JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010

THE MAGAZINE OF THE AMERICAN ASTRONAUTICAL SOCIETY ISSUE 1 VOLUME 49

SPACE TIMES • January/February 2010 1 AAS OFFICERS PRESIDENT Frank A. Slazer, Northrop Grumman EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Lyn D. Wigbels, RWI International Consulting Services JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010 VICE PRESIDENT–TECHNICAL Srinivas R. Vadali, Texas A&M University VICE PRESIDENT–PROGRAMS Kathy J. Nado ISSUE 1–VOLUME 49 VICE PRESIDENT–PUBLICATIONS David B. Spencer, Penn State University VICE PRESIDENT–STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH Mary Lynne Dittmar, Dittmar Associates VICE PRESIDENT–MEMBERSHIP Patrick McKenzie, Ball Aerospace T H E M A G A Z I N E O F T H E A M E R I C A N A S T R O N A U T I C A L S O C I E T Y VICE PRESIDENT–EDUCATION Angela Phillips Diaz VICE PRESIDENT–FINANCE Carol S. Lane, Ball Aerospace VICE PRESIDENT–INTERNATIONAL Clayton Mowry, Arianespace, Inc. VICE PRESIDENT–PUBLIC POLICY Peggy Finarelli, George Mason University/CAPR LEGAL COUNSEL Franceska O. Schroeder, Fish & Richardson P.C. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR James R. Kirkpatrick, AAS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 3 AAS BOARD OF DIRECTORS FEATURES TERM EXPIRES 2010 Linda Billings, George Washington University Martian Caves May Enable Sustainable Human Ronald J. Birk, Northrop Grumman Rebecca L. Griffin, GriffinSpace LLC Exploration of the Red Planet 4 Hal E. Hagemeier, National Security Space Office The ACCESS Mars report, written by a group of young space professionals Dennis Lowrey, General Dynamics Molly Kenna Macauley, Resources for the Future from the International Space University, tells the tale. Erin Neal, ATK by ACCESS Mars Team (ISU SSP09) Lesa B. Roe Rosanna Sattler, Posternak Blankstein & Lund LLP Robert H. Schingler, Jr. Woodrow Whitlow, Jr. Putting the Excitement Back into Science Education 9 TERM EXPIRES 2011 Without inspiring students to learn and pursue careers in science, Peter M. Bainum, Howard University technology, engineering, and math, our nation is at serious risk Robert H. Bishop, University of Texas at Austin Mark K. Craig, SAIC over the next decade and beyond. J. Walter Faulconer, Applied Physics Laboratory by Daniel Barstow Jonathan T. Malay, Lockheed Martin Christopher Nelson, Oceaneering Space Systems Arnauld E. Nicogossian, George Mason University Suneel Sheikh, ASTER Labs, Inc. AAS NEWS Patricia Grace Smith, Patti Grace Smith Consulting Gregg Vane, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Report on AAS Imagine ‘09: Ideas at Work 11 TERM EXPIRES 2012 by Rick W. Sturdevant A. William Beckman, The Boeing Company Steven Brody, International Space University Lance Bush, Paragon Space Development Corporation UPCOMING EVENTS Jürgen Drescher, German Aerospace Center 19 Paul Eckert, The Boeing Company Steven D. Harrison, BAE Systems Felix Hoots, The Aerospace Corporation 48th ROBERT H. GODDARD MEMORIAL SYMPOSIUM 21 Kim Luu, Air Force Research Laboratory Nicole Jordan Martinez, X PRIZE Foundation Brooke Owens, Federal Aviation Administration NOTES ON A NEW BOOK SPACE TIMES EDITORIAL STAFF Paving the way for Apollo 11 22 EDITOR, Jeffrey P. Elbel Reviewed by James M. Busby PHOTO & GRAPHICS EDITOR, Dustin Doud PRODUCTION MANAGER, Diane L. Thompson BUSINESS MANAGER, James R. Kirkpatrick SPACE TIMES is published bimonthly by the American Astronautical Society, a professional non-profit society. SPACE TIMES is free to members of the AAS. Individual subscriptions may be ordered from the AAS Business Office. © Copyright 2010 by the American Astronautical Society, Inc. Printed in the United States of America. ISSN 1933-2793. PERIODICALS SPACE TIMES, magazine of the AAS, bimonthly, volume 49, 2010—$80 domestic, $95 foreign The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, quarterly, volume 58, 2010—$180 domestic, $200 foreign 6352 Rolling Mill Place, Suite 102 To order these publications, contact the AAS Business Office. Springfield, VA 22152-2370 USA REPRINTS Tel: 703-866-0020 Fax: 703-866-3526 Reprints are available for all articles in SPACE TIMES and all pa- [email protected] www.astronautical.org pers published in The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences.

2 SPACE TIMES • January/February 2010 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

As we begin a new year, I want take this opportunity to give the broader Society visibility into two technical committees which are an important part of the Society’s mission to advance astronautics: the AAS Space Flight Mechanics Committee (SFMC); and the Rocky Mountain Section Guidance & Control Technical Committee (RMTC). Both have winter meetings. The SFMC is co-sponsoring Space Flight Mechanics Meeting with AIAA in San Diego February 14-17, 2010, and the RMTC is hosting the annual AAS Guidance and Control Conference February 5-10, 2010, at the Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center in Breckenridge, Colorado. The Space Flight Mechanics Committee is composed of thirty elected members of the AAS who generally come from industry, academia, or government. Nominations for new committee members are made prior to the summer meetings. Those who are elected serve five year terms. The primary purposes of the Committee are to: · organize and conduct two conferences per year, the AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference (summer), and the AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting (winter); · nominate deserving AAS members for professional awards (e.g., the Dirk Brouwer Award); · administer other awards (e.g., the John V. Breakwell Student Travel Award); and · provide advice to the AAS Board of Directors. A secondary purpose is to advise and consult regarding AAS-sponsored ad hoc symposia related to astrodynamics and space flight mechanics. There are also several active standing subcommittees that have primary responsibility for recurring Committee activities. In addition to its regular winter and summer meetings, there are two ad hoc SFMC symposia back to back this May honoring George Born and Terry Alfriend, two long term space flight mechanics community members. For more committee information, please see http://www.space-flight.org/. The Rocky Mountain Section originated in 1977 as a joint effort between Martin Marietta, Ball Aerospace, and the University of Colorado. The charter is to advance the technology and provide forums for exchange of information related to research, development, production, and performance of techniques, devices, and systems concerning the guidance, control, navigation, and dynamics of space vehicles, missiles, and other aerospace products of interest to members of the Society. To accomplish its charter, the RMTC sponsors an annual conference dedicated solely to G&C technologies the first week of February. Conference sessions include an annual review of Recent Experiences, Advances in G&C, and one-on-one Technical Exhibits. The remaining sessions are designed to introduce new and innovative technologies through a wide range of topics. The section benefits from the continued support by NASA and DOD Labs, which provide a significant contribution to the technical content and participation in the conference. An emphasis on the theoretical aspects of G&C is provided by internationally recognized academia. Since its formation, the Rocky Mountain Section has maintained an annual scholarship of $1000 awarded to the top student from the University of Colorado Aerospace and Electrical Engineering departments. For more details, please see http://www.aas-rocky-mountain-section.org/. Participation at these committees’ conferences over the years has included attendees from academia, government labs, NASA, and DOD. The meetings sponsored by the SFMC and the RMTC involve the participation of a substantial number of engineers and scientists from many countries. Both committees, with assistance from Univelt, Incorporated, and the AAS Business Office, produce bound and CDR-ROM proceedings of each meeting and encourage the submission of papers for the AAS Journal, substantially contributing to the advancement of astronautics.

