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To All the Craft We've Known Before

To All the Craft We've Known Before

400,000 Visitors to Mars…and Counting

Liftoff! A Fly’s-Eye View

“Spacers”Are Doing it for Themselves

September/October/November 2003 $4.95

to all the craft we’ve known before... 23rd International Space Development Conference ISDC 2004 “Settling the Space Frontier” Presented by the May 27-31, 2004 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Location: Clarion Meridian Hotel & Convention Center 737 S. Meridian, Oklahoma City, OK 73108 (405) 942-8511 Room rate: $65 + tax, 1-4 people

Planned Programming Tracks Include: Issues Symposium • Space Symposium • “Space 101” Advanced Propulsion & Technology • Space Health & Biology • Commercial Space/Financing Space Space & National Defense • Frontier America & the Space Frontier • Solar System Resources & Chapter Projects • and Policy

Planned Tours include: Cosmosphere Space , Hutchinson, KS (all day Thursday, May 27), with Max Ary Oklahoma Spaceport, courtesy of Oklahoma Development Authority Oklahoma City National Memorial (Murrah Building bombing memorial) Omniplex Museum Complex (includes planetarium, space & science )

Look for updates on line at www.nss.org or www.nsschapters.org starting in the fall of 2003. detach here ISDC 2004 Advance Registration Form Return this form with your payment to: National Space Society-ISDC 2004, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. S.E., Suite 201, Washington DC 20003 Adults: #______x $______.___ Seniors/Students: #______x $______.___ Voluntary contribution to help fund 2004 awards $______.___ Adult rates (one banquet included): $90 by 12/31/03; $125 by 5/1/04; $150 at the door. Seniors(65+)/Students (one banquet included): $80 by 12/31/03; $100 by 5/1/04; $125 at the door. Children of registrants free if not attending sessions or meals. Children’s program information on secondary registration form.

Enclosed is a check for the total amount of $______.___, payable to: National Space Society-ISDC 2004 Please charge $______to my credit card: VISA MC AMEX #______Exp. Date ______Printed name on card:______Signature: ______Name: ______Street address: ______City:______State:_____ Zip Code:______Phone*: ______Email*: ______

Name(s) on name tag(s): ______CSA Images *Email is optional. Phone is optional unless using credit card. JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2002 $4.95 to the stars

THE MAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL SPACE SOCIETY PAY Volume 15, Number iii September/October/November 2003

MODULES

4 Launch Pad

6 Mission Control Space Beat What’s Up?

10 Policy Insight ’S PERSONAL SPACE Aviation maverick Burt Rutan has his eye on the prize—the X Prize to be precise—and is 11 Countdown building a means to capture it.

BY ROB LOUGHRAN 12 Guest Space

42 Space Community

48 Lifting Off

ROCKETCAM ON THE COVER: Go along for the ride with Ecliptic NSS Photographer Joe Marino cap- Technologies innovative tools for keeping an tures Columbia in a eye on Space. time-exposed lift off in 1999. BY REBECCA STOWERS Photo: Joe Marino

AD ASTRA, which means “to the stars” in Latin, is the motto of the National Space Society, an international membership group dedicat- ed to furthering the exploration and development of space. Our bimonthly magazine AD ASTRA is only one of many NSS activities aimed at creating a spacefaring civilization. For more information on NSS call 1-202-543-1900 or visit www.nss.org/ LOAD

MY TRIP TO MARS NSS photographer Jim Marino suits up, trains, and joins the 400,000-plus who have already made the journey to Mars.

BY JOE MARINO

A WOMAN OF SPACE In an excerpt from the new book Women of Space: Cool Careers on the Final Frontier, meet a woman who dreams of building a Noah’s Ark for space.

BY LAURA S. WOODMANSEE THE NEW ETIQUETTE OF PROPULSION That disc-shaped thing in the sky? Maybe it’s one of ours. The future of propulsion technology is that exotic...

BY MEG BAKER

THE SPACESHIPS THAT NEVER WERE Drawing board or desert flat—these next gen’ craft never quite got the green light.

BY TRAVIS K. KIRCHER

HONORING HEROES The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame welcomes its four newest inductees. launch pad MODULESa

THANK YOU, I am sad to report that my column will again be focused on the loss of one of the members of our NSS family. Chris Pancratz, 52, Chairman of the NSS Executive CHRIS Committee, died 2 August in Virginia after a battle with cancer. During his six years on the NSS Board of Directors, he worked tirelessly in many capacities. Chris’s loss was felt around the world and at the highest levels of the Society, as demonstrated by these comments received at NSS Headquarters: Kirby Ikin Chairman of the “The loss of Chris Pancratz robs the NSS of a valuable resource—an individ- Board of Directors ual who combined the qualities of understanding and enthusiastically supporting the exploration of space, plus personal energy and organizational drive.” —Hugh Downs, Chairman of the NSS Board of Governors Christopher M.Pancratz “Chris was a true leader. He is to be admired for his never-failing energy and enthusiasm for the NSS mission.” —Tim McEgan, President of the National Space Society of

In addition to being named the National Space Society Activist of the Year in 2000, he also served as Acting Executive Director during a challenging time for our organization. He also served as Vice President of Public Affairs and Director of Strategic Planning, as well as being a major financial supporter of NSS and a frequent contributor to this magazine. But it was not only NSS that received Chris’ support. He had a long history of community service with the Jaycees Foundation, where he served on the Board of Trustees, as well as the United Junior Chamber of Commerce. This kind of selfless dedication to volunteer causes is rare, and we will deeply miss Chris and his dedication to not only the mission of NSS, but his dedication to his community. Chris was truly dedicated to the cause of opening up the space frontier, and so we dedicate this issue of Ad Astra to his memory and his family. Thank you, Chris.

Kirby Ikin

http://www.nss.orhttp://www.nss.ordg /

4 september october november 2003 Ad Astra to the stars transmissions

IMPROVING THE PROGRAM would have been observed close up and first Space Station was delayed and redesigned, Dear Editor, hand from the space station windows. If thanks to underfunding and, at times, NASA’s In spite of the Columbia tragedy, two people repairs proved impossible or unreliable, it is own mismanagement and cost overruns, the continue to the Earth on board the even possible that Columbia could have shuttle became a vehicle in search of a mis- 600 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E. International Space Station. There is both hope returned to Earth unmanned, under remote sion. The aging shuttle fleet has served us Suite 201 and sad irony in this observation. One of the control, possibly endangering the vehicle but well in that and all of its other capacities, but Washington, DC 20003 troubling aspects of the Columbia disas- sparing the crew. it is time to limit its duties to those it was ini- (202) 543-1900 ter was being reminded that there was no Unfortunately, the habitat module and tially designed for. http://www.nss.org/ direct way to detect damage on the orbiter crew return vehicle have been put on hold As the problems that doomed Columbia prior to reentry, and that, even if such damage indefinitely. are fixed in the wake of the accident review Brian E. Chase could have been detected, there was no way to If the United States is going to continue to board’s report, we have an to Executive Director repair it. Imagine, however, a space station not have a manned space flight program, and I improve upon a space program that is already just “operational,” but fully capable, with a would vigorously argue that it should, we owe a tremendous source of national pride. The Vivian Silver habitation module to support a full time it to our astronauts to see to it that the program cost will not be that great, and we owe it not Membership Database Manager crew of six and an automated crew return vehi- is robust and adequately funded. only to the Columbia Seven, but to ourselves. Sherry Wilson cle designed to carry the same number back to The space shuttle was originally intend- Direct Marketing / Earth in an emergency. Columbia would have ed to be just that, a space “truck” helping to Tom Sarko, NSS member & Chapter Relations Manager simply carried its experimenters to the space build, maintain and utilize a permanent space Science Department Chairman station where all of their research would have station, shuttling astronauts and materials to Palm Beach Day School been conducted. Any damage to the orbiter and from that station. While the International Palm Beach, Florida 33461

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2002 $4.95 to the stars

THE MAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL SPACE SOCIETY

Publisher Officers National Space Society Hugh Downs, Chairman of the Board of Governors Kirby Ikin, Chairman of the Board of Directors Cliff McMurray, Executive Vice President Greg Allison, Chairman of the Executive Committee Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Liss, Senior Vice President Greg Rucker, Vice President of Projects Frank Sietzen, Jr. Jay Wittner, Vice President of Membership Frank Braun, Vice President of Public Affairs Senior Contributing Editor Jim Plaxco, Vice President of Chapters Mark Hopkins, Secretary John Kross Joe Redfield, Treasurer David Millman, Assistant Secretary Bob Goetez, Assistant Treasurer Keil Ritterpusch, General Counsel Copy Editor Jonathan Aretakis Directors Photographer Laurence Ahearn David Baxter Marianne Dyson Robby Gaines Rich Godwin Joe Marino Francis Govers Dana Johnson Alan Ladwig Ronnie Lajoie Bruce Mackenzie Seth Potter Harry Reed Peter Vajk Charles Walker Art Direction and Graphic Design Elaine Walker Alan Wasser Wayne White Philip Young Leonard D. Righter Andrew S. Ladson

