November 17, 2007
Visions for Space
In the latest issue of Ad Astra, NSS executive director George Whitesides called on NSS members to share their "Visions for Space". Send your thoughts by email to nsshq@nss.org, or add them as comments below.
Here's George's column from the magazine:
What Is Your Vision For Space?
Colonies on Mars. Orbiting solar power arrays supplying Earth with abundant clean energy. A plasma drive to get us across the solar system in weeks, not years. A space future of cooperation and peace.
These are just a few of the personal visions of space held by the leaders profiled in this special issue of Ad Astra. Typically, we focus more on the achievements of exploration, the latest news in space technology and policy. But space is also about people. In fact, it is ultimately about people. So we thought it appropriate to devote this issue to twenty individuals who are devoting their lives to making their space dreams real.
These twenty visionaries come from many different sectors of space, such as science, business, the astronaut corps, and education. We spent many weeks sifting through potential candidates, using only two guiding criteria: that they truly have an established personal vision for space, and that they are doing significant work now to make that vision real. I am proud that most of them have been associated with the National Space Society in some way over the years.
Peter Diamandis, founder of the X Prize Foundation and a longtime NSS member, has a personal motto : "The best way to predict the future is to create it yourself!" These visionaries are each creating the future and changing our world for the better. They embody the initiative and creative spirit that has always advanced humanity. They are the Isaac Newtons, the Captain Cooks, the Ibn Batutas of our time.
What do you think of our choices? Our list is necessarily incomplete, given the limit of twenty, but we believe it represents the best of space today. Who have we left out? How can we do better for a future list? Let us know via letters, email, or share your personal vision of space online at: www.nss.org.
Next year, we plan on compiling a list of the top 'Ones to Watch', future leaders from younger generations who will be taking positions of leadership over the coming years.
Posted by apsmith at November 17, 2007 03:03 PM
Comments
First and foremost, my vision starts and ends with humanity in space. That is our ultimate destiny, sooner or later. But I am far from agreeing with most on the best path to achieve this destiny.
1. Don’t bother sending men to the moon until we’re really ready to go back to stay. We need to plan for a true moon colony, not for a simple rerun of the Apollo program. Any other approach is a waste of resources. The same goes in spades for sending men to Mars.
2. Make the most of what we’ve got. That means don’t abandon the space station or the Hubble.
3. Fully fund space science.
4. Use machines rather than men wherever possible.
5. It may be more important to learn about near earth asteroids than anything else. If they prove to be rich in water and raw materials and possible to mine, then they might spark a high-tech “gold rush” that could propel us into the space age.
6. Consider ways to continue using the space shuttle until Ares V is ready. For example, is it possible to fly it to the space station without a crew and then board a single pilot from the space station to land it? That would cut risk considerably.
And finally, here’s my vision of a far distant future when we decide to truly make space as accessible as a jet flight to Hawaii:
On Monday, June 22, 2004, SpaceShipOne completed the first privately financed manned spaceflight, climbing 62 miles above the Earth before landing. SpaceShipOne accomplished this feat by flying, not into orbit, but almost straight up. As momentous as this feat was, it was unarguably a far cry from actually achieving orbit. And yet…
In 1979, Roger Arnold and Donald Kingsbury published two articles in back-to-back issues of Analog SF&SF, in which they described a mechanism called simply “The Spaceport”. Their spaceport was a huge orbiting electromagnetic launcher/catcher that, in effect, used momentum exchange to simultaneously orbit and deorbit spaceships that, much like SpaceShipOne, could only partially achieve orbit on their own.
Note that a series of such “momentum exchange platforms” could be orbited from near Earth clear out to the Earth-Moon Lagrange point 1. A launcher-catcher on the Moon would then be able to “toss” mass down earth’s gravity well via these platforms, completely supplying all the energy required to launch mass from the outer atmosphere of the Earth to the surface of the Moon.
