DOCSLIB.ORG

NASA Explores Its Options for Future Space Programme British Accident

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
NASA Explores Its Options for Future Space Programme British Accident ~28~4______________________________________________ NEVVS ____________________________N_A_TU~R_E_V_O~L~.~3~28~23~J~U~L~Y~1~9~87 NASA explores its options for British accident future space programme practice with Washington heavy-lift vehicle. There will also be a radium A REPORT to be delivered to James need for rockets designed to move pay­ London Fletcher, administrator of the National loads around once in orbit, and to carry THE British Ministry of Defence admitted Aeronautics and Space Administration them out of orbit. last week that it has been using a­ (NASA), setting out potential new initia­ New technology development is also emitting radioactive materials in nuclear tives for NASA, will undoubtedly add fire critical. Apart from special application weapons training exercises. The exercises, to the debate over the direction of the US satellites, much of NASA's hardware is at undisclosed locations over several space programme. Prepared by astronaut based on technology from the late 1960s years, are designed to simulate accidents Sally Ride, the report will present options and early 1970s. Space hardware for the involving aircraft or ground vehicles. ranging from a manned mission to Mars to 1990s must include more modern com­ Roger Freeman, Parliamentary Under renewed unmanned exploration of Earth. ponents. Renewed emphasis on life Secretary for the Armed Forces, told a But the report emphasizes that there are sciences in space is also critical, especially stormy House of Commons last week that certain steps NASA must take before any if longer-term missions are undertaken. liquids containing radium-233 (with a new programmes can reasonably be con­ The report also concludes that a space radioactive half-life of about 12 days) have sidered. station of some description will be needed been sprayed around an accident site to The Ride report attempts to answer the for both manned and unmanned missions. make the simulations "as realistic as question of what it means to achieve The emphasis on Earth-observing possible". The ministry says that stringent leadership in space. Reaching the Moon missions will bring smiles to faces at the safety procedures are followed, and that first provided the United States with one National Science Foundation, where Earth "there is no harmful effect". type of space leadership, but unmanned sciences have recently been reorganized The existence of the Nuclear Accident exploration and advanced technology under the banner of Global Geosciences. Response Organization, which has con­ development has provided another, per­ Those involved in the International Geo­ ducted the exercises, was revealed by The haps longer lasting, type of leadership. sphere-Biosphere Program will see noth­ Independent newspaper. Some members In addition to the Mars and Earth ing amiss in NASA emphasizing Earth of parliament complained at the use of any options, the report examines a possible sciences. Planning has already begun at kind of radioactivity, but some research­ manned lunar base and unmanned planet­ NASA for a fleet of four polar orbiting ers, accepting the need for "something to ary exploration. Along with the Mars and platforms, two provided by NASA, one Earth-observing initiatives, these are by the European Space Agency and one 'r6v should COvy\j- ~ov('.se..I\Jes intended to represent the spectrum of by Japan. These platforms will be serviced Ivvl\~ t-Je. cf,dn'r vse.. ('~o.l options for NASA. Although no option by the space station, and used for Earth Miss·lle.s ... receives unqualified support, the lunar observations. There are also plans for five base and the Earth-observation options geostationary platforms. seem more reasonable short-term goals. The lunar base may be more controver­ But the report stresses that virtually any sial, but the Ride report sees it as a critical activity NASA may undertake between first step if Mars is to be an ultimate goal. now and the end of the century will Certainly it will be more expensive than require certain basic improvements. The enhanced Earth observation, although launch fleet will have to be expanded not as costly as a trip to Mars would be. beyond the shuttle, probably to include a Joseph PaIca make the geiger counters tick", think it Enthusiasm for return to Mars would have been better to avoid a­ Washington executive director of the Planetary Society, emitters. "A simple fJ- or y-emitter would IF the National Aeronautics and Space says part ofthe video conference was domi­ have been better", says Dr Murdoch Administration is uncertain about whether nated by the life issue. He says the pre­ Baxter of the Scottish University Re­ returning to Mars in force should be a goal sumption is that by taking samples from search Centre. of the US space programme, such doubts further below the surface than those drawn The ministry says that radium-233 is did not exist for participants in this week's by the US Viking landers warmer, wetter used "typically" but not exclusively on "Case for Mars III" conference in Boulder, material might be found by Soviet probes. training exercises, when it is mixed with Colorado. Nor was there doubt about con­ But Friedman adds that there is no clear barium sulphate and aluminium oxide. tinued Mars exploration during a unique, evidence to suggest that such conditions Contaminated soil is removed, and "after four-hour video conference between Soviet would in fact exist. three or four months, no trace of radio­ and US space scientists, engineers and There was no unanimity of opinion on activity is left". 