| Vera Hirschberg
Headquarters, Washington, D.C. May 31, 1990
(Phone: 202/453-9183) 3:30 P.M. EDT
RELEASE: 90-74
NASA ADMINISTRATOR ANNOUNCES EXPLORATION OUTREACH PROGRAM
NASA Administrator Richard H. Truly today announced that
NASA has launched an Outreach Program to seek new and innovative
ideas, systems and technologies to carry out the nation's Space
Exploration Initiative (SEI). The Outreach Program is in
response to Vice President Quayle's request to "cast the nets
widely" for new approaches.
Truly today also announced the appointment of former
astronaut Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Stafford, USAF (Retired), as
Chairman of the Synthesis Group, which will play a key role in
the Outreach Program. This group will study innovative ideas and
recommend two or more significantly different alternative
architectures, as well as technology priorities and early
milestones. The group will report to Truly.
The Outreach Program seeks approaches to mission and system
concepts; and innovative, high leverage technologies that could
significantly affect cost, schedule and performance for SEI,
which sets the future course of the U.S. civil space program.
President Bush announced the SEI on July 20, 1989, the 20th
anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. At that time, he
proposed a long-term continuing commitment to complete Space
Station Freedom; return permanently to the Moon; and send a
manned expedition to Mars. On May 11, 1990, in a speech at Texas
A&I University, President Bush declared that before the 50th
anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing (2019), "the American
flag should be planted on Mars."
Truly said the SEI outreach program is "solid and thorough"
and "will leave no stone unturned to reach out to the very best
and brightest in our nation." To gather information, concepts
and data from the most creative minds in government, industry,
academia and elsewhere, Truly said the program takes a three
pronged approach. This consists of direct solicitation of ideas;
a review of Federally sponsored research; and a study by the
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
The solicitation effort will include a letter from Truly to
organizations that can provide the highest leverage, such as
universities, professional societies, associations and others. It
also will include an announcement in Commerce Business Daily,
which reaches aerospace and non-aerospace industries and others.
The Rand Corporation will conduct an initial screening and
assessment of submissions and report to an external Synthesis
Group to be composed of government and non-government
individuals. The Synthesis Group will report directly to the
NASA Administrator. This group also will receive inputs from the
Department of Defense, the Department of Energy and other
organizations. The results of this activity will also be made
available to the National Research Council for review.
The AIAA study is already underway. Its purpose is to
solicit and assess innovative approaches to SEI from AIAA's
40,000-person membership and technical working groups. Reports
will be coordinated at a conference and workshop to be sponsored
by AIAA in September 1990.
-end-
NASA news releases and other information are available
electronically on CompuServe and GEnie, the General Electric
Network for Information Exchange. For information on CompuServe,
call 1-800/848-8199 and ask for representative 176. For
information on GEnie, call 1-800/638-9636.
From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: NASA Administrator announces exploration Outreach Program (Forwarded)
Date: 3 Jun 90 05:56:48 GMT
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
|
| Date: 4 Jul 90 01:29:35 GMT
From: [email protected] (Richard A. Schumacher)
Subject: NASA Space Exploration Outreach Program
[Following is the pamphlet "Answers to Questions About the Space
Exploration Outreach Program", part of the Program Response Packet.
Items in quotation marks or in initial capitals generally refer to
other materials in the Packet.]
For additional response packets call: 1-800-677-7796
For other information call: 1-800-843-9620
WHO MAY SUBMIT AN IDEA?
We welcome ideas from all sources, including universties, technical
and professional associations, and industry as well as individual
scientists, engineers and the general public.
MAY A NON-U.S. COMPANY, CITIZEN, OR ORGANIZATION SUBMIT IDEAS?
Yes. However, consideration and acceptance of ideas from non-U.S
sources does not imply that NASA will eventually enter into specific
agreements with those individuals or organizations. This Outreach
Program is not part of, and does not in any way substitute for, the
government-to-government exploratory dialogue that the U.S. will
undertake with other countries on conceptual possibilities for
international cooperation in the Space Exploration Initiative.