Frank A. Slazer [email protected] ON THE COVER

FRONT: An image of central Port-au-Prince, Haiti showing extensive damage, debris-covered roads, and streets crowded with victims due to the recent magnitude 7 earthquake. This image was taken by the GeoEye 1 satellite from an altitude of 423 miles at 10:27 a.m. EST on January 13, 2010. The heavily-damaged Presidential Palace is on the center-right of this picture. (Courtesy of GeoEye satellite photo) BACK: Dunes of sand-sized materials from a crater in Noachis Terra, west of the giant Hellas impact basin on Mars. This image was taken by the MRO HiRISE camera. (Courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona)

SPACE TIMES • January/February 2010 3 Martian Caves May Enable Sustainable Human Exploration of the Red Planet by ACCESS Mars team (ISU SSP09), G. de Carufel, J. Apeldoorn, K.M. Bennell, O. Haider, T. Hirmer, I.E. Jivãnescu, A. Shaghaghi Varzeghani, T. Mar Vaquero Escribano, Y. Winetraub, B. Gallardo, A. Fernández-Dávila, J. Zavaleta, and R. Laufer

Recent remote sensing observations missions. The use of caves could for human exploration in our solar have demonstrated the presence of ultimately make long duration human system. Evidence of methane, ice and underground caves near the Martian missions on Mars both technically carbonates are only a few clues which surface, and most promisingly lava tubes feasible and politically sustainable, raise the question of the current or past in ancient volcanic regions. These natural enabling the next giant leap for mankind: presence of life on the red planet. Only caverns may offer shelter against hazards a long-term human presence on Mars. through a human mission with field such as dust storms and radiation, which The recently released review of US observations will we answer these are identified as key challenges by NASA Human Space Flight Plans Committee burning questions. For the sake of and ESA’s Martian design reference report restates that Mars is a key target exploring and stretching the reaches of

ACCESSMars vision (Courtesy of the ACCESSMars Team)

4 SPACE TIMES • January/February 2010 ACCESSMars map (Courtesy of the ACCESSMars Team) our civilization, Mars offers a truly of our work was a report collapsed lava tubes. A low viscosity enticing destination which would push entitled ”Assessing Cave Capabilities & basaltic lava flow can leave a long hollow the boundaries of our current Establishing Specific Solutions” or underground cylinder known as a lava technological capabilities to become a ACCESS Mars for short. Several world tube. These are found on Earth and have spacefaring specie. experts in the field of Mars planetary historically been used to shelter our This summer, at the NASA Ames science and technology and the NASA ancestors against the dangers of this Research Center in California, a group Exploration Systems Mission Directorate world. It is easily conceivable that these of fifty-six participants of the Space reviewed and supported our work on sites on Earth, and lava tubes suspected Studies Program (SSP09) of the these exciting ideas. on the Moon, could be used as analogous International Space University (ISU) sites to prepare an eventual settlement worked on a project demonstrating the Lava tubes on Mars? of lava tubes on Mars. In this respect, a feasibility of using caves as a habitation Thanks to several remote sensing first settlement mission of the Moon solution for Mars. The team took on the missions flown to Mars over the past could be of great value in preparation challenge of answering questions such as: decades, a number of sites of high for the politically difficult idea of sending what benefits do caves offer as opposed scientific interest have been identified. humans to such distances as Mars, where to surface-based approaches, how do we These include areas with extensive help could not be sent from Earth in find them, how could we deal with ancient fluvial activities near Elysium anything shorter than several months. contamination, how would resident crew Mons and the presence of methane communicate within the cave, and how plumes of unknown origin in Nili Fossae. Why are lava tubes so special? could we get public and political support High resolution images of these and other Because of the low gravity on Mars, for such an ambitious mission. The fruit regions suggest the presence of partially Martian lava tubes can be as large as

SPACE TIMES • January/February 2010 5 hundreds of meters in diameter and can the fact that the basalt ceiling will absorb walls. A simple tear of a space suit or a extend tens of kilometers in length. In the majority of the harmful radiation caught leg in a hidden crack could be addition, the fluid behavior of the past otherwise found on the Martian surface. fatal. We must also consider the lava flow will leave a very uniform semi- Because Mars does not hold a psychological effects of living in an cylindrical ceiling and long flat floors. magnetosphere, the surface is constantly underground environment, where natural Given the impressive size and convenient bombarded by high doses of both galactic lighting is not present. With proper crew shape of these caverns, it is not hard to cosmic rays and solar radiation. This selection and training in analogue sites imagine that not too far in the future we radiation is unhealthy to humans and and with the adequate equipment, these could find extensive multi-story building living cells and could even be lethal in challenges are easier to manage than the structures with suspended connecting the event of a solar storm. However, as dangers the crew would face if it lived in bridges, large greenhouses, and even little as three meters of roof thickness a metal can on the surface. For a surface flying transportation vehicles through could be sufficient protection for healthy habitat, a simple fix on the outside wall pressurized portions of these immense radiation levels inside the lava tube. If a of the habitat would be a nightmare cave networks. Also of convenience, lava surface habitat was used, either very during a howling dust storm, not to tubes are always near the surface and thick walls would be required, or heavy mention the always haunting menace of have openings such that we could enter excavation equipment would be needed radiation. them easily and access the surface in to cover the habitat with surface regolith. order to explore the planet. These If astronauts were to live in a cave, a What if we find life? openings are either horizontal entrances much lighter habitat would be sufficient If we discover life on Mars, it would where the lava flowed out onto volcanic with radiation protection provided by the almost certainly be below the surface. By plains or vertical where the ceiling had natural cave shelter. Exploration within living in caves, not only are we in an ideal collapsed millions of years ago due to the cave would also benefit from such situation to look for and study these the initial thermal heating and cooling protection. Much longer missions to organisms but access to suspected strains experienced by the basaltic Mars could be justified since the total subterranean caches of water ice might structure. dose experienced by the crew would be be readily available. The presence of In terms of the environment expected significantly lower compared to a mission water and radiation protection is ideal within the lava tube, studies in very dry relying on a surface habitat. for life … both Martian and Human. sites here on Earth have shown that we However, this also raises the question of can expect a very stable temperature Are there risks in using lava tubes? contamination. If life was found, efforts within the cave. This temperature would Making use of caves on Mars has to protect this incredibly precious finding be approximately the same as the annual several advantages, such as protection would be of great importance. This mean surface temperature of 150 to 220 against radiation, seasonal dust storms creates a kind of conundrum. Are we to degrees Kelvin, depending on the latitude and micrometeorites. However, we must deny human access to these potential of the site. This would permit simplified not discount that making use of caves harbors of life for fear of contamination, thermal systems for the habitat, as will bring some problems of its own. or should we increase the chances of opposed to the thermal protection Among these, we must make sure that success in finding life by accepting the necessary against the radically varying the structural stability of these caves is risk? Although only an assumption, if life temperatures on the surface due to both sound. This, however, is not a major was found in one cave it is likely that it the night-day cycle and seasonal changes. concern on Mars, as these caves have could be found in others. A solution could This would significantly reduce the been in their present state for millions if be to quarantine other caves and portions complexity of exploration suits, since a not billions of years. The initial danger of the resided cave found to harbor life. passive insulating garment could suffice of collapse due to the rapid cooling of Again, analogous sites on both Earth and for underground exploration. the structure is long past, and Mars does the Moon could come in handy for The protection against critical Martian not have seismic activities to cause developing such measures. If we are to hazards is a key justification for turning concern. A more important challenge commit to not only exploring Mars but astronauts into cavemen. A very related to the use of a cave is the danger establishing a permanent human convincing argument in the use of lava it poses to the exploring astronauts due settlement, the risk of contamination of tubes for a human settlement on Mars is to the sharp rocks of its entrances and potential indigenous life must be

6 SPACE TIMES • January/February 2010 Artist rendition of a cave (Courtesy of the ACCESSMars Team) accepted. In the event that no life is found around the world, including caves found The next step is the robotic cargo on Mars, then a new kind of life could in the Atacama Desert in Chile. A space delivery. This will be composed of a Mars flourish in Martian caves: life brought based remote sensing platform combining departure stage, the cave habitat and a from Earth. this technique with simple visual cargo surface transportation system, photography will permit us to both which will land on Mars in preparation ACCESS Mars Mission Scenario identify and select sites where more for the crew’s arrival. The cargo surface ACCESS Mars developed a mission investigation is required. transportation system, a multi-purpose scenario for a human mission to Mars. Aerial platforms making use of deep cargo rover, will transport the habitation It has four phases: precursor satellite ground penetrating radar will better module from the landing site into the imaging missions to detect caves and characterize these caves in order to assess desired cave, and remotely construct the surrounding resources, robotic and aerial their candidacy. Surface robots of rapid deployment lightweight habitat. It missions to investigate the most various kinds, equipped with radar, lidar will later be used as general purpose appropriate cave, cargo deployment, and and imaging payloads will then enter unpressurised vehicle capable of heavy finally human settlement and exploration. these caves to take a closer look. The lifting and construction. Meanwhile on The most promising method for selected cave must have a good surface Earth, the crew composed of six highly detecting caves is to make use of both for construction, be in proximity to skilled astronauts will have been training visual and thermal imaging. Due to the features of scientific interest, have a for several years in preparation for their stable temperature in lava tubes and its horizontal entrance clear of debris, be upcoming departure for the Red Planet. thermal difference to the surrounding structurally sound without sky lights After one year following the cargo surface temperature, the thermal (evidence weakened ceiling structure), delivery, if telemetry indicates that all signature of the cave is a valuable tool and be close to an adequate landing site. surface systems are function nominally, for use in identifying it. This method is At this point, the world will learn that the astronauts will launch onboard a currently being refined by field scientists we have selected a cave for our future rocket and rendezvous with a Mars and researchers using analogous sites habitat on Mars. transfer vehicle. This vehicle will have

