DOCSLIB.ORG

The Future of Human Space Flight Hearing Committee On

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Future of Human Space Flight Hearing Committee On THE FUTURE OF HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED EIGHTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION OCTOBER 16, 2003 Serial No. 108–29 Printed for the use of the Committee on Science ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.house.gov/science U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 89–892PS WASHINGTON : 2004 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2250 Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate 11-MAY-2000 11:28 May 07, 2004 Jkt 089892 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 C:\WORKD\FULL03\101603\89892 SCIENCE1 PsN: SCIENCE1 COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE HON. SHERWOOD L. BOEHLERT, New York, Chairman LAMAR S. SMITH, Texas RALPH M. HALL, Texas CURT WELDON, Pennsylvania BART GORDON, Tennessee DANA ROHRABACHER, California JERRY F. COSTELLO, Illinois JOE BARTON, Texas EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, Texas KEN CALVERT, California LYNN C. WOOLSEY, California NICK SMITH, Michigan NICK LAMPSON, Texas ROSCOE G. BARTLETT, Maryland JOHN B. LARSON, Connecticut VERNON J. EHLERS, Michigan MARK UDALL, Colorado GIL GUTKNECHT, Minnesota DAVID WU, Oregon GEORGE R. NETHERCUTT, JR., MICHAEL M. HONDA, California Washington CHRIS BELL, Texas FRANK D. LUCAS, Oklahoma BRAD MILLER, North Carolina JUDY BIGGERT, Illinois LINCOLN DAVIS, Tennessee WAYNE T. GILCHREST, Maryland SHEILA JACKSON LEE, Texas W. TODD AKIN, Missouri ZOE LOFGREN, California TIMOTHY V. JOHNSON, Illinois BRAD SHERMAN, California MELISSA A. HART, Pennsylvania BRIAN BAIRD, Washington JOHN SULLIVAN, Oklahoma DENNIS MOORE, Kansas J. RANDY FORBES, Virginia ANTHONY D. WEINER, New York PHIL GINGREY, Georgia JIM MATHESON, Utah ROB BISHOP, Utah DENNIS A. CARDOZA, California MICHAEL C. BURGESS, Texas VACANCY JO BONNER, Alabama TOM FEENEY, Florida RANDY NEUGEBAUER, Texas (II) VerDate 11-MAY-2000 11:28 May 07, 2004 Jkt 089892 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 5904 Sfmt 5904 C:\WORKD\FULL03\101603\89892 SCIENCE1 PsN: SCIENCE1 C O N T E N T S October 16, 2003 Page Witness List ............................................................................................................. 2 Hearing Charter ...................................................................................................... 3 Opening Statements Statement by Representative Sherwood L. Boehlert, Chairman, Committee on Science, U.S. House of Representatives ........................................................ 12 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 13 Statement by Representative Ralph M. Hall, Minority Ranking Member, Committee on Science, U.S. House of Representatives ..................................... 13 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 14 Statement by Representative Bart Gordon, Minority Ranking Member, Sub- committee on Space and Aeronautics, Committee on Science, U.S. House of Representatives ................................................................................................ 15 Prepared Statement by Representative Dana Rohrabacher, Chairman, Sub- committee on Space and Aeronautics, Committee on Science, U.S. House of Representatives ................................................................................................ 15 Prepared Statement by Representative Nick Smith, Chairman, Subcommittee on Research, Committee on Science, U.S. House of Representatives .............. 16 Prepared Statement by Representative Jerry F. Costello, Member, Committee on Science, U.S. House of Representatives ........................................................ 17 Prepared Statement by Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson, Member, Com- mittee on Science, U.S. House of Representatives ............................................ 17 Prepared Statement by Representative Nick Lampson, Member, Committee on Science, U.S. House of Representatives ........................................................ 17 Prepared Statement by Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, Member, Com- mittee on Science, U.S. House of Representatives ............................................ 18 Witnesses: Dr. Michael D. Griffin, President and Chief Operating Officer, In-Q-Tel, Inc. Oral Statement ................................................................................................. 19 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 20 Biography .......................................................................................................... 26 Dr. Wesley T. Huntress, Jr., Director, Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Insti- tution of Washington Oral Statement ................................................................................................. 26 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 28 Biography .......................................................................................................... 33 Dr. Matthew B. Koss, Assistant Professor of Physics, College of the Holy Cross Oral Statement ................................................................................................. 34 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 35 Biography .......................................................................................................... 44 Dr. Alex Roland, Professor of History, Duke University Oral Statement ................................................................................................. 