WHAT HAPPENS TO MY RESPONSE?
Your idea will be logged in and acknowledged by mail. It will be
read and may be analyzed, evaluated, and combined with other ideas
to develop a synthesis that represents the most promising
alternatives for exploring space. The architectures, systems and
technologies that emerge will undergo intensive analysis,
development, and demonstration over the next few years. The results
of this process will establish an operational agenda for development
of our space program.
HOW DO I SUBMIT MY IDEA?
1. FILL OUT AND RETURN THE "INTENT TO RESPOND" FORM IN THE POSTPAID
ENVELOPE ADDRESSED TO:
*Use this address The RAND Corporation
for Intent to Space Exploration Outreach Program
Respond forms*:--> Santa Monica, CA 90406-2138
The purpose of this form is to allow us to prepare adequate and
appropriate resources for analyzing responses. *Please return this
form within five days of receiving these materials* and provide your
best estimate of the number and kinds of ideas you intend to submit.
You may submit as many ideas as you wish, but please send in only
one "Intent to Respond" form.
2. THEN PREPARE A SEPARATE SUBMISSION FOR EACH IDEA. Include a
separate "Cover Sheet" for each idea and prepare the 2-page Summary
and optional 10-page (maximum) Back-Up Paper for each idea according
to the enclosed Guidelines.
3. INCLUDE A PEEL-OFF LABEL ADDRESSED TO YOU WITH EACH SUBMISSION
so that we may quickly acknowledge the receipt of your submission.
4. PLEASE PLACE EACH IDEA IN A SEPARATE ENVELOPE and mail it to:
*Use this address Space Exploration Outreach Program
to submit P.O.Box 713003
responses*:--> Los Angeles, CA 90071
If you intend to submit more than one idea and need additional
response packages, please call 1-800-677-7796. Alternatively, you
may make copies of the "Cover Sheet" in the package you have and
use your own self-addressed labels for acknowledgement of receipt.
You may put your own identification number on each acknowledgement
label if you wish to track receipt of your responses individually.
WHAT IS THE DUE DATE FOR MY RESPONSE?
The due date for receipt at the P.O.Box is August 15, 1990. Late
submissions will be accepted, but may not be considered as part of
the initial review and synthesis process. If you wish, you may send
responses via U.S.Post Office Express Mail to the P.O.Box.
MAY I SEND MY RESPONSE VIA FACSIMILE (FAX)?
No, we regret that we cannot accept responses via fax. Responses
received this way will not be acknowledged and will not be considered
as part of this process.
MAY I SEND MY RESPONSE VIA AN EXPRESS DELIVERY SERVICE?
No, we can only accept responses at U.S.P.O.Box 713003. Responses
received in any other way will not be acknowledged and will not be
considered as part of this process.
WILL I BE ASKED TO PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION?
Possibly. Analysis of some ideas may require additional information.
In this case you will be contacted directly by The RAND Corporation
using the name, address, and telephone number you provide on the
Cover Sheet for your response. Unfortunately, we cannot respond to
unsolicited offers of oral presentations or discussion of ideas.
SHOULD I SUBMIT PROPRIETARY INFORMATION?
No, proprietary information should NOT be submitted to The RAND
Corporation. If you have a new and innovative idea you believe to
be proprietary, you may submit a *non-proprietary description* of
that idea. This non-proprietary description will be the sole basis
for evaluation. In the event additional information is required,
you will be contacted about how to submit proprietary details. Any
information marked proprietary will not be considered as part of
this process and will be destroyed.
WHAT ABOUT CLASSIFIED MATERIAL?
No classified material should be submitted. Do not mark any
material as proprietary, classified, secret, or confidential.
Material with any such markings will be destroyed and will not be
considered as part of this process.
WILL I BE COMPENSATED IN ANY WAY?
No, we have tried to keep the process of submitting ideas simple,
but we cannot compensate you for the cost of submitting them or
for any use of the submissions. While this solicitation is
intended to begin the process of setting an agenda for developing
space exploration, it is not tied to any direct funding.