'explorers' sponsored by the Planetary the timing for a manned mission to Mars. The hazards of the practice are dis­ Society. The video conference, dubbed Former US astronaut Buzz Aldrin argued puted. Dr Barrie Lambert, lecturer in Spacebridge, took place last Saturday, to that such a mission was achievable before radiobiology at St Bartholomew's Hosp­ coincide with the Mars conference. the end of the century, but others felt that ital in London, says that the use of radium- About 25 participants from each was far too optimistic. In mission design 233 is "unjustifiable", given the bone­ country discussed issues ranging from the discussions, the possibility of cooperating seeking tendency of the material. But the value of international cooperation in on an engineering model of the martian ministry says that the maximum radio­ planetary exploration to engineering surface was raised. Cooperation was also active dose that could be received during details for future missions. Soviet interest proposed as an efficient way of solving an exercise is the equivalent of smoking a in searching for life on Mars surprised navigational problems related to landing single cigarette (radioactive on account of some US participants. Louis Friedman, on Mars. Joseph PaIca polonium), which is estimated at 50 microsievert. Kathy Johnston © 1987 Nature Publishing Group.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Congress of the United States Congressional Budget Office May 1988
    CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE MAY 1988 A SPECIAL STUDY THE NASA PROGRAM IN THE 1990s AND BEYOND The Congress of the United States Congresssional Budget Of'f'ice NOTES All costs are expressed in 1988 dollars of budget authority, unless otherwise noted. All years are fiscal years, except when applied to launch schedules. PREFACE The United States space program stands at a crossroads. The momentum of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) program over the last 20 years has brought NASA to a point where new activities will require substantial increases in the agency's budget. Critics of the NASA program have called for even more ambi- tious goals, most prominently an expansion of manned space flight to the Moon or Mars. Fiscal concerns, however, may limit even the more modest set of activities envisioned by NASA. This special study, requested by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans- portation, examines the broad options for the U.S. space program in the 1990s. In keeping with the mandate of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to provide objective nonpartisan analysis, the report makes no recommendations. David H. Moore, of CBO's Natural Resources and Commerce Division, prepared the report under the supervision of Everett M. Ehrlich. Frances M. Lussier of CBO's National Security Division and Michael Sieverts of CBO's Budget Analysis Division provided valu- able comments and assistance. Many outside reviewers made useful comments and criticisms. Amanda Balestrieri edited the manuscript. Margaret Cromartie prepared early drafts of the report, and Kathryn Quattrone prepared the final draft for publication.
    [Show full text]
  • Solar System Exploration: a Vision for the Next Hundred Years
    IAC-04-IAA.3.8.1.02 SOLAR SYSTEM EXPLORATION: A VISION FOR THE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS R. L. McNutt, Jr. Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Laurel, Maryland, USA [email protected] ABSTRACT The current challenge of space travel is multi-tiered. It includes continuing the robotic assay of the solar system while pressing the human frontier beyond cislunar space, with Mars as an ob- vious destination. The primary challenge is propulsion. For human voyages beyond Mars (and perhaps to Mars), the refinement of nuclear fission as a power source and propulsive means will likely set the limits to optimal deep space propulsion for the foreseeable future. Costs, driven largely by access to space, continue to stall significant advances for both manned and unmanned missions. While there continues to be a hope that commercialization will lead to lower launch costs, the needed technology, initial capital investments, and markets have con- tinued to fail to materialize. Hence, initial development in deep space will likely remain govern- ment sponsored and driven by scientific goals linked to national prestige and perceived security issues. Against this backdrop, we consider linkage of scientific goals, current efforts, expecta- tions, current technical capabilities, and requirements for the detailed exploration of the solar system and consolidation of off-Earth outposts. Over the next century, distances of 50 AU could be reached by human crews but only if resources are brought to bear by international consortia. INTRODUCTION years hence, if that much3, usually – and rightly – that policy goals and technologies "Where there is no vision the people perish.” will change so radically on longer time scales – Proverbs, 29:181 that further extrapolation must be relegated to the realm of science fiction – or fantasy.
