than those which faced American engineers in 1961 in building Apollo. The rewards in tech investments, jobs and new inventions will help secure a prosperous future for all Americans.
And here's a desperate plea to save the shuttles. Discovery has already been destroyed as a flightworthy spacecraft (many systems were removed for museum display), but you can still accept United Space Alliance's proposal to privately operate Endeavour and Atlantis. You must do it now, for soon after Endeavour's last mission, she too will be gutted and made impossible to ever fly again.
April 12, 2011
Welcome to the Coalition to Save Manned Space Exploration
If you support a bold human space exploration program following the "in this decade" vision set by President Kennedy, you are invited to participate by calling and writing your Senators and Representatives in support of:
The Coalition to Save Manned Space Exploration is a completely non-partisan project of The Conservative Caucus; a Virginia-based public policy organization: http://www.conservativeusa.org/. To achieve our shared space goals, Americans on all sides must work together in a large coalition. Sign up for more information and actions you can take to restore the dream and make it reality; not in the distant future, but in this decade! Organizations, experts, astronauts, and all individuals are invited to join the Coalition and to assist in promoting the goals of the Coalition. Sign up for email alerts, email us for more information.
- Saving the Space Shuttles until replacements are ready. There is still time for NASA to accept United Space Alliance's offer to continue flying the shuttles as a private venture. America must not rely entirely on Russian launches at similar cost and become subject to potential pressure by Russia on foreign and defense policies to keep providing launches. Each orbiter was designed for 100 launches each, and none have come anywhere close: Atlantis: 32, Discovery: 39, Endeavour: 24; so we are throwing away a valuable national resource without cause. Discovery is already being stripped and is no longer capable of flight, to time is of the essence to save the others.
- Saving the the International Space Station (ISS): the July 2010 cooling system failure on the ISS was a wakeup call that without the heavy lift and return capabilities of the shuttles, the entire $100 billion station could be lost if there is a critical failure which a single shuttle flight could have fixed. This is a totally preventable risk if even one shuttle is kept in operation on at least a "launch on need" basis. Every component of the ISS fits in the shuttle, only relatively small parts fit in a Russian Progress capsule. ISS can last virtually indefinitely as long as we can supply spare parts as needed, and it will be essential as a base for assembling spacecraft for missions to asteroids, the Moon, Mars and beyond. We must not risk losing this national treasure.
- Building now or improving the Constellation Program which can take us to the Moon, Mars and beyond. Delaying until the 2030's will find China, Russia and others will have already been there, and they will have taken the lead in technological leadership in the world--and gained the resulting jobs, innovations, and national wealth entirely at our expense. China is building their heavy lift to launch in 2014, is going to the Moon as early as 2017, and launches the first module of their own space station this year. Cancelling Constellation now would be like cancelling Apollo in 1965--robbing us of our future! Aries I mostly duplicates Space X's and similar private crew launch vehicles, but Aries V or a derivative should be built. Space X has proposed building a medium-heavy lift rocket, and perhaps they can fill the vaccuum with a Saturn-class rocket capable of launching Lunar and Martian spacecraft and habitats. We have invested billions into Constellation and starting from scratch to build a similar rocket would take years longer and cost far more. NASA could simply give the plans and tooling to Space X or others and offer to buy launches if they build it; that may save money and get it done sooner.
- Encouraging private space launches for ISS crews and supplies, exploration to the Moon and beyond, space industrialization and power generation, and tourism. Opposing regulations which would hinder the creation of a vibrant private space market.
- Adopting a bold, exciting space program which will return Americans to the Moon and visit a near-Earth asteroid in this decade, and land on Mars by 2022 or no later than 2025. A vague program set decades in the future is the death of manned space exploration; it will never happen. Please see our sample timetable of possible missions below.
The Coalition to Save Manned Space Exploration is a completely non-partisan project of The Conservative Caucus; a Virginia-based public policy organization: http://www.conservativeusa.org/. To achieve our shared space goals, Americans on all sides must work together in a large coalition. Sign up for more information and actions you can take to restore the dream and make it reality; not in the distant future, but in this decade! Organizations, experts, astronauts, and all individuals are invited to join the Coalition and to assist in promoting the goals of the Coalition. Sign up for email alerts, email us for more information.
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