HOW WILL I BE RECOGNIZED?
All ideas received will be acknowledged and may be included in the
database from which the nation's Space Exploration Initiative
will be derived.
HOW WILL I FIND OUT THE RESULTS OF THIS PROCESS?
Any participant who requests one will receive a summary report
which is expected to be available mid-1991. We regret that we
cannot provide interim status reports or results on an individual
basis.
WHERE CAN I CALL FOR ADDITIONAL RESPONSE PACKETS?
If you need additional response packets, please call
1-800-677-7796.
WHERE CAN I CALL FOR OTHER INFORMATION?
If you have questions about the response packet or procedures you
should call 1-800-843-9620.
Staff at these numbers cannot provide any information about the
suitability of ideas for submission or the criteria for evaluation.
|
| From: [email protected] (Peter Yee)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Vera Hirschberg
Headquarters, Washington, D.C. August 22, 1990
(Phone: 202/453-2907)
RELEASE: 90-114
RESPONSE TO SEI OUTREACH PROGRAM STRONG, NASA SAYS
NASA announced today that response has been strong to its
request for ideas on how to return to the Moon permanently and
begin human exploration of Mars. The ideas were solicited under
NASA's Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) Outreach Program
announced by NASA Administrator Richard H. Truly on May 31.
The Outreach Program consists of three primary channels for
ideas, which will be provided directly to a Synthesis Group,
chaired by Lt. General Thomas P. Stafford, USAF (Ret.). Under
the program, the RAND Corporation is analyzing ideas from
industry, universities, associations and the public; the American
Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) solicited ideas
from its members; and Federal agencies were invited to provide
direct input to the Synthesis Group. The Synthesis Group is
responsible for synthesizing the inputs from all sources into
several architectures for the SEI and for identifying early
milestones and promising technologies, as well.
The AIAA has received more than 400 ideas from its
members. The ideas will be the focus of a conference on
"Innovative Technologies for the Exploration of Space," co-
sponsored by NASA and the AIAA on September 5 and 6 at the Ramada
Renaissance Techworld, Washington, D.C.
General Stafford will be the keynote speaker at the
conference on September 5. He will be followed by Arnold
Aldrich, Associate Administrator of NASA's Office of Aeronautics,
Exploration and Technology, who will speak on the SEI.
The conference will focus on innovative concepts, systems
and technologies submitted by AIAA members. The conference is
organized into five sessions to cover Architecture and Systems;
Transportation; Human Support Technologies and Systems; Planetary
Surface Systems and Technologies; and Infrastructure
Technologies.
As of August 17, the RAND Corporation received more than
10,000 requests for response packets under the SEI Outreach
Program and notices of intent to submit 3,302 ideas.
Of the intended responses, 68.7 percent are from
individuals, 16.3 percent are from aerospace companies and other
for-profit enterprises, and 8.1 percent are from educational
institutions. The remainder are in other categories.
Space transportation is the focus of the largest category of
intended responses to RAND with 16.7 percent. Other categories
include mission concepts (16.5 percent), life support systems
(10.3 percent), structures and materials (9.8 percent), space and
surface power (7.4 percent), space processing and manufacturing
(6.3 percent), system design and analysis (5.7 percent),
automation and robotics (4.7 percent), communications (4.1
percent), ground support and simulation (3.4 percent), and
information systems (2.3 percent). The remainder are in other
categories.
|
| 2/17/91: The Space Exploration Initiative
AAAS Symposium on the Human Exploration of Space
Arnold D. Aldrich
February 17, 1991
Good morning. The NASA Administrator, Admiral Richard Truly, sends his
best wishes for a very productive conference and his regrets that he is not
able to join you here today. However, as Associate Administrator for
Aeronautics, Exploration and Technology, I am delighted to be here and to
have the opportunity to discuss with you NASA's plans for the Space
Exploration Initiative.
We meet this morning at a time when our country faces a number of
particularly difficult challenges. Today, in the United States of America,
things are anything but "business as usual."