44 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 46 Biography .......................................................................................................... 47 (III) VerDate 11-MAY-2000 11:28 May 07, 2004 Jkt 089892 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 5904 Sfmt 5904 C:\WORKD\FULL03\101603\89892 SCIENCE1 PsN: SCIENCE1 IV Page Dr. Bruce Murray, Professor of Planetary Science and Geology Emeritus, California Institute of Technology Oral Statement ................................................................................................. 47 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 49 Biography .......................................................................................................... 51 Discussion Vision .................................................................................................................... 52 Priorities ............................................................................................................... 52 Support for Human Space Flight ........................................................................ 55 Goals ...................................................................................................................... 58 Lunar Exploration ................................................................................................ 59 China ..................................................................................................................... 61 Priorities and Funding ......................................................................................... 62 The Space Exploration Act .................................................................................. 64 Technical Challenges ........................................................................................... 65 Robotic Exploration .............................................................................................. 68 NASA Culture ...................................................................................................... 70 Effects of Zero-Gravity on Humans .................................................................... 70 Education .............................................................................................................. 73 Exploration ........................................................................................................... 75 Free-Flying Platforms .......................................................................................... 77 Space Station Science .......................................................................................... 78 Appendix 1: Answers to Post-Hearing Questions Dr. Michael D. Griffin, President and Chief Operating Officer, In-Q-Tel, Inc. .. 84 Dr. Wesley T. Huntress, Jr., Director, Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Insti- tution of Washington ........................................................................................... 89 Dr. Matthew B. Koss, Assistant Professor of Physics, College of the Holy Cross ...................................................................................................................... 91 Dr. Alex Roland, Professor of History, Duke University ...................................... 99 Dr. Bruce Murray, Professor of Planetary Science and Geology Emeritus, California Institue of Technology ........................................................................ 104 Appendix 2: Additional Material for the Record Stepping Into the Future, A Workshop in Memory of the Columbia 7 ............... 106 VerDate 11-MAY-2000 11:28 May 07, 2004 Jkt 089892 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 5904 Sfmt 5904 C:\WORKD\FULL03\101603\89892 SCIENCE1 PsN: SCIENCE1 THE FUTURE OF HUMAN SPACE
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Town Hall PP Ehrenfreund TA
    Vision and Voyages For Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022 What Is A Decadal Survey? • Once every ten years, at the request of NASA and NSF, the National Research Council carries out a “decadal survey” for planetary science. • The decadal survey involves broad participation from the planetary science community. • It is the primary scientific input that NASA and NSF use to design their programs of planetary science and exploration. • This decadal survey applies to the decade from 2013 to 2022. 2 Guiding Principles • Science Comes First: All recommendations must be first and foremost science-driven. • Community Involvement: Solicit community input throughout the process. • Transparency and Openness: Make the process as open and visible to all interested members of the community as possible. 3 Committee Organization Steering Group Steve Squyres, Chair Larry Soderblom, Vice Chair Vice Chairs of Panels 9 others Inner Planets Outer Planets Primitive Bodies Panel Panel Panel Ellen Stofan, Chair Heidi Hammel, Chair Joe Veverka, Chair Steve Mackwell, Vice Chair Amy Simon-Miller, Vice Chair Hap McSween, Vice Chair 10 others 9 others 10 others Mars Outer Planet Panel Satellites Panel Phil Christensen, Chair John Spencer, Chair Wendy Calvin, Vice Chair Dave Stevenson, Vice Chair 9 others 10 others 4 Inputs From The Community • The goal of the decadal survey is to seek out the community’s views, and build a consensus around those views. • More than a dozen town hall meetings were held: AGU (twice), LPSC (twice), DPS (twice), EPSC, RAS, AbSciCon, NLSI, LEAG, VEXAG, OPAG, MEPAG, CAPTEM, etc. • The community submitted 199 white papers with 1669 individual authors and endorsers.