    [Show full text]
  • Entire Issue in PDF Format
    AMERICAN RANDONNEUR VOLUME 23 • ISSUE #3 FALL 2020 IN THIS Bikepacking the WestX Trail, 2020 — JAY FICHIALOS Cycling During the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic — MARY FOLEY ISSUE High Hopes Dashed but a Silver Lining Emerges — DAVID NALL NEW, Northern Transcontinental Mid July to Mid August 34 days, 3,700 miles, 110 miles per day We changed 1,000 miles of this route and added two more days across the midwestern states. This tour begins in Everett, Washington and crosses the northern states of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Pacific Atlantic Cycling Tour Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, www.pactour.com Vermont, Massachusetts before ending in Portsmouth, Lon Haldeman and Susan Notorangelo New Hampshire. This tour is almost filled with Contact us... 262-736-2453 50 riders on the waiting list [email protected] Southern Transcontinental Planning Ahead for 2021 Celebrating Lon and Susan’s 100th Cycling Event Across America Due to the ever changing Covid-19 virus Early September to early October This will be a 27 day tour from San Diego, California to restrictions all tours and dates are subject Tybee Island (Savannah) Georgia. Most days average to change. 110 miles. We will cross the country through a variety of terrain and visit many historical sites along the way. PAC tour will have a full schedule of popular tours for the 2021 season including our Arizona Desert Cycling Camp. Many of these tours have been filling up one year in advance. We are listing these tours now so you can Andes to the Amazon in Peru prepare to sign up when registration opens.
    [Show full text]
  • 'Leadership and America's Future in Space' Ride Report Proposes Strategy of Evolution, Natural Progression
    Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center News Vol. 26 No. 17 August 28, 1987 National Aeronautics and Space Administration 'Leadership and America's Future in Space' Ride report proposes strategy of evolution, natural progression A strategy of evolution and natural pro- space. We must then go do it, balancing gression would allow the United States to Report excerpts on Pages 4 and 5 boldness and wisdom as we go," regain and retain leadership in space sci- JSC employees listed as significant con- ence, exploration and enterprise, according tion ourselves to continue leading the way totheAdministratorforStrategic Planning. tributors to the report were John Aaron, to a long-awaited report prepared by Dr. in human exploration." "You have well and truly discharged the Kenneth Atkins, Michael Duke, Kyle Fair- Sally K. Ride. "There is no doubt that exploring, pros- difficult task I asked you to undertake," child, Steve Hawley, Wendell Mendell, John But that strategy is only one the U.S. pecting, and settling Mars should be the Fletcher said in a letter to Ride. "You have Muratore and Barney Roberts. spaceprogramshouldconsiderasitdefines ultimate objectives of human exploration," opened a bright window on the issues of In the report, Ride asserts that the U.S. its course into the next century, Ride wrote the report concludes. "But America should leadership in space and the means to reach civilian space program is at a crossroads, in "Leadership and America's Future in not rush head-long toward Mars; weshouid --and sustain--that position." aspiring toward the visions of the National Space," presented this month to NASA adopt a strategy to continue an orderly JSC Director Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • INTEGRATED SPACE PLAN (Preliminary)