At home, the Federal budget deficit continues to be extremely large.
Despite efforts by both the President and Congress, the budget battle does
not seem to be going particularly well. The deficit remains, and threatens
to grow larger, and it limits our ability to allocate resources to
worthwhile programs that address national concerns and pressing human
needs. Overseas, in the Persian Gulf, the United States and its allies are
in a shooting war against an aggressor who neither respects nor
understands basic human rights. That we are determined to prevail in the
Gulf does not mitigate our concern for those who today are serving our
country in the Middle East.
At times like these, when difficulties and dangers are real, I believe it is
appropriate to reflect upon our nation's strengths and to continue to plan
for the future -- secure in the belief that the ideals, common sense, inner
strength, and ingenuity of the American people will continue to result in a
future full of promise and opportunity.
I believe that one of the major strengths of our country is its space
program. While the military segment of this program is well
demonstrating its value in the Persian Gulf, I am here primarily referring
to the civil space program. Our accomplishments in the civil space
program over the years have been many, and the civil space program will
continue to contribute to our nation's well-being in the decades ahead.
This is a program that regularly and routinely accepts a multitude of very
difficult tasks. It is not easy, as most of you know, to place a parachute
and probe into the swirling atmosphere of Jupiter. Nor is it easy to launch
a crew of 5 or 6 astronauts into Earth orbit, along with 20 tons of
payload, and return them safely to Earth.
Our civil space program requires extremely sophisticated technology, and
it relies upon the technical capabilities of many talented and dedicated
people. The program is intellectually rewarding. It functions at the
frontiers of knowledge, expanding those frontiers at the same time that it
adds to our understanding; and not infrequently calls into question things
we think we already know.
The program is also rich in heritage. It was 15 years ago that the Viking
Landers settled upon the rocky surface of Mars. It was 20 years ago that
Alan Shepherd walked upon the dusty surface of the Moon as Apollo 14
continued the initial exploration of our closest neighbor in the solar
system. Moreover, the program is no stranger to setbacks and tragedy.
But in overcoming difficulties, by remaining steadfast in purpose, the
civil space program has gained in strength and adds steadily to our
nation's sense of accomplishment.
The program has two fundamental missions. One is intellectual in
character, the other humanistic. In the intellectual context, the space
program seeks to expand our knowledge of the worlds in which we exist.
Thus NASA, as the principal agent of the nation's civil space program,
looks out at the universe and its galaxies, examines our own solar system
and its planets, and studies Planet Earth itself. The overriding goal is one
that we share with the AAAS: The advancement of science, and the
enlargement of human understanding.
The other fundamental mission of the civil space program, and of NASA, is
humanistic in character. The agency seeks to extend the presence of
human beings into space. Throughout history, men and women have defined
frontiers, and then walked or sailed or flown beyond them. There is
something inside us that drives us to explore in person, to be there
ourselves. We do not really know a place until we have been there.
Robotic spacecraft are extraordinarily capable. They are invaluable tools
of space exploration which have repeatedly served us well, and they will
always be a major element of our space program. But robotic missions
alone are not enough. I cannot describe the situation better than did the
Augustine Committee when it suggested that something special,
something intensely human, was realized when Sir Edmund Hillary reached
the peak of Mount Everest; something that could not have been fully
realized if a sounding rocket had simply lofted an instrument package to
the summit.
So the civil space program is about science and it is also about human
exploration.
These two components come together in the Space Exploration Initiative
which is the subject of our session here this morning. We have been asked
to focus on the policy aspects of the Space Exploration Initiative, and I am
pleased to have this opportunity to do so. Because SEI is not a fully
defined program at this time nor has a specific SEI program yet been
submitted to the President and Congress for their approval, the policy
aspects today are particularly important.