SPACE TIMES • January/February 2010 7 been assembled in low Earth orbit during the use of the cave itself as reliable human settlement to be very promising. the previous year. Now fully fuelled, the propagation channel for electromagnetic Our roadmap is just one possible scenario crew can use it to depart for a six month waves to travel from two distant devices. of how we could make use of caves on journey to Mars. Exploration within the cave network and Mars for the protective and exploration Using entry and descent landing outside on the surface will make use of benefits they offer. With analogous sites technologies developed for such a large both small unpressurised rovers and a on Earth and in possible lava tubes on payload in the two decades prior to this larger pressurized version depending on the Moon, we could prepare a well landing, the crew will land on the red the distance and on the mission. trained crew to face the challenges of planet just a few kilometers from the cave Since the habitat will be deployable exploring and living on the Red Planet. they will call home. They will then make and lightweight, and most probably Protocols for planetary protection would use of this landing craft as a temporary inflatable, it can occupy a much larger be devised, and political, technical and surface habitation to investigate the volume compared to the thick-walled logistical roadmaps would be developed. primary cave habitat and do final rigid surface habitat counterpart. This Although using caves as a shelter, as preparations for its occupation. It will will allow the crew the flexibility and opposed to a surface habitat, might later be used as a surface science outpost comfort to live within the habitat for an require more precursor missions to and an emergency shelter in the event of extended period of time. In fact, each establish the adequacy of the cave, the trouble in the prime habitat. After crew rotation could stay for a total of outcome would be a more sustainable approximately one month, the cave four years on the planet and welcome a option with proper protection and habitat will be ready to welcome its crew. new crew of six astronauts two years reduced risk to the crew’s health. In a nearby cave, an already installed following the previous team’s arrival. Consequently, longer crew rotations and fission reaction will provide the crew This would bring the total crew size to the resulting option of crew handovers with power for their equipment. On the twelve, a process made feasible by a would be made possible. With a truly surface, the Carbon dioxide scrubber will habitat extension and additional international commitment to settle on our make use of the diurnal temperature cycle equipment brought by the second crew. neighboring planet, our generation can variation of seventy degrees Kelvin, With the cargo transportation system still leave the momentous legacy of answering maintaining the air supply at the right available, the astronauts can the many unknowns of Mars and inspire composition levels. Making use of rearrange the habitat layout as desired. generations to come. The high potential mature technology such as various Having been on Mars for two years, the of lava tubes as a safe haven on Mars insulator coatings, fluid loops and first crew will have learned an incredible must not be ignored when planning such radiators, the equipment and habitat is amount about their surroundings and an ambitious and worthy feat. maintained at a comfortable level for its their equipment and can now share this inhabitants and electronic components. precious knowledge with the new crew. Lighting within the cave is ensured The increased diversity of personalities through efficient light emitting diodes and found in this new crew of twelve will be fiber optics transporting natural light very refreshing for the first six, but will from a collector on the surface. Through also bring some interpersonal challenges. an efficient bio-regenerative life support Lessons learned from the International system, much of the water and solid Space Station and missions on the Moon waste is recycled to be reused for have prepared the crew well for this consumption and fertilization of a sudden change in group dynamics. This greenhouse. Both communication and continuous operation of the settlement navigation within the cave are maintained will also help maintain the commitment by a network of repeaters and beacons of the international partners to support as found in mines here on Earth. The use such an ambitious program. of self-deploying robots will permit rapid expansion of this network as the In Conclusion For more information and to find the exploration intensifies. The very simple The ACCESS Mars study found the ACCESS Mars report and publications, geometry of the lava tube even permits use of lava tubes on Mars for an initial please visit http://accessmars.isunet.edu/

8 SPACE TIMES • January/February 2010 Putting the Excitement Back into Science Education by Daniel Barstow

“Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting development by having students visit your workplace, and of a fire.” William Butler Yeats even engage some students as interns. All of these activities help students learn about the diverse opportunities in science, President Obama recently announced a new program, called technology, engineering and math, and help them develop new Educate to Innovate, to help improve education in science, skills and content knowledge. technology, engineering and math (STEM). He called on Having seen comparable programs over the years, I’d like leaders in business and education to identify and support some to offer some words of advice – not in the scope of such of the most powerful STEM education programs, to inspire, programs, but in their nature, especially with regard to engage and educate young people. This is a powerful and engaging students directly with the substance of your work. important idea – without inspiring students to learn and pursue Put simply, you should avoid the trap of merely explaining careers in these fields, our nation is at serious risk over the your topic, and instead should focus on inspiring and engaging next decade and beyond. kids in the thrill of science. In the fields of Earth and space science (of relevance to Space Times readers), we certainly have a surplus of important topics to cover. But students already get an overload of topics, what Yeats called “filling the bucket.” Textbooks, tests and classroom lectures are full of content knowledge. It’s not at all clear that adding more topics will fix the deep problems and challenges affecting our educational system. Instead, we need to focus on the “lighting a fire” part of Yeats’ quote – putting the excitement back into the experience of science. Think for a moment about your own childhood, and the pivotal moment(s) when you got bitten by the science bug. What stands out most clearly in your mind as the spark that lit the fire? I’ve asked this question to a lot of scientists, and I’ve never had anyone answer “a great textbook” or “a clear explanation of a topic.” Most people cite an inspirational moment – a teacher with contagious enthusiasm, a field trip to a stellar museum, a Courtesy of Challenger Center for Space Science Education fascinating science program on TV, a birthday gift of a telescope. In the current vernacular, engaging web sites or Twitter messages could spark contagious enthusiasm. Inspiring and supporting students can manifest in so many In Spanish, they call this “chispa,” or spark. Without a creative ways. By funding innovative educational programs, spark, there is no fire, no matter how much wood you pile on. you can help sustain and extend their impact. Volunteering to So, space enthusiasts, here are some examples of chispas. help in local schools provides extra presence in the classroom, Dust off your childhood telescope, gather a few other night- whether you’re sharing your own expertise or tutoring needy sky fans, and have a star party. Invite a classroom of kids (or children. You can also share your own work through engaging just set up on a street corner!). Let kids see the stars and educational web sites. And you can promote workforce planets. Don’t just name them – tell stories about whatever