Advisors Production Services C. J. Cherryh David Criswell Jerry Grey Joe Haldeman Eleanor Helin Mercury Publishing Services, Inc. http://www.mercurypubs.com Mark Holthaus Barbara Marx Hubbard Margaret Jordan Florence Nelson Glenn Reynolds Stanley G. Rosen Stanley Schmidt Craig Ward Ad Astra (ISSN 1041-102X) is published quarterly by the National Space Society. Editorial offices are Governors located at 600 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Suite 201, Washington, DC 20003-4316. No material in this Mark J. Albrecht Norman R. Augustine Majel Barrett-Roddenbery Alan B. Binder magazine may be reproduced without permission. Frank Borman Ben Bova Gerald P. Carr Sir Arthur C. Clarke Tom Cruise Periodicals postage paid at Washington, DC, and Michael DeBakey Karl Doetsch Hugh Downs K. Eric Drexler Freeman J. Dyson Edward R. Finch additional entry. Membership inquiries ($38/yr, $25/yr for students under 22 and senior citizens 65 Aaron Freeman Don Fuqua Peter E. Glaser John H. Glenn and older, $12.50 of which is for a subscription to Shelley A. Harrison Robert Jastrow John H. Johnson Arthur Kantrowitz John S. Lewis Ad Astra) should be sent to the National Space James A. Lovell Robert T. McCall Marvin Minsky Kenneth Money Society, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Suite 201, Washington, DC 20003-4316. Postmaster: Send Frederick I. Ordway III William R. Pogue Neil Ruzic Harrison Schmitt Frederick Seitz address changes to Ad Astra, 600 Pennsylvania John B. Slaughter James A. Van Allen Maria von Braun Glen P. Wilson Simon P. Worden James B. Wyeth Ave., SE, Suite 201, Washington, DC 20003-4316.

to the stars Ad Astra september october november 2003 5 MODULESa

PROMETHEUS UNBOUND A nuclear-powered spacecraft founder of Amazon.com, has A Promethean plan to explore the could not only operate powerful launched his own space program— outer planets using nuclear-powered radars and other remote-sensing called —and wants to spacecraft is a step closer to reality instruments but also use its engines send tourists into orbit. The brainchild MISSION following NASA’s go-ahead to investi- to travel more freely instead of relying of the dot-com billionaire has a gate miniature nuclear reactors. on a gravitational “sling-shot” that Seattle address and website, which CONTROL Project Prometheus, named after the limits the trajectory of existing boasts, “We are building hardware, spacebeat Greek god who gave humanity fire, probes. NASA said an immediate goal not PowerPoint presentations.” But BY JOHN KROSS will concentrate on nuclear energy, of Prometheus was to provide the skeptics argue that it will take more which is the only form of power that propulsion to send a spacecraft to than a billionaire’s intellectual dis- what’s up can meet the mission’s requirements. planet-sized Jovian moons—Callisto, traction to get fare-paying passen- BY ASTRO-USU The aim is to build an interplanetary Ganymede and —which may gers into space—and safely back space probe capable of flying vast dis- harbor life beneath their icy surfaces. again. “I have to say I just didn’t see tances and beaming scientific infor- The first candidate for nuclear propul- any evidence that Bezos and Blue mation back to Earth. sion, the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter Origin had an idea…To be hon- “Project Prometheus will develop (JIMO), is unlikely to be launched est…it sounded really wacky,” said the means to efficiently increase before 2011 because of the time Richard Ellis, a Caltech scientist and power for spacecraft, thereby funda- needed to build the spacecraft. a former astronomy professor who mentally increasing our capability for was briefed on Blue Origin.

Solar System exploration,” said a VIA THE AMAZON

NASA spokesperson. “Increased Space Adventures, the company that IT KEEPS GOING AND GOING… power for spacecraft means not only brokered jaunts into space for a pair An ion engine just like the one that traveling farther or faster, but...[also] of millionaires, has announced the powered the Deep Space 1 space- exploring more efficiently with enor- first mission intended solely for craft has set a trouble-free five-year mously greater scientific return.” tourists. The Virginia-based firm has endurance record with no break- NASA’s plans to use nuclear- paired with the Russian Aviation & downs or tune-ups required. The powered probes to peruse the plan- Space Agency, and RSC , engine is a twin of the Deep Space 1

NASA ets have prompted passionate oppo- Russia’s leading aerospace company, ion engine used successfully during a The Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter sition from anti-nuclear activists. to fly two tourists simultaneously to technology demonstration mission would travel to Europa powered However, development of space the international space station on a that featured a bonus visit to comet by a nuclear fission reactor. nuclear power plants will free mis- spacecraft. About a dozen peo- Borrelly. The earth-bound spare had sions that would otherwise be ple have applied for the two civilian a design life of 8,000 hours, but chained to rocky inner worlds due to seats on the proposed flight, but researchers kept it running for lack of power. Feeble solar-powered hitching a ride won’t come cheap— almost five years, from 5 Oct. 1998, probes are useless in the outer solar $20 million per seat. Unlike the previ- to 26 June 2003, in a rare opportuni- system, where the sunlight is weak, ous flights of American businessman ty to observe its performance and and current spacecraft powered by Dennis Tito and the improbably wear at different power levels in a radiothermal generators (RTGs) oper- named South African, Mark vacuum. ate on the power equivalent to a few Shuttleworth, Space Adventures says While the engine was still run- dozen electric light bulbs. In contrast, the proposed 2005 mission would be ning smoothly, the test was terminat- NASA scientists calculate that a for tourists only, with a Russian cos- ed early to allow scientists to nuclear-fission reactor would give monaut onboard to operate the space- inspect engine components. In partic- spacecraft a hundred times more craft for the eight to-10-day trip. ular, inspection of the thruster’s dis- power than solar panels. Meanwhile, Jeff Bezos, the charge chamber is critical for mission

6 september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 Ad Astra to the stars mission control space beat designers of the upcoming Dawn mis- kilometers, the cosmic couple wed in first,” said Sergei Gorbunov, the Columbia accident in February, sion to Vesta and Ceres, two of the a private ceremony at Johnson Space Russian space agency spokesman. and by the need, once shuttles largest asteroids in the solar system. Center in August. The orbiting groom Still to come, however, is the first resume flying, to continue building Despite five years of near continuous said his “I dos” via video from the cosmic couple to take a real and servicing the International thrusting, the chamber “was in good International Space Station. honeyMoon. Space Station. condition,” said John Brophy, JPL’s Malenchenko, who blasted off to In its report, the committee of project manager for the Dawn ion the station in late April with American HUBBLE FATE STILL UP IN THE AIR astronomers outlined three alterna- propulsion system. “Most of the com- astronaut Edward Lu, quietly arranged Options for refurbishing or ditching tives for Hubble’s fate: two Hubble ponents showed wear, but nothing to have his tailcoat and wedding ring the , servicing missions, one in 2005 and that would have caused near-term flown to him aboard a cargo ship that NASA’s groundbreaking orbiting one in 2010 “to maximize the scien- failure.” According to Marc Rayman, arrived at the station in June. Lu observatory, are up in the air follow- tific productivity” of the telescope, or former Deep Space 1 project manag- served as his best man during the cer- ing a report by a team of a single servicing mission in 2006 to er, “This remarkable test shows that emony, and even performed the wed- astronomers on the fate of the replace gyros on the Hubble and the thrusters have the staying power ding march on a keyboard. “It was twelve-year old telescope. The install improved instruments. On the for long duration missions.” very sweet,” said Joanne Woodward, Hubble was launched in 1990, the same mission, astronauts would Ion engines use xenon as fuel, the wedding planner. A life-size first of a series of orbiting observa- install that could send the same gas used in photo flash cutout of the groom greeted guests at tories, and is now nearing the end of Hubble crashing into the ocean once tubes, plasma televisions, and some the wedding reception decorated with its expected lifetime. The U.S. space the telescope’s usefulness ends. If no automobile headlights. Deep Space 1 silver stars and mannequins dressed agency plans to replace it with a shuttle-servicing missions are possi- featured the first use of an ion engine as astronauts. However, the honey- more advanced instrument, called ble, the committee recommended as the primary method of propulsion moon will have to wait until after the James Webb Space Telescope, that a robotic device be attached to on a NASA spacecraft. That engine Malenchenko, who wore a bow tie at the start of the next decade. the Hubble to bring it down in a con- was operated for 16,265 hours, the with his blue coveralls, returns to Originally, NASA planned to trolled manner. record for operating any propulsion Earth in late October. extend the life of the Hubble by serv- The options ignored suggestions system in space. The bride, American Ekaterina icing it with a space shuttle mission that the space shuttle retrieve the Dmitriev, said the two had grown in 2005 or 2006. That mission would Hubble and bring it back to Earth as a

MARRIAGE MADE IN HEAVEN closer during their time apart, making have allowed the telescope to keep museum exhibit. Instead, the commit- The groom’s attire was a little them want to marry as soon as possi- working until about 2010. However, tee suggested the spent telescope be unorthodox, and the bride never laid ble. “As Yuri was further away, he those plans were dashed by the dumped in the ocean; a sad end for an eyes on him, but thanks to a Texas law was closer to me because of the com- grounding of the shuttle fleet after observatory that has captured almost allowing absentee weddings, Russian munication we have,” said Dmitriev. a half-million images of more than cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and his “It was a celestial, soulful connec- 25,000 astronomy targets. a earth-bound bride were hitched last tion.” Malenchenko and Dmitriev One more time? August in a marriage made in heaven. plan a Russian Orthodox wedding Though separated vertically by 380 sometime in 2004. Despite headaches for Russia’s space agency, the first marriage ceremony to stray beyond earth’s atmosphere has evoked some national pride in Malenchenko’s native land. “ was first

NASA in space. We had the first woman in space. We had the first tourist in The honeymoon will have NASA to wait. space. And now this is another to the stars Ad Astra september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 7 mission control what’s up MODULESa