Let me begin our discussion by stating what SEI is. The Space Exploration
Initiative is an integrated set of activities leading to the establishment
of a permanent lunar base and culminating in the human exploration of
Mars. SEI envisions exploration of the Moon and Mars as a continuous
endeavor encompassing both human beings and robotic systems. SEI is not
"the next manned hardware program." Rather, it is a strategic horizon that
will direct, focus, and integrate many of NASA's and the Nation's current
and future space activities. The Initiative gives purpose and shape to
Space Station Freedom, and it will help define requirements for a new
heavy-lift launch vehicle. It will establish near and longer-term
technology requirements and priorities, and it will provide the framework
for a progression of robotic scientific missions to set the stage for later
manned excursions.
During 1990 NASA conducted a nationwide outreach program to search for
ideas and technologies which might contribute to enabling SEI to be
conducted more quickly, more economically and more effectively than the
approaches considered by our prior NASA internal studies. The results of
this outreach search are currently being analyzed by an independent
Synthesis Group led by General Thomas Stafford who is scheduled to
report conclusions and recommendations next month to NASA and the
National Space Council.
As a result of these studies, General Stafford's group will recommend
several mission architecture options, on-going technology priorities, and
potential near-term SEI milestones and benefits. NASA is poised to
receive the Synthesis Group's analysis, and to refine our understanding of
Space Exploration Initiative parameters based upon these efforts.
We will do so in concert with a number of other agencies which have
strong expertise to apply to SEI program options and technology
requirements. We have worked with the Department of Energy and have
completed a joint Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the
Space Exploration Initiative. We also have worked with the Department of
Defense and have in preparation a similar agreement. And with the
National Science Foundation, NASA is developing plans to cooperate on a
joint research effort in the Antarctic. Here, NASA envisions the testing
of technologies and procedures applicable to operations on the lunar and
Martian surfaces in a remote environment in ways beneficial to both
ourselves and the NSF.
At present, NASA's plate is quite full. The Space Station, space science,
including the Earth Observing System, the Space Shuttle and other current
and planned space transportation systems require much of the agency's
attention and a large share of its available funds.
However, the SEI funds committed by Congress for FY 1991 and requested
by the President for FY 1992 are extremely important and they provide
support for the vital work necessary to focus the definition of the
Initiative and to prepare well-understood program options. Without the
availability of consistent funding and the efforts it must support, NASA
cannot define the Space Exploration Initiative with precision, nor project
a schedule for the expeditions to the Moon and Mars with confidence, nor
be able to tell the American people with credibility what the long-term
investments in SEI will need to be.
The emphasis this year and next is on the development of new
technologies which we believe will be applicable to all likely future
architectures for expeditions to the Moon and Mars. We are also
proceeding with research in life sciences so that when these expeditions
are carried out, we can be confident that the crews will have available the
technology and systems to be able to live and work safely and productively
in these environments over long periods of time. In addition, we will
continue to examine mission architectures themselves and plan the
integration of our technology, life sciences, and mission design activities.
In a broader context, our expectation that sometime in the not too distant
future men and women will return to the Moon and then embark upon the
exploration of Mars is not simply the vision of dreamers and professional
planners. The exploration of space using men and women is an objective
of the United States government and is stated rather explicitly in our
national space policy. This carefully-crafted document outlines what our
country aims to accomplish in space. And it sets forth our national goals,
one of which is to "expand human presence and activity beyond Earth orbit
into the solar system."
So the Space Exploration Initiative not only reflects the very human trait
of exploring wherever it is possible to go, but also seeks to implement a
specific goal of our national space policy.
The policy was approved by President Bush on November 2, 1989. Several
months earlier, on the twentieth anniversary of the first lunar landing,
the President spoke specifically about returning to the Moon and going on
to Mars. He stated that we would do so by completing Space Station
Freedom during the 1990s as the initial step. Since that speech the
President has spoken several additional times on the Space Exploration
Initiative, and repeated his conviction that our goal is indeed to return to
the Moon and then proceed on to the Red Planet.
An important White House thrust in support of the Space Exploration
Initiative is concerned with the potential for international cooperation on
missions to the Moon and Mars. Last year the President called for an
exploratory dialogue with Europe, Japan, and Canada and, later, with the
Soviet Union. Preparations for this dialogue, including the development of
appropriate guidelines for U.S. participants, are now nearing completion.