    [Show full text]
  • Why NASA Consistently Fails at Congress
    W&M ScholarWorks Undergraduate Honors Theses Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects 6-2013 The Wrong Right Stuff: Why NASA Consistently Fails at Congress Andrew Follett College of William and Mary Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/honorstheses Part of the Political Science Commons Recommended Citation Follett, Andrew, "The Wrong Right Stuff: Why NASA Consistently Fails at Congress" (2013). Undergraduate Honors Theses. Paper 584. https://scholarworks.wm.edu/honorstheses/584 This Honors Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects at W&M ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Undergraduate Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of W&M ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Wrong Right Stuff: Why NASA Consistently Fails at Congress A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Bachelors of Arts in Government from The College of William and Mary by Andrew Follett Accepted for . John Gilmour, Director . Sophia Hart . Rowan Lockwood Williamsburg, VA May 3, 2013 1 Table of Contents: Acknowledgements 3 Part 1: Introduction and Background 4 Pre Soviet Collapse: Early American Failures in Space 13 Pre Soviet Collapse: The Successful Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo Programs 17 Pre Soviet Collapse: The Quasi-Successful Shuttle Program 22 Part 2: The Thin Years, Repeated Failure in NASA in the Post-Soviet Era 27 The Failure of the Space Exploration Initiative 28 The Failed Vision for Space Exploration 30 The Success of Unmanned Space Flight 32 Part 3: Why NASA Fails 37 Part 4: Putting this to the Test 87 Part 5: Changing the Method.
    [Show full text]
  • Numerical Investigation of a Novel RBCC Ejector Configuration
    Numerical Investigation of a Novel RBCC Ejector Configuration Compared to a Traditional Circular Ejector by Adrian Gerber A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Science in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario, Canada March 2015 Copyright c 2015 - Adrian Gerber Abstract The rocket based combined cycle can be an alternative engine to power a vehicle into space. The engine has 4 stages and one of the more challenging stages to in- crease performance is the first stage, the ejector stage. One proposed method to increase performance is by achieving higher entrainment performance and mixing at low free-stream velocities. The Exchange Inlet is used as an alternative nozzle to achieve this performance. The Exchange Inlet is compared to a conical nozzle within a RBCC engine with computational fluid dynamics at various pressures. The mixing and entrainment properties are compared between the two engine configurations and additional cases are investigated with shorter mixing sections to further investigate these properties. The Exchange Inlet is found to have better entrainment than the circular nozzle in all cases. ii For my mother, who always pushed me to never give up. iii Acknowledgments I would like to thank my professor for patiently pushing, motivating, and always showing me a little bit of light and knowledge at the end of every turn. I would also like to thank my family, friends, and girlfriend especially for the constant support and patience. iv Table of Contents Abstract ii Acknowledgments iv List of Tables vii List of Figures viii List of Acronyms xii List of Symbols xiv 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Background .