WHAT’S UP? BY ASTRO USU

Name Date Launch Site Vehicle Mission

Hellas Sat 2 May 13 Cape Canaveral 5 Communications

Beidou May 24 Xichang Long March 3-A Navigation

Mars Express June 2 Baikonur Soyuz Probe

AMC-9 June 6 Baikonur -K Communications

Progress June 8 Baikonur Soyuz-U Cargo

Thuraya 2 June 10 Odyssey, Pacific -3SL Communications

MER-A June 10 Cape Canaveral II Mars Probe

OPTUS and Defense C1, June 11 Kourou -5 Communications Japanese BSAT-2C

Molniya June 19 Plesetsk -M Communications

Orbview-3 June 26 Vandenberg Pegasus XL Imaging

May 2003 craft that will travel to Mars. The probe consists of an The total cost for the two missions is approximately $800 13 May: The Hellas Sat spacecraft, and Cyprus’ orbiter and a lander, and carries scientific instruments to million. Scientists hope to discover if there was ever life on first communications , launched successfully perform mapping, imaging, and charting atmospheric cir- Mars through robotic exploration. aboard a -built Atlas 5 rocket from Cape culation. 11 June: An Ariane-5 rocket lifted off from Kourou, French Canaveral. Hellas Sat will help broadcast the 2004 6 June: The AMC-9 lifted off Guinea carrying two telecommunications —the Summer Olympics from Athens, Greece. Launch of the atop a Russian Proton rocket from the Baikonur Australian OPTUS and Defense C1 and the Japanese $178 million mission was delayed one day due to a prob- Cosmodrome. AMC-9 will provide data and video trans- BSAT-2C—into orbit. The Australian satellite is slated to lem with electronics. The launch marked the 65th consec- missions and digital television to the North American con- perform commercial and defense duties while the BSAT-2 utive success for Atlas and is a major success for the tinent. will provide television broadcasts to Japan for the next 10 Hellas Sat Consortium. In addition to broadcasting the 8 June: An unmanned Russian Progress freighter lifted off years. Olympics, Hellas Sat will provide other communications aboard a Soyuz U rocket on its way to the International 19 June: A Molniya-M rocket, carrying a Russian Molniya services, including television. Space Station (ISS). The freighter launched from the satellite, blasted off from the Plesetsk cosmodrome. 24 May: A Long March 3-A rocket, carrying the Beidou Baikonur Cosmodrome and carried approximately 5,300 The satellite will enhance Russia’s military communica- navigation satellite, lifted off from the Xichang Satellite pounds of equipment, fuel, and food. The Progress deliver- tions network. Launching Center in the Chinese province of Sichuan. The ies have become even more important since the Columbia June 26: The Orbview-3 spacecraft lifted off aboard an launch is the third of its kind for China and could advance tragedy, which has temporarily grounded NASA’s shuttle Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL from Vandenburg Air Force the development of telecommunications and military tech- program. Base. The satellite can take detailed black and white or nologies. The first two Beidou satellites launched into orbit 10 June: The Thuraya 2, an Arab communications satel- color pictures of the Earth’s surface. The Orbview-3 mis- in 2000. lite, blasted off aboard a Zenit-3SL rocket. The satellite sion is the 34th flight of the Pegasus rocket. a will provide telephone services for parts of the Middle June 2003 East, Asia, Africa, and . 2 June: The ’s probe 10 June: NASA’s Spirit launched successfully launched successfully from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. A aboard a Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral. Starsem Soyuz rocket carried the first of three new space- Spirit’s twin spacecraft is scheduled to launch on June 25.

8 september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 Ad Astra to the stars

policy insight + grassroots activism MODULESa

The goal of the National Space Society, as can be found on our membership brochures, is “creating a space- NO MORE faring civilization.” That doesn’t mean “standing around watching while other people create a spacefaring civilization.” Each of us has a part to play, however small, in changing the world. We all must help shape PREACHING the future to our vision, or stand by and watch the world being shaped by others with a different vision. But how do we do that? Most of us aren’t aerospace engineers or scientists, and we don’t have personal TO THE CHOIR fortunes large enough to invest in a private space program of our own. What can we, as individuals, do to create a spacefaring civilization? The first thing we must do is stop preaching to the choir. BY CLIFFORD R. MCMURRAY The barriers to the creation of the future we want are not primarily limitations of technology or fund- ing. Those barriers are not trivial, but they can be overcome. The real barriers are barriers in the minds of our neighbors. Our vision of possibility for the human future is still a minority vision. Even among the mil- lions of people who idly wish for such a future, the “common wisdom” is that it is still many decades or centuries away. To change the future, we must first change minds. And the only way to do that is the old- fashioned way—we have to talk to people who don’t agree with us. We have to take our vision into the pub- lic arena of ideas and fight for it with informed and passionate argument that respects our opponents while seeking to convert them into allies. This year the loss of Columbia and her crew has focused public attention and debate on our future in space to a greater extent than at any time in the last decade. As we wipe our tears away and go back to work, we must not lose sight of the fact that we have a very narrow window of opportunity, while public and Congressional attention is focused on space, to help shape opinion and policy to move toward the future that we and our fallen heroes both want. This happened after Challenger: the policy of flying everything on Shuttle, including commercial payloads, was scrapped, and a commercial launch industry was born. Similar shifts to wiser policies are possible now as they would not have been without this tragic loss. Don’t mistake this observation for callousness. Like you, when Columbia was lost I mourned the loss of friends I’d never met in the flesh. But the supreme sacrifice of the Columbia crew will be meaningless if it doesn’t lead us forward. And this rare opportunity will be lost if we don’t stop talking just among ourselves and start talking to our neighbors. I urge each of you to take action today. Write your local papers and nation- al opinion magazines, expressing your hopes for America’s future in space. Urge all your friends who care about our future in space to do likewise. Next year will be too late; the media will have moved on to other concerns. Letters to the editor should include your name, address, day and night telephone numbers (most pub- lications won’t publish letters unless they’ve verified that they come from the person whose name appears on the signature line, and this verification is most often done via phone call), and e-mail address. Short, succinct letters stand the best chance of publication. No letter should be more than a page, and half a page is better. Each of us has a lot to say, but we need to learn to be pithy. Most newspapers and magazines now accept letters to the editor via e-mail as well as through the post office. Here’s e-mail contact information for a few of the major national opinion magazines and newspapers:

NEWSWEEK U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT WASHINGTON POST [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

POLITICAL ACTION NETWORK TIME WALL STREET JOURNAL NEW YORK TIMES NSS is rebuilding a modern, elec- [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] tronic version of the Political Action Network that so effectively After you’ve written your letter to the editor, you can share it with your fellow NSS members by send- operated under the original L5 ing a copy, along with a note as to which publications you submitted it to and whether it was published, Society model. Watch Ad Astra, to NSS headquarters at e-mail address [email protected]. A selection of the best letters will be posted to the NOR, and the NSS web site for NSS website as inspiration to other members. more information on how you can It sounds so old-fashioned, but it’s still true. The only way people will know what you care about is if be a part of this exciting project! you tell them. So share the dream—before it slips away.

10 september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 Ad Astra to the stars countdown MODULESa

HAIL AND FAREWELL This issue marks my 29th as your editor-in-chief since taking the With Mercury Publishing helm in the autumn of 1998. Much has happened across that Services, Ad Astra’s appear- half-decade, many of which we could have never imagined. But ance is in good hands. today, the American space program faces a new version of an old We have been blessed challenge-how to seek a new direction and a new goal that can above all with superb writ- reinvigorate our space efforts. While, at the same time, return the ers. Since I came aboard in Space Shuttle to flight to complete the space station and get astro- 1998, we have had Nobel nauts working on the experiments and research that will help Prize winners, Pulitzer inform whatever path we choose to follow in space in the weeks, Prize winners, and months, and years ahead. Also emerging are new entrepreneurs National Book Award with the cash, talent, and vision to establish a new element to the winners in these pages. space program—an alternative to business as usual. Not all will Such luminaries as succeed to implement their dreams. But some will—and those William Burrows, Tom who do will literally change history. Heppenheimer, Arthur C. Recently, I chose to join one of them. Clarke, and Joan Johnson- Technologies Corp., or SpaceX, is building and about to fly a Freese have graced our totally new partially reusable small satellite . That pages. And we have launcher, the Falcon, is poised to dramatically lower the cost of opened the doorway to Frank Sietzen,Jr. space transportation. If it is successful, it may well start a process new writers, like Laura Editor-in-Chief,Ad Astra Magazine that will lead to lower cost vehicles of larger and more capable Woodmansee and Travis sizes and abilities. The company’s founder, , made sev- Kircher. We’ve devoted eral fortunes in his two previous successful Internet businesses pages to lunar colonies, Mars bases, interstellar rockets, and new (ever use Paypal?) and is now devoting some of his financial technologies like the . I was also the first editor to rewards to opening the space frontier for the small user and the devote an entire issue to NSS Chapters. In the summers of 1999 entrepreneur. This summer, Elon asked me to join his team as his and 2000 we also had a crop of super interns who worked hard to Washington, DC representative. I have accepted, and we are now learn the secrets of good magazine design and content. heading towards launch of our first paying customer in the early Ahead for the Society and the space program are challenges part of 2004. The demands of a true launch services company will that will define us for years, perhaps a generation. We must craft make it impossible for me to continue to serve as your editor. a space program that builds on our current programs while peti- Thus this issue is my last. tions our leaders for additional advanced goals, goals that can I owe many thanks to former NSS Executive Director Pat only be realized by the next generation of space advocates and Dasch for the trust and confidence she placed in me, first in hir- explorers. And there must be room in those goals and dreams for ing me as editor-in-chief, and later in anointing me as NSS’ the new crop of spacers, like my new boss and others who will Director of Communications. I also owe thanks to Chris find and follow their pathway to space. Pancratz, for helping me continue on an outsource basis in 2002 My thanks above all to the readers of this magazine. Your sup- and 2003. Just days before he died, Chris had emailed me after I port and encouragement have made a hard job easier. I’ll be for- sent him details of our launch plans. When the flies next ever grateful for all of your many words of support. year from our west coast base at Vandenberg, it will fly in your And now, as someone once said during the 2000 Presidential memory, Chris. Thanks are also due to Brian Chase, with whom campaign, it’s time for me to go! I’ve worked during the past year, his first as Executive Director. May America ever sail the sea of space in a position second to Hats off as well to Vivian Silver and Sherry Wilson of NSS head- none. And may the spirit of our founder, , quarters for making my time there a pleasant one. guide us in this exciting, never ending journey to the stars, a jour- The production team that actually produces your magazine is ney that in our time has only just begun. among the best in the publishing business. Andrew Ladson, Ad Astra-Per Aspera. Lenny Righter, and a superb team are to thank for taking Ad Astra Semper Exploro. to new standards during my time. The result has been an unprecedented four awards for excellence during my tenure. -Frank to the stars Ad Astra september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 11 MODULESa