SPACE TIMES • January/February 2010 9 planet(s) are visible. Bring them to life. Spark curiosity. Entice Twenty-four years ago our nation had a comparable kids to want more. challenge to confront. After the tragedy of the Space Shuttle If your field is Earth science, take kids virtually aboard the Challenger, our nation questioned our commitment not just to International Space Station. Show them the windows human space exploration, but even more deeply our ability to astronauts use to explore Earth and then show your favorite invent new technologies of exploration and discovery. As one pictures of Earth from space (you can find a few hundred important response to that soul-searing crisis, the families of thousand at earth.jsc.nasa.gov). Don’t start by explaining plate the astronaut heroes established an educational program that tectonics or pixel sensors – just let kids see the majesty of our features the engaging and inspirational approaches advocated glorious planet. Then think of the images as mystery stories – here. Challenger Learning Centers, in 47 locations, now reach why do volcanoes form along the Pacific coast of North 400,000 students per year, taking them on simulated space America? Let kids mull on the same sense of wonder that lies missions that inspire and engage. Look at the excitement and at the heart of your own science explorations. focus of each student, and you will understand the depth of If you make a web site about your research, don’t turn it impact and the transformational power of these experiences. into a virtual lecture. No matter how clearly you can explain Challenger Learning Centers helped our nation turn from the content, that’s only a part of the equation. That’s the tragedy to a “can do” spirit. woodpile. Figure out the spark. How can you turn your web We need that same spirit now. Study after study has called site into an investigation tool for young people? If you search dramatic attention to the need to excite students to pursue for exo-planets by monitoring the subtle variations in light careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, from a distant star, make a tool that shows these variations and to develop the 21st century thinking, problem, solving, and let kids find the exo-planets. And then tie this to the grand and teamwork skills our nation needs for our future. Please mystery of searching for life and habitable planets. join us in answering the President’s call to action. There are I don’t mean to go on a diatribe here. Of course, kids need still many young people who need inspiring. content knowledge. But I’ve seen way too many wonderfully engaging educational programs get hacked at the knees by narrowly aligning them with content topics, rather than with Daniel Barstow is President of Challenger Center for Space the equally important science thinking skills and attitudes of Science Education. Visit www.challenger.org or email Dan inquiry, exploration and discovery. Some might respond, at [email protected] for more information. “Whoops, our state doesn’t do stars and planets in middle school, so you can’t do that star party.” Well, I’ve reviewed lots of state science standards, and every state, without exception, includes inquiry, exploration and discovery. And I’ve also seen study after study showing the ripple effect – Charitable Giving and the AAS that getting kids excited about STEM, almost regardless of actual topic, deepens learning and understanding more broadly A popular way of donating to an organization is through a gift by means of a will (i.e., to make a bequest). You in these fields. Move kids from “science is boring” to “science may decide to consider either a general bequest to the is exciting,” and their world changes forever. American Astronautical Society (AAS) or a bequest This is a pivotal moment in our nation’s history. So many targeted to an existing or new AAS scholarship or an award things are changing around us. We need a new generation of fund. scientists and engineers to invent new energy resources, resolve These bequests are deductible against estate and the challenges of global climate change, invent cures for cancer inheritance taxes. There are also tax advantages when and AIDS, and even create the next generation of human space making charitable donations to the AAS while you are exploration now that the Space Shuttle is retiring. If we don’t living. Such gifts could contribute to the memory of inspire and engage our young people in these dynamic fields someone who has passed away or be made in the honor (and others as yet unimagined), our nation will fall into the of a person who is still alive. In addition, special occasions backwaters of science, technology, engineering and math. We offer opportunities for gifts to be directed to the Society. will watch as China, India, Brazil and Japan move on ahead, As a final note, although the AAS is able to provide unless we confront this educational, and I would say, suggestions for charitable giving, your financial or legal inspirational, challenge. advisor should be consulted about such actions.

10 SPACE TIMES • January/February 2010 AAS NEWS

Report on AAS Imagine ’09: Ideas at Work by Rick W. Sturdevant

The American Astronautical Society knowledge base no longer can reside in corpse.” Gerstenmaier concluded by (AAS) held its 56th annual meeting and one organization, Gerstenmaier declared. challenging the conferees to “really national conference, AAS Imagine ’09, NASA must reach beyond its internal listen” and “try the new format” for this at NASA Johnson Space Center’s Gilruth resources toward networked expertise. AAS gathering, because “through the Center in Houston, Texas, during right focus, we can introduce great Wednesday and Thursday, 2–3 December change.” 2009. Advertised in advance via the With that, Mark Craig invited organization’s website and e-mails as a “conference master” Charlotte Pratt to departure from the usual, “a space the microphone. Formerly a vice conference like no other” and one that president with Goldman Sachs for whom would “explore remarkable ideas making she specialized in trading physical jet a difference in diverse fields that could fuel, Pratt explained the ground rules for transform the space enterprise,” AAS this unique space conference. Some of Imagine ’09 lived up to its billing. A host the world’s most productive, thoughtful, of extremely creative, productive William Gerstenmaier (Courtesy of NASA creative individuals would speak in turn individuals, each having a passion for JSC) for approximately 25 minutes to the innovation in their respective field of assembled audience. After each speaker, endeavor, fulfilled the conference He outlined four points to consider as conferees would have an opportunity to planners’ pledge that they would conferees listened to each speaker’s exercise their power of choice, to tailor “actively engage attendees, providing remarks. First, as previously mentioned, their decisions, either by following that knowledge and inspiration, and no single research organization, not even speaker to a breakout room for further encouraging breakthroughs in thought.” NASA, has all the answers. Second, conversation or by staying with the Truly, unlike previous AAS conferences, rather than adhering to the motto “failure general audience to hear the next speaker. this was “a cultural event” that sparked is not an option,” it might be all right to To facilitate breakout discussions, participants’ imaginations and unleashed expect small, relatively low-cost failures conference organizers limited remarkably refreshing ideas from beyond that yield knowledge. The space participation to 25 people. In addition, and within the space community. community needs to “be smart about Internet users could watch live webcasts After his welcoming remarks on taking risk and feel good about failure if of the speakers’ presentations. Pratt ven Wednesday morning, conference chair it yields knowledge” that brings success. encouraged the use of Facebook and Mark Craig introduced William Third, innovation doesn’t have to be “hit Twitter to broaden conference Gerstenmaier, NASA associate or miss” in response to crises; it can be participation. administrator for space operations, who standardized. A substantial body of The first speaker, Bob Rogers, had emphasized the importance within NASA literature on standardizing innovation spent considerable time thinking about of thinking about innovation and how to already exists, and so do models on how “how to fire up” the general, non- use it in the twenty-first century. Many to accelerate the learning curve. The technical public. He created and people believe “NASA is innovation,” he challenge is to remain flexible in the quest produced visitor experiences such as the asserted, but the organization innovated for a final product. As a final point for Apollo Saturn V Center at Kennedy in the past because it had no choice when consideration, Gerstenmaier quoted Space Center and destination attractions confronted with crises like Apollo 13, Winston Churchill from a 1953 speech for Disney. Founder and chairman of deployment of TDRS 1, or the blurred at the Royal Academy of Art: “Without BRC Imagination Arts, Rogers asserted imagery from the Hubble Space tradition, art is a flock of sheep without that public engagement is easily Telescope. In this new century, the a shepherd. Without innovation, it is a achievable for those who really want it,

SPACE TIMES • January/February 2010 11 if they are prepared to accept its cost and NASA’s story relies on the hero myth, implications. Observing that a public where the most significant relationship engagement strategy has been left out of is between humans and God, but the its Constellation Program, he chided globally predominant myth of this new NASA for deliberately cutting the general century is economic, where precedence public out of the story. “NASA’s most is between humans and nature; (4) relevant product is human experience,” consequently, many people don’t he declared, and the organization is doing comprehend NASA’s facts, and this lack all the right things but explaining it very of understanding, hence support, inhibits badly from a sales perspective. To NASA’s ability to move forward and succeed in “stirring people’s blood” in create a better future. She found hope this new century, NASA must stop giving for reconciliation, however, in an the impression that what it does is emerging ecological myth focused on routine, because it’s not routine. NASA health (wholeness) as the ideal, where the must engage the American people with Wayne Hale (Courtesy of Tim Chamberlin) individual is part of the whole with heroic stories - stories told in simple, nature, humans, and God in harmonious nontechnical, sequential or stretched-out resulted in stagnation, decay, and balance, and groups work together form. Do that, he suggested, and people dissolution of the empire. Meanwhile, expressively and creatively to contribute will understand NASA’s relevance. halfway around the globe, the tiny to development of the whole. principality of Portugal “put everything on the line” to turn outward, open a spice trade with the Orient, and begin “the age of wooden ships and iron men in the West.” The lesson for NASA, according to Hale, is that “staying home is the short road to failure,” but accepting risk and pursuing new ways of doing things might lead to amazing success. A 30-minute break enabled some people to join Hale for further discussion Bob Rogers (Courtesy of NASA JSC) Betty Sue Flowers (Courtesy of NASA JSC) without missing Betty Sue Flowers’ presentation. Creator of futures scenarios While some conferees followed for multinational corporations, she Flowers discussed briefly “The U- Rogers to a breakout room, others stayed brought up several ideas “as a Process” as described in Presence: in the main hall to hear Wayne Hale, provocation to encourage creativity.” Human Purpose and the Field of the NASA associate administrator of Recalling that Albert Einstein once Future (2004), which she coauthored strategic partnerships. To identify criteria labeled imagination more important than with three others. This process, more policy makers should use to make the best knowledge, Flowers posited a series of recently elaborated by C. Otto Scharmer choices regarding the future of related ideas: (1) storytelling is the way in Theory U: Leading from the Future spaceflight, Hale recommended the study the world works, and reality lies in the as it Emerges (2007), enables high- of history. He recalled that 600 years ago way a story is told; (2) stories are based performance groups or teams to the Ming Empire exercised political on facts but also on different types of maximize their output through control over half the world, because cultural myths - hero, religious, “presencing,” a capacity for a special China’s leaders had chosen to accept risk democratic/scientific, and economic - kind of listening, generative listening, and hardships and had seized that not only reflect different ideals, which leads from observations to opportunities. Then, new leadership in behaviors, actors, and communication realization of a future that “wants to China chose to take a “safer” path, to but also reflect different relationships emerge from the group as a whole.” The turn inward, and focus on self, which among humans, nature, and God; (3) U-Process tends to strengthen the