YVT,
Joseph Barrett Bland
Sacramento L5 Society,
Local chapter, National Space Society
Posted by: Joseph Barrett Bland at November 23, 2007 02:09 PM
I strongly believe space travel, especially manned space travel, is an essential part of the human spirit of exploration and discovery - we should always pursue and encourage this spirit of discovery. We should first establish bases on the Moon and then when these are successful, move on to Mars and beyond. We have lingered in LEO much too long! I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past. We must always push the space exploration envelope. Onward, Outward, and Upward! Here's to many more successful X-Prize type space competitions. This is exactly what we need to spur on space exploration.
Posted by: Glenn G. Whiteside at November 24, 2007 02:50 AM
The list of 20 visionaries is limited to people alive today. Given that, I have to wonder why Dr. Stephen Hawking is included but Sir Richard Branson is not. After all, it is Richard Branson who has founded Virgin Galactic to take Scaled Composite's SpaceshipOne to the next level and to actually open the door to real space tourism. I would replace Hawking with Branson.
And where is Dr. Peter Glaser, the father of the Solar Power Satellite concept and inductee into the Space Technology Hall of Fame? Or Dr. David Criswell, creator of the Lunar Solar Power concept and Director of the Institute of Space Systems Operations at the University of Houston?
As to who to drop from the list to make room for these two additions: I would remove two of the following - take your pick: Dr. Laurie Leshin or Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam or Dr. Martin Sweeting or Neil Degrasse Tyson.
Posted by: Jim Plaxco at November 25, 2007 03:21 PM
Solar Power Satellites coupled with an L4-L5-moon colony and transit system would seem to be the quickest way to make space economically feasible.
Energy = $
Posted by: Ralph Evans at November 26, 2007 02:31 PM
I also find it a little odd that Richard Branson is not included but even more so, that Rick Tumlinson is not included.
Through the Space Frontier Foundation, the Foundation for the International Non-Governmental Development of Space (FINDS), and his entrepreneurial start-up Orbital Outfitters, Rick has contributed enormously to the development of space. Certainly, VERY few have done as much to shape the public's "vision" of space as Rick.
On the other hand, there are a few people on this list whose "vision" contribution is questionable.
Posted by: Berin Szoka at November 26, 2007 03:41 PM
I think we can colonising Mars by teraforming.
And they can search for new Earth. But we must work together .We must archive of space exploration .By the of the day,its not that they made the space exploration for nothing,but we thank them that they made the space exploration finding new things which is the same as our planet as and maybe finding a new
life.
So thats why nasa maybe will find water in mars or some other planets in the universe .
We must thank them .
Posted by: regie at November 27, 2007 02:10 AM
Allow me to begin nominations for the 'Ones to Watch' list:
Lt Col M.V. “Coyote” Smith, USAF: For leading the breakthrough National Security Space Office study on Space Based Solar Power, which may finally have provided the spark to begin implementation of the solar power satellite vision.
Posted by: Gary Oleson at November 27, 2007 02:28 AM
My personal vision of space is that humans now have an opportunity and an obligation to help life move beyond the confines of our single planet. Humanity wants to continue to live, as does every other life form around us. Therefore it needs to be recognized that we are not separate from nature but are only one expression of it. As much as we may wish to concentrate on preserving our species and our civilization by going into space, we need to realize that we cannot live in isolation from the biosphere that gave us birth.
When we begin to go into space in large numbers we will have to create new sustainable ecosystems in which to live. We will then, out of our own necessity, be helping our fellow Earth creatures to also grow out into space. To achieve this is to achieve a kind of immortality of life and I can think of no nobler destiny for mankind to pursue than to help life colonize the Cosmos.
The fundamental question that needs to be answered now, at this particular point in human history, is “how can we find an inexpensive way to go into space?” If we find that, the rest will follow. We humans have always prided ourselves on our cleverness and I think that by enlisting the ingenuity of a greater number of creative people, we may find a way off of this planet. I have recently submitted a manuscript for publication in which I describe a system for soliciting and evaluating new ideas. We need to discover a way into space soon because what we are risking is not just human survival, but the survival of life.
Posted by: G.R. Buckley at November 28, 2007 08:57 PM
As I read thru this messages thread, I came upon one entry I have my own strong opinion about: "Use machines rather than men wherever possible," it said.