CAPSULES: With the release of the CAIB Report and NASA’s Return to Flight efforts well under way, human space flight supporters need to help NASA get the Shuttles back into serv- COST EFFECTIVE ice so we can complete ISS. This will be a mission that will require the best and brightest of NASA and the Shuttle contractor family. Mission safety must come first; AND CAPABLE we must never loose another Shuttle and crew. That said, there are other issues we need to grapple with on the horizon. First and foremost will be OSP. Like the Shuttle decisions of the early 70’s the design and engi- Congressman BY CONGRESSMAN DAVE WELDON, M.D. neering decisions made now will have a major impact on the human program Dave Weldon,M.D. for decades, and it could affect people’s lives. Congress and the American public are clearly supportive of continued human space flight, but as always, Congress and the public will take a long hard look at the costs of OSP. As a long time supporter of devel- oping new systems for human space flight, I am sick and tired of spending billions on systems that never left the ground, let alone some that never left the drawing board. This led me recently to state my support for an expendable capsule system in a speech to the 2003 Space Congress in April. It was not an easy decision for me to reach since I was under the belief that anything after Shuttle must have wings and must be reusable. I will again make my case for the system that will be the safest, has the most promise for non-LEO missions and the most affordable to develop and operate: an expendable capsule. Capsules by their very design entail less risk. An example is the fact that the Service/Propulsion Module protects the Thermal Protection System throughout the entire mission profile until re-entry (including the mandatory several months docked at ISS). A capsule also offers robust abort modes in all phases of ascent. This was proven in Mercury, Apollo and Soyuz. A capsule design has no concerns about if enough lift is available at the time of emergency separation from the stack, as would a winged vehicle. Speaking of wings, wheels and the related subsystems, they will all have failure modes that a capsule will not. The absence of wings, wheels and the mandatory added weight can allow for more cargo or crew to be launched. Not to mention the absence of wings allows for the possibility for a derived vehicle to execute mis- sions beyond LEO. A modular/upgradeable approach allows modules to be “stretched” and modified to han- dle different missions. This is a concept that is not new. One only has to look at the Apollo Applications Program and the Apollo “X” program to see a whole myriad of missions planned using the basic Apollo design. There would not be as many launch constraints since a capsule without wings is not as dependant on weather at abort landing sites that a winged system would require. Of course there will still be weather con- cerns for launch and emergency recovery, but having to worry about the rain in Spain would not be one of them. A capsule system will enjoy a less complicated test program than winged vehicle. This happily results in An OSP capsule concept. less time and money to qualify the system and results in quicker deployment. From a financial perspective the mission requirements and proposed flight rate for OSP is not nearly high enough to justi- fy an RLV. An RLV will require all kinds of costly R&D that an expendable capsule will not. As well, an expendable capsule sys- tem will benefit from the economies of scale of a running assembly line and a less costly and more expeditious introduc- tion of upgrades and improvements. Also a running assembly line keeps component producers in business. No more NASA or contractor employees searching eBay for spare parts no longer manufactured. The aforementioned lack of wings will result in no time and NASA money spent on qualifying a winged vehicle atop of EELV since

12 september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 Ad Astra to the stars guest space

we already have plenty of experience accommodating a capsule. An expendable system will also be spared the expense of after each mission having the vehicle inspected, worked on and prepared for the next flight. From a national industrial base outlook, as with Apollo, we can have a “national team” with all major contractors working different aspects of the system. One company can be the launch provider, another can develop the command module, another can develop the service module, etc. I am hesitant of a “winner take all” program. To date I have not received any irrefutable counterarguments against an expendable capsule system. At best I have heard small talk about cross range or worries about how it will ‘look’ old fashioned. Well, for the billions my colleagues and I on the appropriations committee will be asked to spend and in some cases will have to fight for, those reasons are not good enough. I am not saying that a capsule system will be flawless NASA and foolproof, but considering the alternatives it makes the most sense. With a new, robust, safer manned spaceflight system, we also need from the White House some long- Back to the future? term vision and direction for where we need to go. Along with this vision is the need for NASA to get a real budget; a budget that all of NASA will view as an increase. I think raising NASA’s budget 25% over three years is realistic, affordable and achievable. America remains solidly behind manned space exploration because our people know that to stop explor- ing space would be to lose a big part of who we are and what we are. If our leaders at NASA and in Washington make some smart decisions today, we can look forward to a vigorous human space flight pro- gram from many years to come. a

Congressman Dave Weldon represents the 15th District of Florida, called the Space Coast, which encompasses Cape Canaveral Air Station. He has served on the House Science Committee, and is currently co-founder and chairman of the Congressional Aerospace Caucus. Congressman Weldon also sits on the House Appropriations Subcommittee which oversees NASA’s funding.

NSS ORGANIZES OSP CAPITOL HILL PANEL DISCUSSION NSS, the U.S. House Aerospace Caucus, the , and Women in Aerospace cosponsored a Capitol Hill panel to discuss the Orbital Space Plane on Monday, July 21, 2003, featuring Congressman Bob Walker (Chairman of the Commission on the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry), former astronaut Dr. Sam Durrance (currently Executive Director of the Florida Space Research Institute) and leading space analyst Phil McAlister (Director, Space & Telecommunications, Futron Corporation). C-SPAN covered the event, and copies of each panelists presentations are available online at www.nss.org.

ISSUE UPDATE: NSS VICTORY IN ACCELERATION OF OSP DEVELOPMENT NSS began calling for an acceleration of the Orbital Space Plane (OSP) during the first NSS legislative confer- ence in April (pp. 44-45, June/July/August Ad Astra), and we are pleased to report that NASA has done just that. NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe announced late this summer that the OSP program was being accel- erated by two years, a decision undoubtedly assisted by the coordinated campaign by NSS and our allies on Capitol Hill. OSP is critical to provide a backup capability to the Space Shuttle to launch and retrieve astronauts from the Space Station, and potentially for use in future human exploration missions beyond LEO.

to the stars Ad Astra september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 13 Burt Rutan’s

urt Rutan made aviation history in 1986 when his airplane design Voyager Bcompleted the first non-refueled flight around the world. Burt Rutan wants to go His latest project, Tier One, is, almost literally, out of this world. Not since the pre–Yuri Gagarin era of the early 1960s high—try sixty-two miles— has there been such a concerted effort and concentration on sub-orbital space flight. and is building a means to An incentive for sub-orbital flight has been offered by the do just that. X Prize Foundation. The first private enterprise to fly three peo - ple to an altitude of 100km; (62 miles), and then repeat the flight within two weeks wins ten million dollars—if accom- plished before 1 January 2005. This X Prize reward has enticed BY ROB LOUGHRAN Rutan’s former company, LLC, and more than 20 other private design and engineering teams to venture up to where only the two superpowers have flown. But the monetary reward isn’t the only impetus. There’s the engi-