12 SPACE TIMES • January/February 2010 predominance of the ecological myth over telling what they were feeling or choices clearer. The narrative, Rohde older cultural myths, because even if experiencing than listen to descriptions explained, tended to work through storytelling becomes more of the scientific outcome of particular aggregation, something even more individualized, everyone using this experiments in space. nebulous than a network - something akin process contributes to development of the By sharing lessons learned in his to a cloud. Putting it differently, he whole. (For graphic depiction of Flowers’ startup enterprise, Berjikly expressed ascribed project success to an ideas, see her PowerPoint slides on the even more ideas potentially useful to “attraction-based concentric AAS Website at http://astronautical.org/ charting NASA’s future course. He organization” that coalesced around the events/conference/conference-2009/.) described that if you chase something narrative, with advocates at the core you’re passionate about, you’ll shut some surrounded concentrically by supporters, doors but open others. Furthermore, say participants, critics, and dissenters. “no” to perfection, because pursuing it Given this experience, Rohde expressed breeds delay you can’t afford in a market confidence that space exploration, which that moves at light speed; you will is “heavily laden with rich thematic succeed in today’s web-based content” provides ample opportunities for marketplace only if you introduce and allowing groups to form freely around deliver follow-on iterations of something themes that help shape unforeseen at light speed. Finally, a team is better futures. than a lone inventor for bringing about Rohde also shared lessons from change, because “sharing everything is having directed Disney’s Animal everything.” Kingdom project. He realized the Wednesday afternoon commenced importance of creating an environment Armen Berjikly (Courtesy of Tim Chamberlin) with Walt Disney Imagineering’s Joe for “accidental interaction,” ersatz Rohde explaining his experience with groups inside a pyramidal organization, Armen Berjikly, the morning session’s using narrative structure as a technique to foster new ideas or ways of doing final speaker, addressed harnessing for organizing and directing an ensemble things. Second, he acknowledged a need technology to connect people who can of groups involved in a complex project for “punctuated activity” that allows for help each other by drawing from lessons - design and development of Disney’s moments to stop, think, and reconsider. of the past - the power of experience - to Animal Kingdom theme park. Faced with Third, he benefited from establishing innovate for the future. Wanting to help the fundamental contradiction that “innovative reward systems” such as someone about whom he cared deeply Disney theme parks were “eternally using situational title changes that did not and who suffered from multiple sclerosis, unchanging” but animals aren’t, which threaten the organization as a whole. and becoming frustrated by the lack of violated what a park was supposed to These steps resulted in a “democratic existing resources, Berjikly had an idea be, Rohde reassessed his value system leveling” of the group that fostered that made a difference. Being a computer and “stumbled upon” using animals to absolutely free-flowing, open discussion engineer, he took a personal risk by readdress what a theme park could be. and value-directed behavior, rather than leaving a good-paying job to found and This amounted to “a narrative narrower, goal or mission-directed lead The Experience Project, a web transformation of a mission otherwise behavior. property dedicated to connecting thought to be impossible” and resulted While some conferees followed Rohde strangers who share particular in a theme park fundamentally different into a breakout session, others stayed to experiences - a massive, constantly from anything in the past. The intrinsic hear Steve Boehlke. President of SFB expanding archive of life in which value of nature became the basic building Associates and principal architect of the sharing experiences in real time is the block of the narrative that, like a Politics of CreativityTM, a networking key. Like Betty Sue Flowers, polarizing filter, colored the way all groundbreaking methodology for Berjikly pronounced storytelling as key subsequent decisions were made. addressing “taboo topics” that inhibit to generating a better future for millions Everyone and every group working on innovation and undermine performance, of people. A lesson for NASA is that most the project understood this theme, and Boehlke emphasized the need for people would rather hear astronauts all lived inside a narrative that made innovators to break rules that tend to

SPACE TIMES • January/February 2010 13 inhibit creativity. Beneath every innovative purposes, sharing is more awards reception. The Space Flight organization, he explained, lies a swamp important than not sharing, he asserted. Award went to Glynn Lunney for of interpersonal, cross-functional, “Bricolage” and “thinkering” not only management of the Apollo-Soyuz Test boundary-defined, sometimes confusing allow but enable such sharing to bring Program. The commander and three crew interactions. It is a place where politics good minds together, both physically and members of the STS-125 Shuttle mission prevail and games are played, but we virtually, across the entire planet. Google stepped to the podium to accept the Flight often choose not to talk about them. has “intellectual mass” because it draws Achievement Award for their repair and Occasionally, however, someone has the the best from everywhere, and NASA upgrade of the Hubble Space Telescope. courage to wade into this swamp and might change how it works with others Joseph Ruseckas received the Victor A. “name reality,” to be defiant rather than to achieve similar results. Prather Award for his original design, compliant. Sacred cows - powerful, Charles Chafer, Wednesday development, and production of crew restrictive rules or conventions - exist in afternoon’s last speaker, touted a “public protective materials over the course of virtually every organization, Boehlke option” for space exploration. A 43 years, and Lockheed Martin’s James posited, but leaders with integrity and potentially creative alternative to space Crocker earned the Industrial Leadership learned political skills - leaders standing policies of the past, he speculated, would Award for his contributions on a host of at the intersection of power and passion be a “little kernel of commercial space.” challenging projects. The John F. - can successfully break rules that inhibit Head of Space Services Inc. and leader Kennedy Astronautics Award went to innovation. “In the end,” he observed, of several groundbreaking commercial Roger Launius. Four other award “integrity is about who we are, not what space endeavors, Chafer warned that the recipients also were named: the we do.” If we have the integrity to break United States might be at a tipping point Melbourne W. Boynton Award to Joan the right rules, we can foster innovation. in terms of Congress continuing to vote Vernikos; the Eugene M. Emme The inspirational discourse continued large sums of taxpayers’ money for Astronautical Literature Award to David with a talk by Christopher Bronk, a space. As a way to turn this situation Mindell; the Dirk Brouwer Award to career diplomat who recently worked in around, he proposed NASA move toward Bruce Conway; and the Randolph the State Department’s Office of more “participatory” space missions that Lovelace II Award to Buzz Aldrin. eDiplomacy and is presently a Baker directly, interactively involve individual Finally, the election of Robert Bishop, Institute Fellow in Technology, Science citizens on a global scale. To be more David Finkleman, and Bradford and Public Policy at Rice University. relevant to the general public, he believes Parkinson raised the total number of Titling his presentation “Give NASA the NASA must first select a relevant goal individuals named as AAS Fellows to chance to be the next Google,” he or activity that taxpayers perceive as 145. elaborated on the theme of an op-ed piece directly valuable to them. Then, NASA that he and fellow Web 2.0 enthusiast should capitalize on key assets such as Tory Gattis co-wrote for the Houston its television channel and website, where Chronicle (see http://www.chron.com/ it could add a “shopping cart” to generate disp/story. mpl/editorial/outlook/ solid economic returns from millions of 6778831.html). Information technology visitors weekly. Furthermore, NASA (IT) matters in big organizations like should unleash private participation, NASA, Bronk explained, because it is because there is nothing like being transforming the way things move directly involved in a true space mission through the structure. The market for to create a feeling of ownership. Doing information has been radically changed this is possible, Chafer explained, Richard Garriott (Courtesy of Tim by technology; it is disaggregated, torn because the 1958 Space Act that created Chamberlin) to pieces. Bronk recalled how NASA imposed few barriers to private development of the Internet gave new involvement in public space exploration. meaning to “knowledge management” On Wednesday evening, conferees Imagine ’09 presentations and and how “collaboration software” led to reassembled in the Hilton Houston breakout sessions resumed at the Gilruth doing everything on the browser instead NASA Clear Lake Marina Ballroom for Center on Thursday morning, 3 of relying on client servers. For more networking and an AAS honors/ December. Richard Garriott, the first