    CRITICAL PATH AMERICAN SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM INTEGRATED SPACE PLAN Space Transportation (NSTS) Systems Division FIRST INTERNATIONAL RMS GENERATION EXPENDABLE LAUNCH (INTERNATIONAL) OF VEHICLE FLEET (Preliminary) IUS UNITED STATES LAUNCH VEHICLE CAPABILITES REUSABLE SPACECRAFT PRIVATE LAUNCH VERSION 1.1 FEBRUARY, 1989 VEHICLE # TO LEO # TO GEO GEO-CIRCULAR FIRST FLIGHT VEHICLES ALS 200,000 1998 * THE AMERICAN SPACE SHUTTLE (ELV’S) EMU SHUTTLE C 150,000 20,000 (CENTAUR) 1994 1983 PRODUCED BY RONALD M. JONES D/385-210 SPACE 55,000 5,500 (IUS) 1981 1983 * CHALLENGER OV-099 SHUTTLE 6,500 (TOS) * COLUMBIA OV-102 ABOUT THIS DIAGRAM: TITAN 4 40,000 12,500 10,000 (CENTAUR) 1989 OV-103 * DISCOVERY GOVERNMENT - The Rockwell Integrated Space Plan (ISP) is a very long range systematic perspective of America’s and the TITAN 3 33,000 8,600 4,200 (IUS) 1965 MMU * ATLANTIS OV-104 COMMERCIAL SATELLITE Western World’s space program. Its 100-plus-year vision was created from the integration of numerous NASA ATLAS 2 14,400 5,200 2,500 1991 EARTH-TO-ORBIT * TBD OV-105 DEPLOYMENT long-range studies including the project Pathfinder case studies, recommendations from the National ATLAS 1 12,300 1959 AND IN-SPACE Commission on Space’s report to the President, the Ride report to the NASA Administrator, and the new DELTA 2 11,100 3,190 1,350 (PAM-D) 1988 SATELLITE RETRIEVAL * THE SOVIET SPACE SHUTTLE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS National Space Policy Directive. Special initiatives such as the four Pathfinder scenarios or those described in DELTA 7,800 1960 AND SERVICING * BURAN the Ride Report (i.e., Mission To Planet Earth, Exploration of the Solar System, Outpost on the Moon, and TITAN 2 5,500 1965 DEFENSE SATELLITES Humans to Mars) are integral parts of the ISP.
    [Show full text]
  • Stennis Focused for the Future
    Volume 14 Issue 6 www.nasa.gov/centers/stennis June 2018 Stennis focused for the future Stennis Space Center Director Rick Gilbrech talks with NASA employees about the state of the center and its future focus during an all hands session June 7. During the session, Gilbrech reviewed center activities from the previous year and presented goals and objectives for Stennis to provide world- class propulsion test services to NASA and other customers, while also fostering an entrepreneur-friendly environment for commercial companies to design, manufacture, assemble and test space launch hardware. Stennis also plans to continue efficient support of site agencies and to provide opportuni- ties for development, testing and operation of unmanned autonomous systems, Gilbrech noted. In addition, Stennis remains one of the top places to work in the federal government, as reflected in annual employee surveys by Partnership for Public Service. 2018 Hurricane Season Guide appears at end of this issue Page 2 LAGNIAPPE June 2018 Did you notice Sally Ride was in the news last month? The stamp uses a representation of Ride’s official 1983 You did if you are a philatelist like ol’ Gator. (No, that mission photo. But did you know that Stennis has its is not what it means – look it up. Ark!) own special photo of Ride from a few years earlier? Ride would have been 67 this May and nearing the Ride was a member of the 1978 astronaut class, the 35th anniversary of her historic STS-7 flight on space first class to include women (six in all). About a year- shuttle Challenger in 1983.