14 september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 neering challenge, the drive to be the of fuel (which comprises roughly half of first, and the simple allure and thrill of SS1’s weight) then shuts down. The space flight: “I want to go high,” said motor’s oxidizer tank is reusable, but the Rutan, “because that’s where the view fuel casing and nozzle will be replaced is.” between flights. SpaceShipOne is a rocket plane, The astronauts will not wear space- although it’s registered as a glider, with suits. The shell of the cockpit, a sec - a stubby 16.4 foot wingspan. SS1 is con- ond skin beneath SS1’s hull, has structed of an epoxy and carbon fiber redundant seals and dual paned win- honeycomb. The hybrid rocket engine is, dows. It is essentially a back-up, as the name implies, a cross between a space-flight-worthy-casing. The solid-fuel and liquid-fuel rocket. The sealed cockpit will be pressurized at largest components—the fuel casing and an equivalent of 6000 feet utilizing a oxidizer tank—are designed by Scaled scrubber to dry the air and eliminate Components while valves, injectors, carbon dioxide. Although equipped ignition system, and controls are out- with oxygen bottles and masks for of-house hardware. All rocket motors emergencies, three men have done a have a fuel and an oxidizer. SS1’s hybrid three-hour simulation test in the motor is powered by a solid fuel: sealed SpaceShipOne. The planned hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene; space flight is estimated to be about known more commonly as rubber. The thirty minutes. liquid oxidizer is nitrous oxide, or The nine-inch double-pane windows laughing gas. These fuels can be stored (sixteen in all, providing a view of the safely and will not react with each other horizon) are Plexiglass on the inside until the rubber is intensely heated in the and Lexan polycarbonate outside. The combustion chamber and the nitrous Plexiglass insures the pressurization oxide subsequently introduced: the while the Lexan tolerates the heat of rocket simply cannot ignite accidentally. reentry. Another advantage is that nitrous The aerodynamic, bullet-like SS1 did- oxide is self-pressured at room temper- n’t test in a wind tunnel. The shape was ature, and unlike liquid nitrogen and configured and refined utilizing other oxidizers, nitrous doesn’t need Computational Fluid Dynamic tools. The complicated turbo pumps to reach the aircraft doesn’t have ejection seats—in combustion chamber. The products of an emergency the front hatch would be Above: View inside combustion (i.e., exhaust pollutants) are released (the same way the crew enters) White Knight’s cockpit; water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and the astronauts would parachute to Opposite: White Knight and hydrogen. Certainly more environ- safety. head on; Below: dra- mentally friendly than any other type of The craft is equipped with stick-and- matic full front view of rocket fuel. The rocket controls on SS1 rudder controls for subsonic speeds; White Knight. are simpler than a household oven: one electric controls for supersonic—when switch arms the motor, the other fires it. you’d need about 300 lb of torque to There is no throttle on the rocket: it move the stick—and gas thrusters for burns for about 65 seconds until it’s out positioning itself in the void of space.

to the stars Ad Astra september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 15 THE ASTRONAUTS hese private sector astronauts— NASA considers anyone flying T SpaceShipOne will above 50 miles an astronaut—are tal- be coupled with ented and experienced. another Scaled In addition to being the first to fly Composites cre- the Model 318 White Knight, Doug ation, the White Shane has approximately 3500 hours Knight. This gull- in more than 130 types of aircraft winged, 82 ft. wing including the T-38, F-16, F-15, and span aircraft is pow- F/A-18. He is VP of Business ered by twin General Development, Director of Flight Electric J85-GE-5 Operations, and Test Pilot for Scaled turbojets. These tur- Composites. Doug has over twenty An early rocket test at the XXX facility in California. bojets have after- years experience in developmental burners, not to trav - flight testing. In 1997 he was awarded el fast—White Knight’s maximum speed is Mach 0.6 or about the prestigious Ivan C. Kincheloe 385 mph—but to travel high. This praying-mantis-looking air- Award by the Society of Experimental craft can accommodate an 8,000-9,000 lb. payload with up to Test Pilots. Doug owns and operates a 6,400 lbs of internal fuel capacity. vintage 1948 Stinson 108-3. So as to withstand the pressures of high altitude flight the Pete Sielbold is a Design Engineer White Knight’s cockpit is more like a submarine’s than an air- and Test Pilot for Scaled Composites. craft’s. It’s airtight and there is no air exchange between the plane He has twelve years of flight experi- and the atmosphere. Unlike a submarine, which is designed and ence; six of those as a test pilot with reinforced to withstand outside pressure, White Knight’s cabin is 1800 hours in over thirty different highly pressurized inside compared to the near vacuum in which types of fixed wing aircraft. it flies. Three components keep the cockpit habitable during has 6730 hours in 117 flight: two filters—one removes water vapor from the astronauts’ fixed wing and 11 rotary wing craft. sweat and breath, the other removes carbon dioxide—and oxy- He won the Ivan C. Kincheloe trophy in gen replenished from a pressurized bottle. 1999 for testing of the Proteus 281, a The cockpits of both vehicles are quite similar; of course high altitude research twin engine jet. White Knight’s displays relay jet info and SS1’s rocket data. But, Mike holds four world and national by design, the flight and handling characteristics are compara- altitude and speed records, has flown ble. Maneuvering the White Knight will prepare the astronauts around the world, and has first flight for handling SpaceShipOne. The designers say that the glide bragging rights on many aircraft characteristics of the big plane, especially, will mimic those of including the 202 Boomerang, Rutan’s the capsule and help when it’s time to land SS1. high performance twin. SpaceShipOne is attached to White Knight’s underbelly via a set has nineteen years in of hooks front-and-back. Sway bars stabilize SS1’s wings. When the sway bars and hooks are released SS1 must still be released manually: yet another redundant safety feature. The White Knight flew publicly for the first time on Friday, 18 April 2003. SpaceShipOne was on display but didn’t leave the ground. However, Rutan is not one for mockups; he hasn’t unveiled previous projects until they were nearly ready to fly. Rutan said on 18 April: “There is noth - ing you will see today that is a mockup. I didn’t want to start Above (clockwise from top left): Brian Binnie, the program until we Pete Sielbold, Doug Shane and Mike Melvill. White Knight airborne over the desert. knew that it could

16 september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 Ad Astra to the stars THE X PRIZE FOUNDATION rize money and aviation have been linked since 1901 Pwhen Deutsch de la Meurthe offered 100,000 French francs to the first pilot able to complete an airship flight around the Eiffel Tower. Other famous incentives included the 1909 offer of 1,000 British pounds for crossing the English Channel and the $10,000 purse offered for the first Albany to New York City flight. But the most famous and influential prize was dangled by Raymond Orteig. In 1919 he offered, “…a prize of $25,000 to be awarded to the first aviator of any Allied country crossing the Atlantic in one flight, from to New York or New York White Knight executes a captive carry. to Paris … .” This is what eventually led to Lindbergh’s historic 1927 crossing of the Atlantic in the Spirit of St. Louis. This flight, his - happen.” torically and economically, changed aviation forever. Consider Sure enough, the White Knight and that the number of U.S. airline passengers increased from SpaceShipOne completed their first cap- 5,782 in 1926 to 173,405 in 1929; US Air Mail increased from tive carry flight a month later. Although 97,000 lbs. to 146,000 lbs from April to September of 1927; a the launch system was functional for this 400% increase in licensed US aircraft in 1927; the number of flight, SS1 remained unmanned. The offi- airports in the United States doubled by 1930; and the Spirit of cial evaluation from Scaled Composites St. Louis aircraft was viewed by 2 5 % of all Americans within one was favorable: Excellent two-ship stabil- year of its trans-Atlantic flight. ity & control throughout the envelope. No Sub-orbital flight has traditionally been viewed as a step- interference or vibration issues. Smooth ping stone to space, not as a goal unto itself. But in May 1996 surface flows on SS1 except around rock- Peter H. Diamandis, Chairman and President of The X Prize et nozzle. Two-ship performance was as Foundation, announced a $10 million prize. Diamandis hopes predicted. Mach 0.53 was achieved at this incentive will create a private enterprise, sub-orbital flight 48,000 ft. Climb rate at 48,000 ft. was business. As the aviation industry changed the 20th century, he 700 ft/min. Envelope was cleared for expects a sub-orbital industry will lead the 21st century to future manned captive carry and glide viable space tourism, rapid and safe point-to-point passenger flights. travel, world-wide same day package delivery, and low cost In captive carry mode the White satellite launch. In addition, there are the intangibles of creat - Knight is also a flying wind tunnel, ing a new generation of heroes that will inspire students and testing control surfaces on the SS1. innovators and engineers to ask,“What if?” Future test flights will be manned cap- The X Prize Foundation describes its goals and guidelines: tive carries up to 50,000 ft. If success - “The X Prize is a $10 million prize to jump start the space ful, glide flights will ensue, followed tourism industry through competition among the most talent- by a short test firing of the rocket ed entrepreneurs and rocket experts in the world. Following in which will zip SS1 up to Mach 1.2. A the footsteps of over 100 aviation prizes offered between 1905 single astronaut will probably make and 1935 that created today’s multibillion-dollar air transport SS1’s first test flight to 100km. industry, the X Prize will be awarded to the team that designs When the mission gets the green light the first private spacecraft that successfully launches three the White Knight will take off from the humans to a sub-orbital altitude of 100km on two consecutive Mojave Airport with SpaceShipOne cling- ing to its underbelly. They will climb above 85% of the earth’s atmosphere to an altitude of 50,000 feet. Much like the B-52 and the X-15 nearly a half century ago, the White Knight will release the SS1. After igniting its rocket, SS1 will power to about Mach 3.5 and an altitude of nearly sixty-three miles before begin- ning its return to earth. White Knight and Space Ship One on the tarmac.

to the stars Ad Astra september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 17 t’s just the neatest thing in the world!” claims when there have been changes in telemetry data.” George Diller, launch commentator for NASA Customers alike are raving about RocketCam’s “IPublic Affairs Office at , impact on engineering development. Boeing’s Jayne when describing RocketCam’s capture of Delta and Schnaars, Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Shuttle launches. Ecliptic Enterprise’s RocketCam™, Boeing’s Launch Services Division, refers to mounted on the outer skin of a rocket stage, inside RocketCam as an “exceptional tool for engineering a stage or inside the payload fairing, provides amaz- purposes.” She continues to say, “On new launch ing real-time video of the dramatic seconds before systems, it’s incredible to see how each stage per- launch, a bird’s-eye view of Earth as the rocket forms and if the design works correctly. RocketCam blasts into space, and details of the rocket plume, provides a great deal of data. Real-time is great!” booster separation and other key events. The live, Since its inaugural launch on a Delta II in 1997, full-color video from onboard its host platform is RocketCam has experienced an exceptional success transmitted to receiving equipment on the ground rate with no obstacles in sight. RocketCam appeals for subsequent distribution to launch control cen- to customers because of its simple interface. And, ters, technical and management audiences, media Ecliptic’s track record in meeting program specifi- outlets and the public. cations and schedules continue to be a sound seller.