    [Show full text]
  • Pete Aldridge Well, Good Afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen, and Welcome to the Fifth and Final Public Hearing of the President’S Commission on Moon, Mars, and Beyond
    The President’s Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy PUBLIC HEARING Asia Society 725 Park Avenue New York, NY Monday, May 3, and Tuesday, May 4, 2004 Pete Aldridge Well, good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the fifth and final public hearing of the President’s Commission on Moon, Mars, and Beyond. I think I can speak for everyone here when I say that the time period since this Commission was appointed and asked to produce a report has elapsed at the speed of light. At least it seems that way. Since February, we’ve heard testimonies from a broad range of space experts, the Mars rovers have won an expanded audience of space enthusiasts, and a renewed interest in space science has surfaced, calling for a new generation of space educators. In less than a month, we will present our findings to the White House. The Commission is here to explore ways to achieve the President’s vision of going back to the Moon and on to Mars and beyond. We have listened and talked to experts at four previous hearings—in Washington, D.C.; Dayton, Ohio; Atlanta, Georgia; and San Francisco, California—and talked among ourselves and we realize that this vision produces a focus not just for NASA but a focus that can revitalize US space capability and have a significant impact on our nation’s industrial base, and academia, and the quality of life for all Americans. As you can see from our agenda, we’re talking with those experts from many, many disciplines, including those outside the traditional aerospace arena.
    [Show full text]
  • Options and Issues for Nasa's Human Space Flight Program
    OPTIONS AND ISSUES FOR NASA’S HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT PROGRAM: REPORT OF THE ‘‘REVIEW OF U.S. HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT PLANS’’ COMMITTEE HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION SEPTEMBER 15, 2009 Serial No. 111–51 Printed for the use of the Committee on Science and Technology ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.science.house.gov U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 51–928PDF WASHINGTON : 2010 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HON. BART GORDON, Tennessee, Chair JERRY F. COSTELLO, Illinois RALPH M. HALL, Texas EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, Texas F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER JR., LYNN C. WOOLSEY, California Wisconsin DAVID WU, Oregon LAMAR S. SMITH, Texas BRIAN BAIRD, Washington DANA ROHRABACHER, California BRAD MILLER, North Carolina ROSCOE G. BARTLETT, Maryland DANIEL LIPINSKI, Illinois VERNON J. EHLERS, Michigan GABRIELLE GIFFORDS, Arizona FRANK D. LUCAS, Oklahoma DONNA F. EDWARDS, Maryland JUDY BIGGERT, Illinois MARCIA L. FUDGE, Ohio W. TODD AKIN, Missouri BEN R. LUJA´ N, New Mexico RANDY NEUGEBAUER, Texas PAUL D. TONKO, New York BOB INGLIS, South Carolina PARKER GRIFFITH, Alabama MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, Texas STEVEN R. ROTHMAN, New Jersey MARIO DIAZ-BALART, Florida JIM MATHESON, Utah BRIAN P. BILBRAY, California LINCOLN DAVIS, Tennessee ADRIAN SMITH, Nebraska BEN CHANDLER, Kentucky PAUL C. BROUN, Georgia RUSS CARNAHAN, Missouri PETE OLSON, Texas BARON P. HILL, Indiana HARRY E.
    [Show full text]
  • Federal Research and Development (R&D) Funding
    Federal Research and Development (R&D) Funding: FY2020 Updated March 18, 2020 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R45715 SUMMARY R45715 Federal Research and Development (R&D) March 18, 2020 Funding: FY2020 John F. Sargent Jr., President Trump’s budget request for FY2020 included approximately $134.1 billion for research Coordinator and development (R&D). Several FY2019 appropriations bills had not been enacted at the time Specialist in Science and the President’s FY2020 budget was prepared; therefore, the President’s budget included the Technology Policy FY2018 actual funding levels, 2019 annualized continuing resolution (CR) levels, and the FY2020 request levels. On February 15, 2019, Congress enacted the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (P.L. 116-6). This act included each of the remaining appropriations acts, completing the FY2019 appropriations process. The act also rendered the CR levels identified in the budget no longer relevant, though for some agencies the exact amount of R&D funding in the act remained uncertain. The analysis of government-wide R&D funding in this report compares the President’s request for FY2020 to the FY2018 level. In FY2018, OMB adopted a change to the definition of development, applying a more narrow treatment it describes as “experimental development.” This change was intended to harmonize the reporting of U.S. R&D funding data with the approach used by other nations. The new definition is used in this report. Under the new definition of R&D (applied to both FY2018 and FY2020 figures), President Trump requested approximately $134.1 billion for R&D for FY2020, a decrease of $1.7 billion (1.2%) from the FY2018 level.