14 SPACE TIMES • January/February 2010 2009 AAS AWARDS RECEPTION Awards Presented by Lyn Wigbels, Executive Vice President, AAS Photos Courtesy of Tim Chamberlin

Space Flight Award recipient Glynn Lunney John F. Kennedy Astronautics Award Connijean Murphy receiving the recipient Roger Launius Victor A. Prather Award on behalf of her father, Joseph Ruseckas

Newly elected AAS Fellow Robert Bishop Newly elected AAS Fellow David Finkleman

Flight Achievement Award recipients STS-125 Mission Industrial Leadership Award recipient James Crocker Specialists John Grunsfeld and Andrew Feustel, Pilot Gregory Johnson, and Commander Scott Altman

SPACE TIMES • January/February 2010 15 second-generation American astronaut poorer nations, and gentler rides for repeated suborbital flights in September– and board chairman for Space sensitive payloads. “Be prepared to have October 2001, however, it made front- Adventures, narrated his personal your socks knocked off very soon,” page news worldwide, and space was experiences and impressions as a private Durda proclaimed, pointing to Virgin “cool” again. Pomerantz outlined the citizen visiting the International Space Galactic as an example, because “this is current space-related X Prize Station (ISS) in 2008. An outspoken real - it’s happening!” Comparing next- competitions, particularly the Google advocate of balancing NASA and private generation suborbital spaceflight’s Lunar X Prize. He said the foundation is activities to overcome the current evolutionary status to where the Internet considering prizes for orbital debris “serious problem with the economics of was in 1975, he asked listeners to abatement, new launcher concepts, and space,” he described a “long series of “imagine a world of pervasive, personal high school projects. Ultimately, the X growing and building epiphanies” and spaceflight.” Durda believes this world Prize Foundation wants winners to take enduring memories as he observed Earth already has begun to appear and will their ideas to industry on their own, and from the ISS. In Garriott’s opinion, the develop rapidly from a February 2010 for industry to push those ideas into the key to getting more commercial meeting of the Suborbital Applications mainstream. involvement in space launch and, Research Group in Boulder. ultimately, bringing down cost is for the Prospects for private access to space federal government to change the gained further attention in Will procurement method for launch to be Pomerantz’s presentation. Senior director more like its method for satellites. Instead of space prizes for the X Prize of the government dispensing money to Foundation, Pomerantz reviewed both numerous, different contractors for the that organization’s background and the bits and pieces needed for each launch, long history of competitive prizes related Garriott would have government give the to exploration or technological same amount in lump to a single, prime innovation including the Longitude Prize, contractor for subsequent, competitive Orteig Prize, and Anasari X Prize, and Discussions continue with Will Pomerantz parceling out. Such an approach might their corresponding recipients John following his presentation (Courtesy of NASA lead to a “great renaissance” in space Harrison, Charles Lindbergh, and Burt JSC) launch during the next generation, he Rutan’s Scaled Composites. Prize predicted, because competition in the competitors usually have spent much marketplace tends to bring the price down more - roughly an order of magnitude Next came Bryan Guido Hassin, CEO by prompting efficiency. more - than they have received in prize of Enistic, Inc., a company committed Dan Durda, a senior research scientist money, but they have gained fame and to using information technology (IT) to at Southwest Research Institute in have advanced the “state of the art” more reduce energy consumption, thereby Boulder, Colorado, also addressed the rapidly than otherwise might have bringing about cost savings and reducing issue of high launch costs but from a occurred. carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Titling suborbital perspective. The next Spaceflight is not an “us or them his presentation “The Power of Informed generation of human suborbital vehicles, competition,” Pomerantz explained, but Humans,” Hassin described “one funded by billionaire investors who want the prize-winning quest allows solutions entrepreneur’s journey through thought, to open a market for space tourism, offers to bubble to the top despite competitors’ emotion, and human irrationality” to the possibility of sending multiple resources, expertise, or reputation. Some focus on “information adaptive human research and education missions into ideas might prove to be silly; others might behavior” as story. He started with the space on a more frequent schedule at a turn out to be “big, big improvements.” idea that “Business + IT = Save the cost far below that of conventional The goal is “incremental leaps.” While World” but soon realized that 90% of sounding rockets. Furthermore, the new NASA has made such leaps, he observed, what you need to change if you want to suborbital vehicles will permit more people don’t get excited anymore, save the world has little to do with flexible launch operations with respect because NASA “does it so well and technological advances or rational human to time and place, affordable access to routinely.” When Rutan’s SpaceShipOne behavior; it has everything to do with space for more government agencies or earned the Anasari X Prize for its irrational behavior. Mindful of this, he

16 SPACE TIMES • January/February 2010 identified six “golden rules” of human he called “people fusion.” When asked a entrepreneurship. The idea is to give behavior: (1) what gets measured gets few years ago to talk about data fusion, students around the world - “kids who done; (2) feedback must be instantaneous he thought about how the oil and gas don’t know you can’t do it” - the ability and shared across relationships; (3) industry was losing people with and opportunity to imagine and to competition multiplies behavioral effects; expertise, and this led him to be more innovate through project-based, hands- (4) fear of loss generally outweighs interested in fusing people than data. on learning. Conrad’s formula is “STEM excitement about opportunity or gain; (5) Echoing Hassin’s comments about education + entrepreneurship = an people prefer the path of least resistance; passionate people, Gibson said you innovative workforce,” but students and, by far the most important, (6) disconnect from creativity if you’re not having fun in the process is really what nothing facilitates change like emotional passionate. Processes, however, can also it’s all about. Her foundation is support. Understanding these rules might kill creativity by leading to a collaborating with others, such as Future benefit creative space activity if “deterministic, single-minded approach.” Farmers of America, to inspire even more scientists, engineers, and managers step The key to avoiding this pitfall is high school students. beyond the rational, follow their passion, threefold: (1) problem definition is and empower their feelings, Hassin crucial; (2) have discipline around the emphasized. If they compensate for risk value placed on obtaining a satisfactory by establishing secure bases of emotional solution; and (3) ask outsiders to offer support and by formulating prudent solutions to your problem. Relying on the default options, they can endure failures open marketplace in this manner usually and achieve success. yields more good ideas for a given The last speaker before lunch was investment and “creates some friction Thomas B. Pickens III, president and that keeps the edge sharp” in large CEO of Astrotech Corporation. companies that have a tendency to Considering the potential for commercial become complacent. This is what Gibson use of microgravity to benefit meant by “people fusion.” humankind, he explained how NASA Nancy Conrad (Courtesy of Tim Chamberlin) originally conducted biotech experiments to understand potential threats to astronauts’ health in a sustained A few conferees followed Conrad to microgravity environment. Pickens her breakout session, while others stayed believes, however, that using space to in the main hall to hear NASA engineer more quickly identify biomarkers for Evan Thomas talk about the similarity producing vaccines to treat various between the challenge of keeping conditions on Earth can yield huge astronauts alive and healthy in a commercial gains. That is why he a spacecraft and doing the same for billions formed Astrogenetix as an Astrotech of people in Earth’s developing regions - John Gibson (Courtesy of NASA JSC) spinoff to conduct such experiments. By places where people struggle daily just selling the resulting data to to stay alive. Active in Johnson Space pharmaceutical companies, he Nancy Conrad, widow of astronaut Center’s chapter of Engineers Without anticipates a three-year horizon for Pete Conrad and CEO of the Conrad Borders–USA, Thomas envisions space payback on his investment. Foundation, next offered a solution to the exploration technologies in synergy with After lunch, Paradigm president and problem of what we can do “when the social innovation as powering sustainable CEO John Gibson drew from more than pipeline is dry.” To honor her husband’s development in the Third World. Instead 25 years experience as a leader of life and memory, the foundation has of relying on donors, charities, or organizations in the global energy established a Spirit of Innovation Awards corporate social responsibility to foster industry to talk about how to solve program to challenge high school teams development, he advocates “tangible difficult, complex problems through to solve real-world problems by creating capacity building” through people’s own collaborative, open communities or what products using science, technology, and social enterprise, because the latter