Ecliptic Diller explains the dramatic difference RocketCam has been used aboard Boeing’s Delta II, Enterprises is RocketCam offers in viewing launches. “We have III and IV rockets and by Lockheed Martin come from animation to real-time video. We can Astronautics’ Atlas 2, Atlas 3, Atlas 5 and IV changing the view liftoff from the launch pad as well as booster rockets. Ecliptic persists in finding new RocketCam way we see separation. And, the detail is amazing.” The video is platforms to bring real-time color video to viewers great for public relations. “Viewers can live vicari- on ground. In fact, RocketCam has generated video the Solar ously through the video clips and can relate to the from platforms such as the Space Shuttle, high-alti- System. space programs.” With RocketCam, engineers and tude balloons and experimental aircraft. interested viewers can be the “fly on the rocket Ecliptic has also expanded RocketCam’s role to stage”—taking it all in as it happens. Diller admits spacecraft applications, shipping the first system in that although RocketCam video generates an aes- March this year for launch in 2004. LEO, GEO BY REBECCA STOWERS thetic value, the engineering capabilities and tech- and deep-space spacecraft platforms are already on nological advancements trump all. Ecliptic’s radar screen, with several contracts in the RocketCam video has revolutionized the way pipeline. launches are viewed. Audiences thrill at the images Ecliptic acquired the RocketCam technology and engineers relish the immediate feedback for when it was put up for sale in 2001 by CrossLink future examination. Jim Lewis, Vice President of Inc., a telemetry and tracking firm based in Communications Concepts Inc. and broadcast pro- Boulder, Colorado. Ecliptic immediately set out to ducer of launch coverage, remarks, “RocketCam expand the functionality and applications base for has allowed us to observe early stages of flight when the product line and quickly evolved it into the cloud cover has blocked some or all of our view. company’s premier product. RocketCam also rapid- Through the observance of flight events via the ly put Ecliptic on the map in terms of sales and RocketCam, changes have been made to payload media exposure. To date, RocketCam systems— fairing insulation and other flight systems to over forty separate cameras—have been launched improve these operations. It also has provided a on over two dozen missions with a booked schedule good way to compare what may have occurred for the rest of 2003 and 2004.

18 september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 Ad Astra to the stars Customers value launch and flight video for The launches of NASA’s twin Mars Exploration marketing and public outreach purposes. Video Rover missions, “Spirit” and “Opportunity,” were images are employed in external customer briefings, among Ecliptic’s most recent successes. “Spirit” public exhibits, and in other marketing strategies, launched in June 2003 carrying a single broadening views and awareness of air and space RocketCam mounted on the first stage of the Delta programs. Eager television watchers and Internet II rocket, capturing the entire ascent. After multiple surfers viewed the spectacular, unprecedented postponements, “Opportunity” launched in July onboard live video televised from NASA’s Space 2003. Two RocketCams recorded this launch. One Shuttle Atlantis in October 2002. RocketCam mounted on the outside skin of the In Frederick, Oklahoma, last year, a RocketCam Delta’s second stage, looking aft, recorded first stage recorded video of the first flight and launch of a ignition, liftoff from Cape Canaveral, strap-on high-altitude balloon system designed as part of a solid-rocket booster operation and separation, first- Global Space League event to celebrate the town’s stage main engine cutoff, first-stage separation from 100th anniversary. Global Space League organizers second stage and payload fairing deployment. The hope to employ RocketCam on other future flights. other RocketCam included fairing separation and Public outreach platforms continue to employ deployment, operation of the second stage-based RocketCam. Utah State University’s full-scale mod- spacecraft spin-up table, Opportunity’s separation ern replica of the Wright Brother’s Wright Flyer from the second stage, and ignition of the third used RocketCam to record its commemorative stage solid-rocket kick motor that sent the space- flight and ongoing U.S. tour. In addition to the craft on its way to Mars. (Taken from Ecliptic’s flight demonstration in July 2003 at the Centennial website—Ecliptic News) of Flight premiere event in Dayton, Ohio, RocketCam technology offers other enhance- RocketCam systems were used on each phase of the ments to air and space programs. Its real-time color airplane’s test program. video helps engineers and scientists move forward Ecliptic is forging new roads by expanding in mitigating technical problems. When reflecting RocketCam technology to support spacecraft mis- on past mishaps such as the antenna and the sions. In 2004, as part of the NASA-funded tech- Shuttle Columbia catastrophe, many like Diller and nology-demonstration mission, RocketCam will Lewis observe that RocketCam’s technology will be provide live, color video from an unmanned space- able to prevent future disasters and save money in craft as it rendezvous in , using little the long run. or no human guidance, with another unmanned RocketCam’s images will continue to benefit spacecraft. The Demonstration of Autonomous engineers and dazzle the general public in solving Rendezvous Technology (DART) mission is part of technical problems, forging new scientific advance- NASA’s Space Launch Initiative (SLI) to research ments and simply opening the world of space to the and develop technologies for safer and more afford- community. RocketCam is changing the way we see able space travel. Mission controllers will use video our future in the solar system. stream to verify accomplishment of several mission Rex Ridenoure, Ecliptic’s CEO, says, “Whether objectives from the ground. The DART program it’s on TV, the Internet or DVDs, the fact is that will be a stepping stone in establishing an most people connect with space most effectively via autonomous rendezvous capability and laying the video and images. We’re very pleased to be a major groundwork for reusable manned and unmanned supplier of the means for acquiring space-themed launch systems operations. Cargo delivery and content from rockets, spacecraft and other remote space-taxi operations for the International Space platforms. Soon, the interested public will have Station (ISS) and other on-orbit activities such as access to video streams from Earth orbit, the Moon, satellite retrieval and servicing missions will use the Mars and places in between. It’s not a matter of if, DART technology. but when—and we’ll be there.” a DART will be the first spacecraft-based mission for RocketCam. Orbital, DART’s prime contractor, Visit Ecliptic’s website for video clips, images and more chose RocketCam for its virtually perfect success information about the RocketCam technology and projects rate and its straightforward interfaces. RocketCam’s compatibility and Ecliptic’s responsiveness to pro- using it at www.eclipticenterprises.com. Background at left: Joe Marino gram schedules and delivery have made them a popular combination. RocketCam frames from launch of STS-112

to the stars Ad Astra september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 19 Sisters are doing it for themselves—in the Space business!

BY LAURA S. WOODMANSEE

here are many different organizations to work SUSMITA MOHANTY,SPACE ENTREPRENEUR Tfor within the field of space exploration. There Mission: To build the all-inclusive Noah’s Ark in are the various national space agencies, aerospace space. corporations, consulting firms, sub-vendors to larg- Earth Coordinates: San Francisco, California, USA er aerospace corporations, and so on. These are the traditional places where space jobs are found. But PERSONAL BACKGROUND some space enthusiasts demand more independence First Interest in Space: Susmita is an Indian space than these organizations can offer. These individu- entrepreneur who lives and works in California. “I als are the self-employed space entrepreneurs. grew up breathing space everyday,” she says, Susmita Mohanty is one such brave soul. She is “because my father worked for the Indian Space one of the few self-employed female space entrepre- Research Organization (ISRO). He was heading one neurs doing well on her own. Although she’s been of the ISRO centers. He recently retired.” entrepreneurial all her life, Susmita officially Susmita’s father encouraged her interests in became a space entrepreneur in 2001 when she space. Even though they watched slides of the his- helped to found MoonFront LLC (www.moon toric Apollo Moon landings together, they didn’t front.com) and a non-profit space education organ- always agree on what human beings should do next ization called Space Science Outreach and Research in space. “He didn’t believe in , (www.ssoar.org). really” she explains. “He would say it was a waste of