It is likely that sometime this year preliminary discussions with other
spacefaring nations will begin.
The goal of exploring Mars was endorsed recently by the Advisory
Committee on the Future of the U.S. Space Program, chaired by Mr. Norman
Augustine. Listen to what the Committee said, and I quote:
"We share the view of the President that the long term magnet for the
manned space program is the planet Mars -- the human exploration of
Mars, to be specific. It needs to be stated straight forwardly that such an
undertaking probably must be justified largely on the basis of intangibles
--
the desire to explore, to learn about one's surroundings, to challenge the
unknown and to find out what is to be found."
In its report the Committee enunciated a Mission From Planet Earth as
part of the civil space program the United States should conduct. The
Committee expressed the belief that the program could be funded by
allowing NASA's budget to level off by the year 2000 at about 30 billion
dollars a year. This would be achieved through increases of approximately
10 percent per year during the 1990s. Such funding, the Committee
believed, would provide sufficient resources for a mission to Mars as well
as supporting the other important civil space program activities which
they advocated. However, the Advisory Committee stated that should such
funding increases not be available, our goals in human exploration should
be refocussed and the schedule for our efforts towards Mars should be
tailored accordingly.
Today, the agency is moving forward with a strong effort on planning and
development. We are continuing the study of alternative mission
architectures and our work in life sciences and technology. Our plans
address the work that needs to be done regardless of schedule, and on
positioning ourselves to better understand the technical challenges
associated with SEI.
We plan to work over the next several years to prepare future program
options for the Space Exploration Initiative so that when the country is
ready to embark upon missions to the Moon and Mars, it can make decisions
based upon sound analysis, with advanced technologies that have been
demonstrated.
I want to emphasize the criticality of developing new technologies, not
just for the Space Exploration Initiative but for space exploration in
general. Technology is important for space science and for space
transportation. It made possible Viking, and Voyager, Apollo and the
Space Shuttle. Technology supports space operations, space science, and
space applications, and is the key to realizing new missions with
improved performance, greater reliability, reduced costs, and enhanced
safety.
Our past accomplishments in space were made possible by technology. Our
future accomplishments will depend upon it as well.
Unfortunately, as the Augustine Committee noted, NASA has not been able
to sustain a robust space technology program during the past 20 years. I
believe this situation has been penny wise and pound foolish. Space
technology is like a bank, and our account has been greatly drawn down.
We need to reinvest and direct both financial and intellectual resources to
the development of new technologies. Some of the most critical areas we
need to invest in include space propulsion and power systems including
nuclear alternatives, aero-thermodynamics, life support systems,
materials and structures, information management systems, artificial
intelligence and expert systems, radiation protection, and many more.
At NASA we are preparing a comprehensive new agency-wide technology
plan and our FY 1992 budget request now before Congress shows a
significant increase for space technology. So positive steps are underway.
But our efforts must continue over time and enjoy sustained support.
Lacking the visibility and immediacy of flight projects, space technology
has been, at times, an easy target for budget reductions, a tendency that
has been all too prevalent in our recent past.
Yet, I have great hope that this year will be different, and that we have
begun to rebuild the technology base upon which all our future endeavors
in space depend.
There are two policy aspects of the Space Exploration Initiative that may
be of particular interest to many of you here this morning. The first
concerns the use of robotic spacecraft, and the second addresses the role
science must play in the Initiative.
Earlier, in defining the Space Exploration Initiative, I indicated that SEI
encompasses both human beings and robotic systems. Robotic spacecraft
are essential to the exploration of the Moon and Mars, and are an integral
part of all realistic exploration program options. Because exploration
envisions men and women on these planetary surfaces, our planning for
use of robotic spacecraft must be merged with the planning that
addresses human exploration activity. Our focus will be on exploration
per se, and we will use the unique capabilities offered by both robotic
systems and humans to plan how best to expand both human presence and
human knowledge of our two planetary neighbors.