    [Show full text]
  • Impact of International Cooperation for Sustaining Space-Science Programs
    Impact of International Cooperation for Sustaining Space-Science Programs Karan Jani1 Sam Nunn Security Program Sam Nunn School of International Affairs Georgia Institute of Technology October 26, 2016 ABSTRACT Space-science programs provide a wide range of application to a nation's key sectors of development: science-technology infrastructure, education, economy and national security. However, the cost of sustaining a space-science program has discouraged developing nations from participating in space activities, while developed nations have steadily cut down their space-science budget in past decade. In this study I investigate the role of international cooperation in building ambitious space-science programs, particularly in the context of developing nations. I devise a framework to quantify the impact of international collaborations in achieving the space-science goals as well as in enhancing the key sectors of development of a nation. I apply this framework on two case studies, (i) Indian Space ​ Research Organization - a case of space-science program from a developing nation that has historically engaged in international collaborations, and (ii) International Space Station - a ​ case for a long term collaboration between matured space-science programs. My study concludes that international cooperation in space can significantly enhance scope of science goals, but has relatively little return of investment towards science education and national security. I also highlight limitations of such space diplomacy in the case of China and SAARC nations, and list criteria for future investigation and case studies. 1 [email protected] Karan Jani TABLE OF CONTENTS ​ 1. Introduction 2 … 1.1. Historical Developments in Space Research 1.2.
    [Show full text]
  • Major Gen. Dickman Space Exploration Testimony
    Testimony of Major General Robert Dickman (USAF-Ret) Executive Director The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) 1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Suite 500 Reston, VA 20191-4344 “Reauthorizing the Vision for Space Authorization” Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation United States Senate May 7, 2008 Good Morning Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee. I am Major General (USAF-Ret) Robert Dickman, Executive Director of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). Thank you for inviting me to testify on this important issue. I would also like to thank all the 1 members of Congress and their staff for taking the time to meet with AIAA members during our annual Congressional Visits Day. We come to Congress every year in April and consistently have been welcomed with hospitality and a willingness to engage our members in open and thoughtful dialogue about important issues. As Executive Director of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, I represent a constituency of over 35,000 aerospace professionals and students, located in all fifty states and 89 countries internationally. During my tenure as Executive Director, I have heard many members at our technical conferences and other venues voice their concerns about the fiscal health and future viability of NASA. At a funding level of only a fraction of a percent of the annual federal budget, NASA is being systematically starved. NASA is being forced to eliminate or severely reduce some very important work, to the detriment of critical aerospace research and development, and more broadly to the detriment of our aerospace strength and our industrial base.