20 september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 Ad Astra to the stars money to send humans when robots could do the year I was born is the year he passed away. I heard job. But now he has changed. He says he wants to about him from my father and his friends at the go to the space station. So I’ve converted him, I Indian space agency.” think, over the years.” A second source of inspiration for Susmita was “My love affair with manned space began in high ’s T.V. series, Cosmos. “I remember watch- school. I sent my first idea to NASA when I was in the ing that religiously on Sundays,” she says. “Cosmos 11th grade. Since then, there has been no looking was really good. I used to love it. I never missed it.” back. I wanted to design things to enable us to live in The works of writer Arthur C. orbit. So I really started off wanting to become a zero- Clarke served as a third source of inspiration for gravity designer.” Susmita. In 1999, when she traveled to Clarke’s home Susmita grew up in Ahmedabad, home of the in Sri Lanka, the author himself impressed Susmita late Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, founder of the Indian even more. Space Research Organization. Susmita is thankful that she was able to discuss her ideas with some of PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND the finest scientific and creative minds in . She Education/Degree: Susmita earned her bachelor’s says, “I was lucky to grow up in Ahmedabad, which degree in electrical engineering from Gujarat has some of the best institutions in India, and hence University, and her master’s degree in industrial superb libraries. Amongst others, it has the finest design from the National Institute of Design, both architecture school in the country, the top business in India. She also earned a master’s degree in space school, National Institute of Design, Physical studies from the International Space University in Research Laboratory, and one of the centers of the France. Indian Space Agency called the Space Applications Career Path: “In 1995, I decided to go to the Center. This beautiful city not only gave me my International Space University in France,” she roots, but also my wings!” explains. “I needed to raise $35,000. In an effort to Growing up, Susmita did extensive research on gather financial support, I wrote to several founda- her own at the libraries and institutes near her home. tions and individuals, among them Sir Arthur C. She had lots of ideas and shared them with local space Clarke, the world-renowned science fiction writer experts. “They thought I was a crazy girl with crazy of 2001: A Space Odyssey fame. He saw my work ideas,” remembers Susmita. “There aren’t girls talking and decided to sponsor my education at the about space ideas that much, you know. Whenever I International Space University. Ever since, he has would show up, they would say ‘ok, tell us your new been a mentor to me.” idea.’ They enjoyed listening to my ideas. It was nice Susmita has been involved in both business devel- for them to be able to talk about something new.” opment and hardware design projects related to liv- “For more than seven years, I worked on self-ini- ing in space. She has worked on space habitability tiated projects based on perceived problems of living design projects with NASA, the European Space and working in zero gravity. I worked on zero grav- Agency, as well as on several independent projects. ity restraint systems, space toilets, and a saucer Susmita has also worked at Boeing in international shaped habitat, among others. I even worked on business development where she worked with something as offbeat as meditation and mind train- Japanese and European partners on the International ing for astronauts. This was around 1991, during Space Station program. the Soviet upheaval, when Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev had to spend an extra five months aboard CURRENT JOB the space station because Russia was unable to Job Title: Space entrepreneur. Susmita is a founder launch his replacement on time. I used to then send of MoonFront, LLC, a San Francisco based space my projects to space agencies with the hope that the consulting firm, LIQUIFER, a Vienna based inte- design solutions I came up with would improve liv- grated space design firm, and SSOAR, a Berkeley ing conditions for the astronauts, or at least seed based non-profit organization involved in space-relat- new ideas.” ed education and outreach. Who Encouraged Her: Three well-known space pio- Explanation: The space enterprises launched by neers have inspired Susmita. “The person who Susmita are engaged in innovative projects, both in inspired me in my early years,” she says, “is Dr. the United States and Europe. These space projects Vikram Sarabhai, the founder of the Indian space focus on design, education, media and commercial- program. I actually never got to see him because the ization. “On a typical day,” she says, “I’d be chasing to the stars Ad Astra september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 21 funding for a new idea or a new project and I’d be Science Outreach and Research (SSOAR), a non- working on an ongoing project. It is not unusual for profit organization that promotes leadership opportu- me to work in two or three different time zones in a nities and international collaboration in the space sci- single day given that on most projects we have people ences. The objective is to promote cultural exchange, from different countries collaborating with us.” science literacy, and technological advancement by MoonFront is a consulting firm that works on cre- involving students, scientists, and the general public. ative new space projects in the areas of education and She is currently the project director of SSOAR’s public outreach, space commercialization, media and Project ALIEN, a global non-profit education move- entertainment, and information technology. The ment to bring space science education to classrooms company takes a project in one of their areas of around the planet using satellites, traveling exhibi- expertise from idea through execution and marketing. tions, and the Internet. The goal of Project ALIEN is They also help clients to raise capitol for their projects to, “create exciting, enriching and engaging interac- by providing leads on potential sponsors. tive multimedia educational content focusing on Governed by a small core of experienced execu- space science, space exploration and space applica- tives and personnel, MoonFront uses a much larger tions for schools” around the world. network of free agents and corporate partners for var- ious projects. This keeps the full-time workforce CHALLENGES small, while allowing the company to tap into the Susmita would like to see genuine international coop- experience of freelancers and industry partners. eration on space programs. “Although we use the An entrepreneur like Susmita lives on the cutting word international a lot,” she explains, “we have yet to edge, always looking for funding, publishing papers, be truly international in the way we think. Take the doing freelance consulting work, coming up with International Space Station program for instance. It is new ideas, and writing proposals. a kind of a political compromise. The reasons coun- Being self-employed is hard work, but very tries came together on this endeavor were mostly rewarding for Susmita. She says, “Now that I’m an financial and every time something went wrong the entrepreneur I don’t have nine-to-five work hours blame was on the Russians. I find that unacceptable. any more. I work pretty much from morning until We need a change in attitude. We need to share suc- midnight with a few breaks here and there. I have cesses and failures as one family. I would love to see us two offices, one in the financial district in San live the dream of ‘One Planet. One People. One Francisco and the other in the NASA Research Park Future.’ We have to transcend boundaries and I think near Palo Alto. My extended office includes San the world is still struggling with that idea.” Francisco cafés.” Susmita works on space projects without giving a “I combine my experience in both design and moment of thought as to which country it will bene- business development and tap into my international fit. But those who run space projects are often very space network thanks to the International Space nationalistic. She cites this example: “I remember University, Space Generation Forum, Lunar when there was a fire on the Russian space station Explorers Society, and . The space world Mir. I was in Houston and the tone in most newspa- is really small, even today.” pers was—‘We should get involved because Jerry, the Best Part: “I would be bored to death if I had a very American astronaut, is up there.’ I’d rather people say secure stable life. I think I would die. My mother used ‘We should get involved because Jerry and our to always tell me, ‘for goodness sake take it easy some- Russian friends are up there’. Only then can it be times.’ But I just enjoy being overworked and chasing called true international cooperation. However, I my dreams. That’s how I’m happiest; I’m at my best. must add that there are Americans and Russians at I wouldn’t want it any other way.” Houston and Star City who have worked together So far, Susmita’s favorite projects have been the and are very good friends. So what I am trying to say European Lunar Base Design Workshop, and the here is that at the individual level there are people Clark-Bradbury International Science Fiction compe- who think beyond boundaries, and that we need to tition that she helped to start. She explains, “The bold cultivate the same spirit at the national level.” new concepts generated at the European Lunar Base Design Workshop have introduced a new genre in INSIGHTS space architecture, a genre that transcends the man- Space Dreams: “I would like to see humans go out in-a-can approach.” and settle space. And not just take the scientific aspect Volunteer Activities: Susmita helped to found Space of our explorations with us, but also the adventure

22 september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 Ad Astra to the stars aspect and cultural aspect of us as human beings. So “I would like to be involved in a real mission. And far, it’s the engineers, scientists, and pilots who are I would like to do space walks. I don’t want to just chosen for space missions, but I really think we need stay inside the Station. So not only do I want to go to to include people from all walks of life. Artists and space, I want to do some good space walks. Only then architects, monks and mountaineers, poets and would I call my space trip complete.” philosophers, everybody should be a part of this Advice: Susmita has some advice for future space endeavor. Take everyone along on this ride. Right entrepreneurs. “I would advise them to start off by now it’s not all-inclusive and I would like it to be all- working in a space agency like NASA or in an aero- inclusive, like a Noah’s ark of space. We should have space company like Boeing,” she says. “It’s important every animal and every human being and every aspect to have that experience. It’s important to understand that’s a part of being human be a part of it, not just how the aerospace industry functions, where the the science aspects.” funding comes from, how the projects are managed, To make this goal happen Susmita would like to and also the technological aspects of aerospace.” see, “the realization of a project related to an extrater- “The second thing I would encourage them to do restrial base, perhaps a Lunar base, with commercial is, there is a space community out there which they involvement,” she says. “A real habitat, a real operat- should become a part of; the International Space ing base, on the Moon possibly, funded commercial- University, Space Generation, Planetary Society, ly. That would be one of my dream projects.” Lunar Explorers Society, Mars Society, Planetary Susmita has a grand idea to make the base acces- Society, and others. That is extremely important sible: “The other thing I’ve always dreamt of, is a because we are a small community and we need to space elevator. I’m a big fan of science fiction and I watch out for each other if we have to start our own would love to see a space elevator happen.” business, or collaborate, or pursue new ideas.” And she says, “I would like to start a manned “The third would be a more practical thing. If you space program for India. India is amongst the top five want to start a company of your own, you need to space faring nations in the world. The Indian space identify what is it that you want to do with your space agency is planning to send an orbiter to the Moon in company. Once you have figured that out, find the 2008. I feel the natural next step for India would be right partners. There are big companies out there. So to participate in human space exploration.” you have to learn to survive, and to survive you have Susmita is also interested in ‘mind technologies’ to complement the space agencies and mega compa- for living and working in space. She says, “I’m writing nies. You have certain advantages and they have cer- a paper called the yin and yang of long duration space- tain advantages, so you should use each other for the flight. I would like to take the best of the East and the benefit of space. It has to be a symbiotic relationship.” West. I see a lot of technological arrogance in the way Susmita’s final piece of advice to future space we approach spaceflight. I think we need to take a entrepreneurs is, “Perseverance. Anybody who wants more holistic approach and realize the full potential of to go out and start a company, I would advise them the human mind and body when we go out and to persevere,” she says. “It will take time. You have to explore long term, and I don’t see that right now. We be in there for the long haul, you cannot quit. The need to broaden our approach to successfully face the joys are tremendous. I cannot express it in words. You Lunar Base Design challenges of long-duration missions, such as a mis- have to live it to know it. One can be not just money- Workshop habitat and sion to Mars.” rich, but can be people-rich, culture-rich, experience- craft designs. She is concerned that we are not designing our rich, ideas-rich. I feel you can be rich in many differ- space habitats properly. “There’s a nice quote by Lee ent ways and you can’t put a price tag on everything. Iacocca,” says Susmita. “He said, when he came to And I really like being rich in that broad sense of the Chrysler ‘I was expecting the engineers and designers word.” a to be sleeping together but they aren’t even flirting.’ And I think that’s exactly the situation in space agen- Laura S. Woodmansee is a freelance science journalist and cies designing our space habitats. Engineers are still the author of the Apogee Space Book Women Astronauts. running the show. I am an engineer and an industri- In September, Apogee will publish her latest book, Women al designer and I can see both sides. I think that the architects and designers need as much of a say as the of Space: Cool Careers on the Final Frontier, from which this engineers. We have achieved pretty good safety levels, article was excerpted. Laura can be contacted through her the next thing is more productive, more harmonious website: www.woodmansee.com. environments that improve habitability.” to the stars Ad Astra september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 23 NASA BY TRAVIS K. KIRCHER