This is consistent with the definition of exploration provided by the
Augustine Committee which said exploration will be a continuum of
robotic missions preceding the presence of man. Their committee
recommended a consolidation in NASA of exploration activities to include
robotic systems for the Moon and Mars.
Let me now address briefly the role science will play in the Space
Exploration Initiative.
To begin with, science is a major reason why we wish to return to the
Moon and continue on to Mars. Science is not the only motivation, but it is
a major factor. One objective of the Space Exploration Initiative is to
increase what we know about who we are and where we are, and science
will enable us to do that.
Science also will enable us to carry out the exploration missions
themselves. There is much data and knowledge to be garnered before we
can safely and productively place human beings on the lunar surface for
lengthy stays or embark upon year-long journeys to Mars and back.
Despite our experience in space, there is much still to learn. We need to
know much more about human physiology in space and we need to know
more about the chemistry and geology of the Moon and Mars.
Science is the means by which we will obtain this necessary knowledge.
I foresee a close partnership in exploration between the scientist and the
engineer as requirements and implementing capabilities are set and
designed.
At NASA, as we move forward with the activities to define program
options for the Space Exploration Initiative, our approach to science will
build upon our science programs of the past. We have already moved to
involve the science community both within NASA and outside the agency in
the early SEI planning. Scientists will be primary participants in setting
requirements. They will be involved in mission analysis and will have a
significant role to play in technology development. Dr. Lennard Fisk's
Office of Space Science and Applications has been heavily involved in all
our SEI planning activities, and scientists will continue to help determine
the shape and content of the Space Exploration Initiative.
To those of us at NASA, in industry, and quite likely in the science
community as well, the Space Exploration Initiative reflects what we
have long known and, intuitively, have been working on as we executed the
space programs of the last three decades. This is that men and women,
and robotic systems, are destined to explore our solar system. Earth orbit
is not only a vantage point upon which to look down upon the Earth or to
observe distant galaxies. It is also a point of departure, a staging base
for humans to return to the Moon and to journey on to Mars.
We are going to undertake such expeditions for a variety of reasons. There
are many down-to-Earth benefits from the Space Exploration Initiative.
The Initiative will stimulate the development of a broad range of
technologies in both aerospace and non-aerospace industries. Also, as a
visible symbol of our efforts in space, the Initiative will help motivate
youngsters to pursue academically vigorous studies and career paths in
science and engineering. And the Space Exploration Initiative should serve
us well internationally. SEI will be a highly complex, very large endeavor
that lends itself to peaceful cooperation among nations who wish to
emphasize their common humanity.
The essence of the Space Exploration Initiative, however, is not the future
program plan we have started to define nor a current political agenda. The
essence is simply an idea: that human beings will return to the Moon and
then will explore the planet Mars. It is a powerful idea, startling in its
simplicity, profound in its consequence.
At present, we are not close to beginning these journeys. There is much
planning ahead of us.
There is technology to be developed, science planning and strategies to be
set, and mission studies to be accomplished. There is a space station to
build, and heavy-lift launch vehicles to develop. There are transfer
vehicles to design and surface systems to plan. There are also political
opportunities and obstacles to deal with.
Our immediate goal is to conduct the necessary preparatory activities so
we can with confidence understand how best to go about this great
enterprise.
We have settled upon the vision, and I believe we know clearly where we
are going.
Thank you very much.
|
| Article 32440
From: [email protected] (Brett Vansteenwyk)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Synthesis Group Reports, Part I
Date: 21 Jun 91 07:25:05 GMT
Sender: [email protected] (News)
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
[The 2 mail messages I got indicated interest in this report--since I did not
[see someone saying "Hey, I already posted this!", I am assuming that putting
[up some summaries will add to the thread. I will try to be objective and cover
[the contents of this report over several postings over the next several weeks.
[If you want a copy of your own, ask for the Synthesis Group Reports, U.S.
[Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402. I also have an address
[of what might be the Synthesis Group Office itself (don't know for sure):
[ 1225 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1501 (phone: 557-5544)
[ Arlington, VA 22202 (FAX: (703) 557-5502)
[ ---B.V.S.