    [Show full text]
  • NAC EC Minutes 2010 08 03
    NASA ADVISORY COUNCIL (NAC) Exploration Committee CORRECTED MINUTES Meeting Date: August 3-4, 2010 AGENDA: • Exploration Program Status • Constellation Program Status • Heavy Lift and Propulsion Technology • Human Research Program Status • Joint Session with Technology & Innovation Committee o Review of Human Exploration Framework Team (HEFT) o ESMD / Office of Chief Technologist (OCT) Technology Coordination o Overview of ESMD New Technology Initiatives • International Space Cooperation ATTENDING: Exploration Committee: Richard Kohrs (Chair), Nancy Ann Budden, Bo Bejmuk, Joe Cuzzupoli, John Logsdon (part-time by phone), David Longnecker, Bette Siegel (acting Executive Secretary), Jane Parham (Administrative Officer) Members Absent: Les Lyles Others: Doug Cooke, Paul Bremner, Garry Burdick, Minoo Dastoor, Dennis Grounds, Wes Huntress, Jitendra Joshi, John Olson, Mike Sander, Frank Slazer, Dale Thomas, Brenda Ward (See detailed list, p. 7) OUTCOMES Exploration Committee Observation #1: “We note that there is currently no budget or roadmap for space exploration agreed to by the White House, Congress, and NASA leadership. This complicates ESMD operations.” Exploration Committee Observation #2: “If NASA selects LOX-Kerosene combination of propellants for Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle first stage, the following two considerations should be kept in mind: (1) Russia currently leads LOX-Kerosene propulsion technology. (2) LOX- Kerosene will provide NASA with an opportunity to create a huge operability improvement by using high pressure kerosene as the working fluid in the Thrust Vector Control actuation system, thus eliminating the need for hydraulic power generating system. This approach has been successfully used in Russian RD-170 1500K lbs thrust Lox-Kerosene engine resulting in simpler and lower weight engine/TVC system, much easier to operate.
    [Show full text]
  • Mars and Beyond: the Solar System Beckons
    Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU Faculty Honor Lectures Lectures 5-22-1990 Mars and Beyond: The Solar System Beckons Frank J. Redd Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/honor_lectures Part of the Earth Sciences Commons, and the Physics Commons Recommended Citation Redd, Frank J., "Mars and Beyond: The Solar System Beckons" (1990). Faculty Honor Lectures. Paper 55. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/honor_lectures/55 This Presentation is brought to you for free and open access by the Lectures at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Honor Lectures by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 9 . 2 no . 75 MARS AND BEYOND: THE SOLAR SYSTEM BECKONS by Frank J. Redd 75th Faculty Honor Lecture May 22,1990 Utah State University Logan, Utah SEVENTY-FIFTH HONOR LECTURE in the Natural Sciences delivered at UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Abasic objective of the Faculty Association of Utah State University is to encourage intellectual growth and development ofits members by sponsoring and arranging for the publication of two annual faculty lectures in the fields of (1) the biological and exact sciences, including engineering, called the Annual Faculty Honor Lecture in the Natural Sciences; and (2) the humanities and social sciences, including education and business, called the Annual Faculty Honor Lecture in Humanities. Lectures are chosen by a committee of the Faculty Association. Amoung the factors considered by the committee in choosing the lecturers are (1) creative activity in the field of the proposed lecture; (2) publication of research through recognized channels in the field of the proposed lecture; (3) outstanding teaching over an extended period of years; (4) personal influence in developing the character students.
    [Show full text]
  • Cassini–Huygens Cassini-Huygens
    The CASSINI–HUYGENSCASSINI-HUYGENS Visitvisit toto SATURN AN HISTORIC MISSION TO THE RINGED PLANET Michael Meltzer Th e Cassini-Huygens Visit to Saturn An Historic Mission to the Ringed Planet Michael Meltzer The Cassini-Huygens Visit to Saturn An Historic Mission to the Ringed Planet Michael Meltzer Oakland , CA , USA SPRINGER-PRAXIS BOOKS IN SPACE EXPLORATION ISBN 978-3-319-07607-2 ISBN 978-3-319-07608-9 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-07608-9 Springer Cham Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London Library of Congress Control Number: 2014953013 © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifi cally the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfi lms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. Exempted from this legal reservation are brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis or material supplied specifi cally for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the Copyright Law of the Publisher’s location, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer. Permissions for use may be obtained through RightsLink at the Copyright Clearance Center. Violations are liable to prosecution under the respective Copyright Law.