SPACE TIMES • January/February 2010 17 breeds better prospects for sustainability and corporations are begging for more. Costa Rica and, in December 2007, - the capacity to endure. Similarly, One big problem, however, is that negotiated a second agreement with sustainability ought to be a “design replicating teachers like Williams is NASA that brought it back into driver” for projects that envision human harder than replicating his program. partnership with Ad Astra. A December exploration of the Moon and Mars. Earth “Changing education,” he said, “is like 2008 “go fly” agreement with NASA needs, as identified in the United Nations changing the direction of a river with a enabled Ad Astra, on 30 September 2009, Millennium Development Goals, can be shovel.” After more than 15 years of to test the VX-200 to its 200-kilowatt mapped to ongoing NASA technical effort, Williams doesn’t think SystemsGo design limit, making it “the most needs, according to Thomas, and vice yet has sufficient impetus to succeed powerful rocket in the world,” according versa. without him, but he continues to work to Chang-Diaz. His goal, however, is a High school instructor Brett Williams on changing the river’s course “one 2,000-kilowatt space tug to enable such told how Ignite SystemsGo Aeroscience, shovel full at a time.” things as cheaper maintenance of the a nationally recognized program founded International Space Station’s orbit, by him, has taught and inspired students launch of a private space station, in-space to pursue engineering careers. Through refueling, lunar transport, and large hands-on, problem-based learning, missions into deep space. SystemsGo students experience an With Chang-Diaz’s departure to a “attempt at progressive education” in an breakout room and the number of educational structure still oriented toward attendees in the main hall dwindling, educating for antiquated assembly-line conference chair Mark Craig’s brief jobs. Unlike other pupils, SystemsGo remarks ended the conference. “We’ve students are compelled to think about the never done anything like this before,” he value of learning and how they can use reminded listeners, “and it might even be knowledge bases to compete in the real a first in the space community.” Having Franklin Chang-Diaz (Courtesy of Tim world. Williams described his four-step “done this on the fly,” he invited Chamberlin) process, through which students conferees to express their reactions, good themselves build and launch a rocket: (1) or bad, and to suggest areas for create inspiration via inquiry-based Franklin Chang-Diaz, the final improvement. In case you’re wondering learning; (2) spark investigation, where speaker, discussed prospects for the about this writer’s opinion, let me say students are responsible for finding Variable Specific Impulse Imagine ’09 was a refreshing, broadly answers to problems; (3) open paths to Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) and based, and intellectually stimulating discovery, that eureka moment that other advanced propulsion technologies. discussion of ideas and experiences from comes from studying collected data; and Chairman and CEO of Ad Astra Rocket which the space community itself might (4) conclude with application, which Company, Chang-Diaz recounted gain transformative insights for the entails making something happen based VASIMR’s historical development from second decade of the twenty-first century. on understanding. With the teacher acting 1965, when he built his first rocket in only as a facilitator, the “reality in Costa Rica, through his graduate Rick Sturdevant is the Deputy education,” according to Williams, “is research on thermonuclear fusion and Command Historian, HQ Air Force that failure has to be an option” in order magnetic diverters at MIT in the 1970s, Space Command, and a member of the to create the desire for success. to experiments at MIT and JSC AAS History Committee. Each year since 1996, Williams has beginning in the 1980s. He refined the challenged kids in Fredericksburg, Texas, VASIMR design in the 1990s and, with to learn by doing - to design, build, and NASA’s approval, transformed a Renew or update your launch a rocket. Now, 40 schools across government laboratory into a private Texas are replicating his SystemsGo company, Ad Astra, in order to allow AAS membership at program, and he has received a grant to private investors to support the project. add another 40 in 2010. To date, 120 of In July 2006, Chang-Diaz built a www.astronautical.org his former students are out in industry, VASIMR production facility in his native

18 SPACE TIMES • January/February 2010 UPCOMING EVENTS

AAS Events Schedule AAS Corporate Members

February 12, 2010 The Aerospace Corporation The State of the Agency: NASA Future Programs Air Force Institute of Technology Presentation James E. Webb Auditorium a.i. solutions, inc. NASA Headquarters Analytical Graphics, Inc. Washington, DC Applied Defense Solutions, Inc. Call 703-866-0020 for details Applied Physics Laboratory / JHU Arianespace February 14-17, 2010 Auburn University *AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Winter Meeting Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. Marriott San Diego Mission Valley San Diego, California The Boeing Company www.space-flight.org Braxton Technologies, Inc. Computer Sciences Corporation February 23-26, 2010 Dittmar Associates, Inc. SPESIF-2010: Space, Propulsion & Energy Sciences Edge Space Systems, Inc. International Forum Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University JHU/Applied Physics Laboratory General Dynamics AIS Laurel, Maryland George Mason University/CAPR www.ias-spes.org Honeywell Technology Solutions, Inc. March 10-11, 2010 International Space University 48th Robert H. Goddard Memorial Symposium Jet Propulsion Laboratory "Earth and Beyond: The Next Decades" KinetX, Inc. Greenbelt Marriott Lockheed Martin Corporation Greenbelt, Maryland National Institute of Aerospace www.astronautical.org N. Hahn & Co., Inc. Noblis May 13-14, 2010 George H. Born Symposium Northrop Grumman University of Colorado Orbital Sciences Corporation Boulder, Colorado Paragon Space Development Corporation www.space-flight.org The Pennsylvania State University Phillips & Company May 17-19, 2010 Raytheon Kyle T. Alfriend Astrodynamics Symposium RWI International Consulting Services Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa Monterey, California SAIC www.space-flight.org The Tauri Group Technica, Inc. June 11-13, 2010 Texas A&M University *6th Student CanSat Competition United Launch Alliance Amarillo, Texas Univelt, Inc. www.cansatcompetition.com Universal Space Network Universities Space Research Association August 2-5, 2010 *AIAA/AAS Astrodynamics Specialist Conference University of Florida Sheraton Centre Toronto Utah State University / Space Dynamics Lab Toronto, Ontario, Canada Women in Aerospace www.aiaa.org

*AAS Cosponsored Meetings Thank you for your continued support!

SPACE TIMES • January/February 2010 19 Space Times Article Submission Guidelines

Feature articles (1,500-3,000 words), op-eds (500-1,500 words), and book reviews (600 words or less) are accepted. Exceptions will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Articles should be written for a well-educated audience that has a great interest in space topics but may not necessarily be familiar with your specific topic. Articles may cover virtually any topic involving space science, technology, exploration, law, or policy. Articles that touch on issues relevant to the civil, commercial, and military and intelligence space sectors alike are also welcomed. Space Times is a magazine, as opposed to a technical journal. Articles should therefore be written in active voice, with a clear explanation of technical concepts provided, and the tone should lean more toward conversational rather than formal. The submission deadline is the 15th of the month prior to the issue date (i.e., June 15 for the July/August issue). Articles must be submitted in Microsoft Word format, Times New Roman font, 10.5 pt. Other formatting will be handled by us during the editing process. Please provide with your article: · a title; · a subtitle or one to two sentence summary of the subject matter; · subheadings to provide separation between major sections of the article, if applicable; · a one to two sentence author biography (byline) which will appear at the end of the article; and · the current mailing address of the author(s) (five complimentary copies of the issue in which the article appears will be mailed to each author). Submission of photos or other visual support is encouraged, but not required, but if submitted must be provided in high resolution (at least 300 dpi) JPG or TIF format (CMYK for color and grayscale for black and white). Visuals must not be imbedded in an article but must be provided separately. Please provide proof of permission from the owner of any photos or visuals, or contact information of the owner if permission has not already been obtained prior to submission of an article. Please submit articles to [email protected] or contact the AAS Business Office at 703-866-0020. " " Membership Type Membership Application ! Member ...... $85 ! Affiliate ...... $85 703-866-0020 ! Senior Member ...... $100 www.astronautical.org ! Retired ...... $35 ! Teacher (K-12) ...... $35 ! Student (full-time) ...... $35