In my view that is not how to put settlements Out There: it wants to be, "Use men (and women, and children) wherever possible." It is because the universe is not there to look at nor to do science studies nor "humans want to explore," etc. It is because the universe is a place for people to settle and live, and there are very good reasons for us to do this ASAP. It is because out in space we can find the new frontier our world so urgently needs (see Turner's paper that Zubrin mentions). It is because our species eggs in this one little basket, is a bad gamble. But with nobody living and working Out There we haven't a really clear idea how to do it -- for which reason we must *move ourselves* and go find out how thru real practice on-site. Thus sending out machines and more machines is off target and it is counter productive, because that looks like we are actually doing something. I want to see people there, living and working there, and doing what people do: building a culture and an ecology that work independently of Terran support. And *Do This Now*. Cheers -- Martha Adams
Posted by: Martha Adams at November 29, 2007 11:55 AM
I would like to see the development of a vehicle like the the Delta Clipper proposed back in the Eighties.
A fully reusable one or two staged vehicle carrying two pilots and 20,000 lb of cargo or a passeger module.
This would take care of most of NASA's missions including taking crews and supplies to the space station.
It would also be a forerunner of vehicles for orbital tourism and global suborbital transportation.
Posted by: Donald W. Ernst at December 1, 2007 01:45 AM
You asked for comments. Here are mine:
It's a strange list indeed and I wonder who participated in the selections. The list stretches from people who really have accomplished something-- Chang-Diaz, Zubrin and Rutan, all the way down to Edwards and Tyson.
Posted by: Benjamin P. Martin at December 2, 2007 08:47 PM
Where are the true visionaries?
And where did all these people get their vision? From the fictional ...Star Trek, 2001, Heinlin, Buck Rogers? Or the factual...X-15, Kennedy, Glenn...
NSS produces a self-serving list promoting astronauts and investors with a few others thrown in for brand name recognition. So we honor all the usual suspects that have a vested interest for space. Publishing the unlicensed lobbyists who are recognized in Washington DC or on a Shuttle manifest, and not much in the general population, that's a visionary?
Rutan - yes and Zubrin - yes, but with all due respect to the great accomplishments of the individuals in between, many of them have not delivered on their vision, and most of them aren't that all inspiring.
Even with Rutan, he needed Paul Allen who had a different sort of vision, and Sir Branson who is turning 2001 into a vision...although Bigelow will probably get there first.
Where is Kennedy who inspired a nation with his vision?
No other politician was able to provide vision...and dollars.
Where is the Senator from Maryland and others in Congress who carry a vision?
Where is Arthur C. Clarke? Or the Director who can really build a movie like 2001 that put space into the general population as a mindset.
Or Niven...or Gene Roddenbury?
Where is Captain Kirk, Luke and others who captivated the youth and fired up their imagination with Star Trek, Star Wars and Star Gate?
Where are those entrepreneurs who are working in a garage or on a blog that are true visionaries?
Where are the visionaries who risked and lost, and began all over again, for they are the truly courageous visionary.
Dr. Zubrin was asked a question at a NSS meeting..."What is the critical mass of people to establish a colony on the moon or on Mars?" Without hesitation, he answered "42", a nod Douglas Adams having solved this problem long ago.
So, go back to the drawing board and find ...
the real visionaries.
Posted by: David Mathes at December 4, 2007 01:08 AM
For everyone personal spaceship and lot's of free space available. Actually there is no limits as far we know space is endless. No meaning to make war anymore if we have so many resources one never can use them fully. Of course first we must develop technology for this.
Posted by: E. Pehtla at December 6, 2007 05:22 PM
I strongly believe that the democratisation of space would play a fundamental role in the development of space access.
By democratisation I would like to say that everybody which ever his condition ,which ever his origin should have a chance to start a new life there.Going there by foot.Going there by sport.
The space stadium associate with the orbital port and the vertical levitation train should be the space door.Sporting events,shutle race,concert,...could take place there.
People coming there could take the"bus" to the moon or to another relay orbital station or buy or rent a private shuttle.
People who live there would create new nations.Space is a new world with it's own rules and proper development.Maybe there will be wars,but the scarcity of life will create different human .
Would it just be a "nucleus" inside a machine robots,in order to use minimum energy to cross the universe? Who can stay in a tiny can for more than 40 years,without becoming depressive and aggressive?