    [Show full text]
  • Framing Science on Social Media to Raise Public Awareness of Space Exploration: a Content Analysis of NASA Mars Mission Videos and Public Responses on Youtube
    University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 12-2017 Framing Science on Social Media to Raise Public Awareness of Space Exploration: A Content Analysis of NASA Mars Mission Videos and Public Responses on YouTube Priyanki Sinha University of Tennessee, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss Recommended Citation Sinha, Priyanki, "Framing Science on Social Media to Raise Public Awareness of Space Exploration: A Content Analysis of NASA Mars Mission Videos and Public Responses on YouTube. " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 2017. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/4853 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a dissertation written by Priyanki Sinha entitled "Framing Science on Social Media to Raise Public Awareness of Space Exploration: A Content Analysis of NASA Mars Mission Videos and Public Responses on YouTube." I have examined the final electronic copy of this dissertation for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, with a major in Communication and Information. Carol
    [Show full text]
  • Humanity and Space
    P a g e | 1 HUMANITY AND SPACE AN INTERACTIVE QUALIFYING PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE In Partial Fulfillment for the Degree of Bachelor Science By James Miguel Costello Nicola Richard DiLibero III George Howard Merry Submitted to: Professor Mayer Humi P a g e | 2 CONTENTS Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction.................................................................................................................................................... 6 Moon Base .................................................................................................................................................. 13 Background ......................................................................................................................................... 13 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 15 Why Go Back? .................................................................................................................................... 16 Lunar Radiation ................................................................................................................................... 19 Lunar Base
    [Show full text]
  • Recommended Small Spacecraft Missions
    This booklet is based on the Space Studies Board report Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022 (available at <http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13117>). Details about obtaining copies of the full report, together with more information about the Space Studies Board and its activities can be found at <http://sites.nationalacademies.org/SSB/index.htm>. Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022 was authored by the Committee on the Planetary Science Decadal Survey. COMMITTEE ON THE PLANETARY SCIENCE DECADAL SURVEY Image Credits and Sources STEVEN W. SQUYRES, Cornell University, Chair LAURENCE A. SODERBLOM, U.S. Geological Survey, Vice Chair Page 1 NASA/JPL WENDY M. CALVIN, University of Nevada, Reno Page 2 Top: NASA/JPL – Caltech. <http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/gallery/OSS.jpg>. Bottom: NASA/JPL – Caltech. <http://explanet.info/images/Ch01/01GalileanSat00601.jpg>. DALE CRUIKSHANK, NASA Ames Research Center Page 3 Top: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute <http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA11133.jpg>. PASCALE EHRENFREUND, George Washington University Bottom: NASA/JPL – Caltech/University of Maryland. G. SCOTT HUBBARD, Stanford University Page 4 Gemini Observatory/AURA/UC Berkeley/SSI/JPL-Caltech <http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/ WESLEY T. HUNTRESS, JR., Carnegie Institution of Washington (retired) (until November 2009) PIA13761.jpg>. Page 5 Top: ESA/NASA/JPL-Caltech < http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=46816>. MARGARET G. KIVELSON, University of California, Los Angeles Second: NASA/JPL-Caltech. Third: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institution. Bottom: NASA/JPL- B. GENTRY LEE, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Caltech <http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA15258.jpg>.
    [Show full text]
  • Accidents, Engineering, and History at Nasa, 1967-2003
    CHAPTER12 ACCIDENTS,ENGINEERING, AND HISTORYAT NASA, 1967-2003 Alexander Brown ection 203(a)(3) of the National Aeronautics and Space Act directs NASA Sto “provide for the widest practicable and appropriate dissemination of information concerning its activities and the results thereof.”’ To fulfill that mandate, NASA Administrator T. Keith Glennan instituted the NASA History Office in 1959? The office has stayed open ever since, collecting archival materials for NASA staff and outside researchers, writing history, and commissioning a wide range of works on NASA’s history. Over the last decade, the budget of NASA’s history office has remained constant at around $335,000 per annum, although funds allocated to the history office from project offices vary from year to year. Even assuming such a level over the lifetime of the office, and not adjusting for inflation, NASA’s commitment to telling its own history has cost the organization at least $15 million. But this figure is dwarfed by three official histories of NASA not commissioned by the history office. In 1967, 1986, and 2003, NASA spent $31 million, $75 million, and $152.4 million to produce multivolume accounts of fatal acci- dents in the manned space pr~gram.~These three accident reports examined the fatal fire in Apollo 204 (Apollo 1) in 1967, the explosion of the Solid Rocket Booster in STS-51L (Challenger) in 1986, and the destruction of the orbiter in STS-107 (Columbia). Fatal accidents in publicly funded systems catch particular media and public attenti~n.~Governments become compelled to conduct wide-ranging 1.John M.Logsdon et al.,eds., Exploring the Unknown:Selected Documents in the History ofthe US.Civil Space Program, vol.
    [Show full text]