______Payment Method Mr./Ms./Dr. Last Name First Name Ì Check Enclosed Ì Credit Card ______Title Company Ì Visa Ì Amex Ì MasterCard

______Address Credit Card Number

______City State Zip Code Expiration Date

______Signature

Mail to: AAS Membership Benefits Include: Subscriptions to the quarterly The Journal of the Astronautical Sci- 6352 Rolling Mill Place, Suite 102 ences and the bi-monthly Space Times magazine, as well as reduced rates at all AAS conferences. Springfield, VA 22152-2370 Visit the AAS website for additional information about benefits. Fax to: 703-866-3526

20 SPACE TIMES • January/February 2010 Tuesday, March 9 8:55 Introduction of Keynote Speaker Salons A&B 6:00 Evening Networking Reception Rob Strain, Director, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Symposium Honorary Chair Wednesday, March 10 9:00 Keynote 7:30 Registration Opens / Continental Breakfast John Holdren, Science Advisor to the President and Director, Office of Science 8:30 Welcome and Announcements Salons A&B and Technology Policy (invited) - Frank Slazer, Northrop Grumman, AAS President 9:30 Investments in the Future: NASA’s Technology Programs - Harley Thronson, Associate Director for Advanced Concepts in Astrophysics, TBD, Office of the Chief Engineer, NASA Headquarters NASA GSFC 10:00 Exciting and Informing the Public 8:40 Introduction of Keynote Speaker Moderator: Robert Jacobs, Assistant Public Affairs Officer, NASA Rob Strain, Director, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Symposium Headquarters Honorary Chair Panelists: 8:45 Keynote - Joel Achenbach, Science Editor, Washington Post Lori B. Garver, NASA Deputy Administrator - Jeff Foust, Editor and Publisher, The Space Review 9:15 A Users’ Guide to NASA’s Future - An Introduction - Frank Morring, Jr., Deputy Managing Editor/Space, Aviation Week & Space Alan Ladwig, Deputy Associate Administrator for Public Liaison, NASA Technology Headquarters - Lon Rains, Director, Communications, Northrop Grumman 9:30 NASA Headquarters Associate Administrators Panel 11:30 Luncheon Salons C&D Moderator: Alan Ladwig Deputy Associate Administrator for Public Liaison, Guest Speaker: Jane Lubchenco, Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans NASA Headquarters and Atmosphere (NOAA Administrator) (invited) Panelists: 1:00 Science and NASA’s Human Space Flight Program - Douglas Cooke, Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems Moderator: John Grunsfeld, Deputy Director, Space Telescope Science - David Radzanowski, Deputy Associate Administrator for Program Integration, Institute Space Operations Mission Directorate (invited) Panelists: - Jaiwon Shin, Associate Administrator for Aeronautics Research (invited) - Jeanne Becker, Associate Director, The John M. Eisenberg Center for Clinical - Edward Weiler, Associate Administrator for Science Decisions and Communications Science; Associate Professor, Baylor 11:00 Mini-Break College of Medicine 11:15 Talking Science in a Science Challenged World - James Garvin, Chief Scientist, NASA GSFC Ira Flatow, National Public Radio (NPR) Science Correspondent and - Matt Mountain, Director, Space Telescope Science Institute Television Journalist - Michael Wargo, Chief Lunar Scientist, NASA Headquarters 12:00 Awards Luncheon Salons C&D 2:30 International Goals in Space Guest Speaker: Jeff Greason, President, XCOR Aerospace and Member, Moderator: Brendan Curry, Vice President, Space Foundation Review of Human Spaceflight Plans Committee Panelists: 1:30 Commercial Missions to ISS and Beyond - Andreas Diekmann, Head, Washington Office, European Space Agency Moderator: Bretton Alexander, President, Commercial Spaceflight Federation - Deviprasad Karnik, Counselor, Space and ISRO Liaison, Embassy of India Panelists: - Andrei Orekhov, Science Counselor, Russian Embassy - Frank Culbertson, Senior Vice President and Deputy General Manager, - Yoshi Yoshimura, Director, Washington Office, Japan Aerospace Exploration Advanced Programs Group, Orbital Sciences Corporation Agency - Michael Gold, Director, Washington, D.C. Area Office, Bigelow Aerospace - Wang Jiacun, First Secretary, Science & Technology, Embassy of the - Lawrence Williams, Vice President, International and Government Affairs, People’s Republic of China Space Exploration Technologies Corporation 4:00 Space and Global Climate Change 3:30 Impact of Extreme Space Weather on Logistics, and the Economy Moderator: Nancy Colleton, Director, Institute for Global Environmental Moderator: Molly Macauley, Senior Fellow, Resources for the Future Strategies Panelists: Panelists: - Thomas Bogdan, Director, National Space Weather Prediction Center, NOAA - Dixon Butler, Staff, Professional Staff, House Appropriations Committee, - Michael Hesse, Chief, Space Weather Laboratory, NASA GSFC U.S. House of Representatives (invited) - Luke Van der Zel, Electrical Power Research Institute (invited) - Berrien Moore III, Executive Director and Senior Research Scientist, Climate 5:00 Afternoon Wrap-up Central Brewster Shaw, Vice-President and General Manager, Space Exploration, - Jeff Privette, Program Manager, Climate Data Record (CDR) Program, Boeing Defense, Space and Security, The Boeing Company National Climatic Data Center, NOAA 5:30 Networking Reception - Compton Tucker, Senior Earth Scientist, Biospheric Sciences Branch Thursday, March 11 Laboratory for Terrestrial Physics, NASA GSFC 8:00 Registration Opens / Continental Breakfast 6:00 Closing Reception

SPACE TIMES • January/February 2010 21 NOTES ON A NEW BOOK

Paving the way for Apollo 11

Reviewed by James M. Busby

Paving the way for Apollo 11 by David M. Harland. Springer/ Orbiter photos at Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Praxis Press, 2009. 472 pages. ISBN 978-0-387-68131-3. California. We are now getting our first close-up images of $39.95 USD. the Apollo landing sites from the newest orbiting spacecraft, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). We can see the Following the recent landing (or rather, smackdown) of footpaths and equipment left behind by the astronauts half a the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Spacecraft century ago as we are starting to look for the future landing (LCROSS) into the moon, people are once again interested to sites to be used during the next generation of manned lunar know how the decisions were made which led to the Apollo spacecraft. program. Many are asking why the United States chose to go David Harland does not mince words. He respects the to the Moon, and why they chose to land in the Sea of English language and puts the most into every paragraph to Tranquility. tell the readers what they need to know. The book tends to be Harland’s previous book, Exploring the Moon, the Apollo a bit dry overall, and I would have liked to see better photo Expeditions did a fine job telling stories about those people captioning. Nonetheless, if you are an engineer, scientist, or a exploring in their space suits and also those on the ground space buff, this book will hold your interest. wearing white shirts and pocket protectors who chose where the astronauts were to land and what they were to do. This new book fills in the blanks describing what we knew before making the attempt, and how we discovered new things we needed to know before committing Apollo to the first manned lunar landings. Harland explains what we learned when the Moon was first viewed with a philosopher’s eye, and then with an astronomer’s eyes through a telescope. Harland then describes the first race for space between the international superpowers and the hurried “shots” at the Moon made by Luna and Pioneer. Once the decision was made to go to the Moon “before the decade was out,” readers are taken into the decision-makers’ offices. These were the people who decided what to fly, when, and what risks were involved. Harland describes the first failures of Ranger and continues through the successful Lunar Orbiter, and the “soft” landings made by Surveyor and Russia’s Luna probes. He puts each mission in context, detailing the results and the failures of each. I only wish there had been more information about the Soviet vehicles, especially those which were launched just ahead of Apollo 11. Continuing through the book, Harland inserts the manned missions into the mix. He describes the progress as the manned and unmanned efforts crossed as Apollo 11’s departure for James M. Busby is Director of Media Relations/Space the Moon approached. Historian for the Aerospace Legacy Foundation and a The book is timely as the “Lunar Orbiter Image Recovery member of the AAS History Committee. Project” has been digitizing and restoring the original Lunar

22 SPACE TIMES • January/February 2010 SPACE TIMES • January/February 2010 23 Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit #161 Lancaster, PA

6352 Rolling Mill Place Suite 102 Springfield, VA 22152-2370

Address Service Requested

24 SPACE TIMES • January/February 2010