Sébastien Simon
adkomans ltd
Posted by: Sébastien Simon at December 11, 2007 11:14 PM
Interest the mind and the body will follow
even to the depth of space.The moon is the next frontier. I would suggest presenting the moon
in a less scienctific format. The children are the next colonizer of space give the vision to
them. They will ride the rockets we will rock the
Chairs of the future. We will play the space games ,they will play the game of space. In sixties no matter we were told we had our vision of how the world should be and we made it that way They will be just as determind to make space what they want it to be.
Posted by: Charlie Evans at December 27, 2007 03:13 PM
I think the true visionary on how to speed up the manned space will be an astronaut named G.A. Custer, who will visit the hills of shackelton crater and shout "GOLD!"
Posted by: Vladislaw at December 31, 2007 07:46 PM
My vision for space to develop and implement an infrastructure providing for rapid and economical access for Earth orbit and beyond for spacecraft carrying people and cargo. I see this as a space equivalent of America's Intercontinental Railroad that opened up the Western frontiers. We need to be able to get lots of people up and out there to create new opportunities that are beyond our imaginations. This bold vision would inspire and enable current and future generations to make the journey.
Posted by: Steve Milhiser at January 8, 2008 10:25 PM
Resourses on earth will dry up despite our best efforts to save them. To colonize space and other planets we are taking steps in ensuring humanity lives on past the death of earth witch could be sooner than most would think. What I think would speed up the space race is to get space minded people leading our countries instead of war minded leaders. The current political parties of leading nations aren't doing all they can to realy get the space race going, they just want that nice big pention cheque when their term is over.
Posted by: Andy Klane at January 10, 2008 01:10 AM
I am so excited about space and its exploration that I wrote a novel entitled "Unprecedented Journey" detailing some of my ideas about what space is like. This book can be purchased at www.bn.com, or contact me directly from my website janeelisetaylor.com.
Posted by: Jane E Taylor at January 30, 2008 04:40 PM
The exploration of space leads eventually to our future existence as a human and intelligent species. This will cover the use of parts of the solar system for our future energy needs---earth is nor limitless in energy resources and living space availability. We might as well start this searching for alternative sources, because it'll take maybe hundreds of years to finally develop all of this space "infrastructure". Populations will continue to grow and there will never be complete control of populations noe will we enforce such a measure of zero growth. We wii expand to the stars whether those religious ones will believe it or not. If there is a God, he did nor expect us just to stay here on earth and He never expressed it in any of his pronunciations that we do just that. The creator gave us minds intelligent enough to promote to sue of space for our use. and well being. Mike Martinez
Posted by: Mike Martinez at February 1, 2008 03:35 PM
It is amazing to me that all energy about space colonization always is put on the final phase of some gigantic monolithic monstrosity. if all the effort was put into everything that needs to be done before you can even think about creating a torus. Yes i said it keep your head in the clouds please but keep the actions in reality. Therefore, we should stop trying to get a monstrosity today and go smaller and realistic for now. we are currently capable of building a partial gravity colony now with out spending 40 billion dollars to research it when the research was done in the 70's. using modified ET's the entire phase one colony station could be built 1 year. I’m also sick of NASA saying it belongs to the government and not the people of this country if that is true we are not living in a democracy. Oh, i forgot we're a republic. All hail the emperor.
Posted by: Chad Kleinbeck at March 9, 2008 11:00 AM
As far as i am concerned,we should use auto bots for future space missions.They must act like humans(every thing similar to that of humans--for example:Even skin).We can use them for space explorations like Mars,etc...Creating colonies in Mars amuses me much!!!May be one day we can see humans,animals,traffic and all those stuff!
We have to think in other way as well!In my opinion,we must use the resources available on Mars or some other planets in a constructive way.If we can make use of those resources,surely we can comfort the future generations!Space elevator makes it possible to transport the useful material to earth.It may take few more years to make the dream into reality,but it is going to happen,that is for sure!!!Last but not the least,we should not entertain any race on space exploration.Finally every good thing has to be done for the MANKIND.I wish NASA all the best!!!:)
Posted by: Sandeep Sagar at April 27, 2008 01:45 PM