    [Show full text]
  • Mars Wars the Rise and Fall of the Space Exploration Initiative
    Mars Wars The Rise and Fall of the Space Exploration Initiative Thor Hogan The NASA History Series National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA History Division Office of External Relations Washington, DC May 2007 NASA SP-2007-4410 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Hogan, Thor. Mars wars : the rise and fall of the Space Exploration Initiative / Thor Hogan. p. cm. -- (The NASA history series) (NASA SP-2007-4410) Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Space Exploration Initiative (U.S.) 2. Space flight to Mars--Planning--History--20th century. 3. United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration--Management--History--20th century. 4. Astronautics and state--United States--History--20th century. 5. United States--Politics and government--1989-1993. 6. Outerspace--Exploration--United States--History--20th century. 7. Organizational change--United States--History--20th century. I. Title. TL789.8.U6S62 2007 629.45’530973--dc22 2007008987 Table of Contents Acknowledgements. iii Chapter 1: Introduction. 1 The Policy Stream and Punctuated Equilibrium Models. 2 Why Mars?. 5 Canals on Mars. 7 Mars in Popular Culture. 9 Mariner and Viking . 11 Chapter 2: The Origins of SEI . 15 Early Mission Planning . 16 Post-Apollo Planning. 21 Case for Mars. 25 National Commission on Space. 27 The Ride Report . 30 President Reagan and NASA’s Office of Exploration. 32 Chapter 3: Bush, Quayle, and SEI. 37 Bush-Quayle 1988. 39 Reagan-Bush Transition. 44 The Problem Stream: Providing Direction to a Directionless Agency. 47 The Policy Stream: The Ad Hoc Working Group. 57 The Political Stream: Briefing Key Actors. 64 Joining the Streams: Human Exploration of Mars Reaches the Gov.
    [Show full text]
  • Emerging Technology Strategy a Strategy for Guiding Innovation to Support the Greater Portland Region’S Goals
    2018 Regional Transportation Plan Emerging Technology Strategy A strategy for guiding innovation to support the greater Portland region’s goals December 6, 2018 oregonmetro.gov/rtp Metro respects civil rights Metro fully complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that requires that no person be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin under any program or activity for which Metro receives federal financial assistance. Metro fully complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act that requires that no otherwise qualified individual with a disability be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination solely by reason of their disability under any program or activity for which Metro receives federal financial assistance. If any person believes they have been discriminated against regarding the receipt of benefits or services because of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, they have the right to file a complaint with Metro. For information on Metro’s civil rights program, or to obtain a discrimination complaint form, visit oregonmetro.gov/civilrights or call 503-797-1536. Metro provides services or accommodations upon request to persons with disabilities and people who need an interpreter at public meetings. If you need a sign language interpreter, communication aid or language assistance, call 503-797-1700 or TDD/TTY 503-797-1804 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays) 5 business days before the meeting.
    [Show full text]
  • Unique Abilities of Hopper Spacecraft to Enable National Objectives for Solar System Exploration
    UNIQUE ABILITIES OF HOPPER SPACECRAFT TO ENABLE NATIONAL OBJECTIVES FOR SOLAR SYSTEM EXPLORATION EPHRAIM ROBERT LANFORD B.S. Engineering Harvey Mudd College, 2006 Submitted to the Engineering Systems Division and the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degrees of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN TECHNOLOGY AND POLICY and MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS at the MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY February 2011 © 2011 Massachusetts Institute of Technology. All rights reserved. Signature of author: Technology and Policy Program Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics January 27, 2011 Certified by: Jeffrey A. Hoffman Professor of the Practice of Aeronautics and Astronautics Thesis Supervisor Certified by: John Danis Group Leader, Mission Architectures and Applications Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Accepted by: Dava J. Newman Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics & Engineering Systems, MacVicar Faculty Fellow Director of Technology and Policy Program Accepted by: Eytan H. Modiano Associate Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics Chair, Graduate Program Committee, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics 2 UNIQUE ABILITIES OF HOPPER SPACECRAFT TO ENABLE NATIONAL OBJECTIVES FOR SOLAR SYSTEM EXPLORATION Ephraim Robert Lanford B.S. Engineering Harvey Mudd College, 2006 Submitted to the Engineering Systems Division and the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics on January 27, 2011 in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degrees of Master of Science in Technology and Policy and Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ABSTRACT In comparison with conventional and other conceived approaches, hopper spacecraft offer unique advantages in exploring Solar System objects beyond Earth. The present work began with a survey – based on documents from the White House, Congress, NASA, and the international planetary science community – of exploration plans and objectives in the United States.
    [Show full text]