SPACE EXPLORATION INITIATIVE
Introduction:
This report is a response to President Bush's call for a "new vision"
for the U.S. for the 21st century. In a speech made on the 20th anniversary
of Apollo 11, he called for returning to the moon to stay, and for humans to
land on Mars by 2019 (the 50th anniversary).
Whodunnit:
Apparently this is the conglomeration of a lot of groups, including
solicitation of ideas from John Q. Public (my involvement), input from
individuals working in relevant federal research grants, American Institute
of Astronautics and Aeronautics, NASA, and finally major industry reps in the
form of the Aerospace Industries Association and Aerospace Contractors. RAND,
NASA, the DoD, DoE, and Dept. of Interior filtered the input that then went
to the Synthesis Group. The Synthesis Group itself is composed of a Steering
Committee, a main body, technical support, etc.,etc. and full of rather
uncommon people.
6 Visions:
The "new vision" has now become resolved into the following: 1.Knowledge
of the Universe; 2.Advancement of Science and Engineering; 3.United States
Leadership; 4.Technologies for Earth; 5.Commercialization of Space; 6.Strength-
ened U.S. Economy. Point #3 was underscored by an interesting history right
at the start of the document (written by Stafford in the foreward). Indicating
that, in 1433, China was an expanding, exploring culture, trading and exploring
all the way to Africa. Then, because of needs elsewhere and a desire to bring
all resources to bear on problems at home, the Ming Emperor recalled and burned
the fleet. He also constrained the explorers from doing any more of these
"wasteful" explorations. The intimation is that China lost its leadership
position because of this decision.
The "Technologies for Earth" vision dovetails strongly with the "Energy
to Earth" Moon Waypoint--the report makes a good case of how the power demand
on Earth will rise quite enormously by 2019 in spite of conservation. Besides
the direct import of power directly from space, it was suggested that extrac-
ting He-3 from the Lunar surface (generated by the solar wind) would become
important owing to the anticipated development of fusion reactors on Earth.
It seemed that the heavy/bulky materials mined outside of Earth would be used
there rather than transported back to Earth.
Commercialization of Space was elaborated in the sense that it would be
more likely once access to space was made more routine. Heavy lift capability
was considered essential to industrial use of space. It appears that the
commercial involvement would be in the form of spinning off functions into the
commercial area.
Going to Mars:
Although the goal of landing humans on Mars is agreed upon, the way to get
there was not. There were 4 "architectures" developed encompassing the range
of opinions expressed. These will be covered in detail later.
Recommendations:
Every commission must make its 10 recommendations--these would be needed
no matter what architecture was chosen:
1. Using the Space Exploration Initiative as a baseline, establish within
NASA a long range strategic plan for the nation's civil space program.
2. Establish a National Program Office by Executive Order. It would come under
the leadership of NASA, and involve interagency cooperation.
3. Appoint NASA's Associat Administrator for Exploration as the Program Director
for the National Program Office. This action is to make sure there is both
authority (responsibility) and focus for this initiative.
4.Establish a new, aggressive acquisition strategy for the Space Exploration
Initiative. In other words, try to avoid "business as usual" to the point of
even allowing multi-year funding committments.
5. Incorporate Space Exploration Initiative requirements into the joint NASA-
Department of Defense Heavy Lift Program. A lot of references were made to
this throughout the report, with a lot of emphasis on using the Saturn V model.
The goal is to have heavy lift by 1998.
6. Initiate a nuclear thermal rocket technology development program. Owing
mainly to it being a fairly critical component of the Mars exploration.
7. Initiate a space nuclear power technology development program based on
Space Exploration Initiative Requirements.
8. Conduct focused life support sciences experiments.
9. Establish education as a principal theme of the Space Exploration Initiative.
10. Continue and expand the Outreach Program. Get Joe Citizen involved in
making suggestions, and maybe the grass roots will come to not only participate,
but support more actively (worked for me).
...More to come.
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