Here’s to all the reusable space vehicle projects that never made it.

n Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass and “Here, you see, it takes all the running you can IWhat Alice Found There—the sequel to the popular do to keep in the same place,” she says. “If you want children’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland— to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice young Alice finds herself in a bizarre landscape. as fast as that.” Standing on a hill under a large tree, she looks across It’s a whimsical incident from a children’s fairy miles of empty fields checkered with enormous tale, yet it sounds all too familiar to the contractors black squares. and NASA engineers who for the past few decades “It’s a great huge game of chess that is being have been involved in the design and manufacture played all over the world!” Alice exclaims to her of reusable launch vehicles. companion—who happens to be the Red Queen. For the past two decades, NASA has been pre- “How I wish I was one of them! I wouldn’t mind occupied with the ambitious goal of creating a being a pawn if only I might join…though of reusable space vehicle—other than the space shut- course, I should like to be a queen best.” tle—that can either launch it’s occupants into The Red Queen informs Alice that this is indeed space, ferry them back down from space or both. a possibility. Alice is currently standing in the sec- While the orbital space plane represents NASA’s ond square. By successfully reaching the eighth current and most promising attempt, it is preceded square, she will be crowned a queen. At Alice’s by a long list of similar programs—many of which request, the Red Queen agrees to show her the way were cut off in their prime; some for a lack of fund- and—without warning—she grabs Alice’s hand and ing and others because they—literally—self makes a mad dash in that direction. destructed. Alice breathlessly fights to keep up with the Like Alice, some scientists feel they are “running queen, who continues to howl “Faster! Faster!” in place,” creeping infinitely close to their objective After several minutes of running, the pair come to but never reaching it. Others hold a more opti- a stop and Alice is shocked to discover that not only mistic view, seeing the previous programs as step- is she still in the second square, but through some ping-stones to inevitable success. unimaginable snafu of quantum physics that only In part one of this two-part series, we’ll take a Einstein could understand, she is still standing look at some of the prior attempts to create a under the same large tree. reusable launch vehicle and how each of those When her protests die down, the Red Queen attempts fared, before conducting an in-depth study finally explains. of the Orbital Space Plane program in part two. to the stars Ad Astra september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 25 new flight technologies, particularly in the area of composite structures which allowed for higher spe- cific strength, greater stiffness, increased tailorabili- ty, higher fatigue endurance and less weight. All NASA needed—according to Dumbacher— was a flight vehicle on which to test the new research. Those prayers were answered in July 1995 when the Air Force handed the DC-X project over to the space agency. Dumbacher was then appoint- ed to be the director of the newly named DC-XA project. “NASA decided that the thing to do was to take it, replace some of the major components with the new technology items and then put those new tech- nologies into a flight test environment,” Dumbacher said. The first major modification NASA had for the vehicle was to replace its aluminum hydrogen tank with a composite graphite-epoxy hydrogen tank. The aluminum liquid oxygen tank in the DC-X DC-XA NASA was replaced by an aluminum-lithium liquid oxy- gen tank designed and built by the Russian Energia Corporation. Lastly, Dumbacher’s team installed a THE DC-X AND THE DC-XA (1995–1996) composite liquid hydrogen feed line in place of the Ask Dan Dumbacher—NASA’s deputy manager of original line. the Orbital Space Plane program—about the ori- “Nobody had ever tried to build a line that con- gins of NASA’s quest to build a reusable space vehi- tains propellant flow for liquid hydrogen out of cle, and he’ll point you to the DC-X. composite material,” Dumbacher said. “The valve The DC-X—nicknamed the “Delta Clipper- was a particular technology advancement—to be Experimental”—was an experimental rocket built able to seal off the hydrogen flow and not have any by McDonald-Douglas and tested by the U.S. Air leakage. Hydrogen is one of the things that finds Force. Looking like an unlikely cross between a leak paths easily.” giant Indian arrowhead and a 1950s comic-book The DC-XA made four test flights, during spaceship, this conically shaped single-stage sub- which it reached a maximum altitude of 3,140 feet orbital rocket was designed to launch and land ver- and flew for up to 142 seconds. tically. The Air Force’s Phillips Laboratory had high Dumbacher said that one of the most important hopes to prove that the rocket could fly into space, aspects of the DC-XA program was its ability to fly land and fly a new mission within a three-day peri- rapid-turnaround missions. This capability was od—thus demonstrating that the technology was demonstrated when the DC-XA made its third test readily available to transport passengers into space flight on 8 June 1996—just over a day after its sec- on an efficient and routine basis. It was widely ond test flight. believed that, if successful, spacecraft like the DC- “If you look at the space shuttle, there are a lot X could be launched from any state in the U.S. of people and a lot of time between missions to get The DC-X was originally 40 feet high and 13- those vehicles prepared for flight,” he said. “We 1/2 feet wide at its base. It was fueled by a combi- wanted to show, test out and prove to ourselves that nation of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. we could do things in a more rapid fashion with Unlike the space shuttle, it did not have wings but fewer people.” instead maneuvered by manipulating small flaps. “We flew flight two in the morning. Eight hours Eight successful tests were completed by the later, we were ready to fly flight three,” he added. DC-X from May to July 1995. During those tests, “We had done all of the data analysis. We had done the DC-X flew to a height of 8,200 feet and com- all of the hardware checkouts. We put it back on its pleted a series of complex maneuvers. launch stand. We were just to the point of starting At the same time, NASA had been developing to load propellants on the vehicle and thunder-

26 september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 Ad Astra to the stars NASA X-33

storms came in over the mountains. We had to shut the design for X-33 shows that it looks much more down operations for the day, but we actually got two like a jet than a rocket, like the DC-XA. missions off within twenty-six hours of each other.” “They were two different solutions—or two dif- The DC-XA program was short-lived, however. ferent possible concepts—for a single stage to orbit During its fourth test flight on 31 July 1996, one of vehicle,” Dumbacher said. “The big difference that the vehicle’s four landing gear failed to extend. The was important from a NASA perspective is that DC- vehicle tipped over upon landing and its propellant XA only went to 10,000 feet and Mach .3. X-33 went tanks exploded. to almost 200,000 feet and Mach 15. So it went high- No further DC-XA vehicles were built, due to er and faster and covered more of the expected flight budget constraints. environments for a full-scale vehicle than DC-XA did. Yes, they looked different, but that’s because they THE X-33 (1996—2001) are based on two different concepts.” On 2 July 1996 Vice President Al Gore announced The X-33 was to be roughly 67 feet tall and 68 that Lockheed Martin had been selected to build feet wide. Perhaps the most notable aspect of the NASA’s next attempt at a reusable launch vehicle: new vehicle was its use of two revolutionary new the X-33. “aerospike” engines for its primary method of Unlike the DC-XA, the X-33 was to utilize what propulsion. Unlike the larger and heavier “bell NASA calls “lifting body” technology, meaning that shaped” main engines on the space shuttle, the the spacecraft would take off vertically, but land aerospike engines of the X-33 begin large and then horizontally like an airplane. One quick glance at narrow towards the opening.

to the stars Ad Astra september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 27 NASA

X-34

If the X-33 program was successful, Lockheed designed and developed in the United States since Martin planned to produce more of the vehicles for the space shuttle main engine and that was one of commercial use under a program it called them,” said Mark Fisher, the former project man- VentureStar. ager of the X-34 program. “The goal of that But the X-33 would never even leave the ground. engine was very, very simple. The goal was to Although Dumbacher says that extensive ground achieve a ten-fold decrease in the cost of the devel- testing had been completed on the X-33’s propul- opment of an engine like that and it came very sion and thermal protection systems, the program close to that.” was halted on 1 March 2001, when NASA Instead of liquid hydrogen, the X-34 used RP-1 announced that it would not be funded under the as a propellant—a kerosene-type fuel that had been agency’s new Space Launch Initiative (SLI) program. previously used on Atlas and Delta rockets. The X-33 was officially dead. Fisher said that the X-34 was also revolutionary because of some of the materials that were used. THE X-34 (1996—2001) The entire structure was made from a graphite- Developed during the same time period as the X- epoxy composite. A new material called SIRCA (for 33, the X-34 was a technologies testbed demonstra- Silicon Impregnated Reusable Ceramic Ablative) tor vehicle that was never intended to fly passengers was tested as part of the thermal protection system but to instead serve as a bridge between the DC-XA for the X-34’s leading edge. and the X-33 programs. “We also went back to the same kind of blankets There were some key differences between the X- which are used on the upper sides of the shuttle,” 33 and the X-34. Fisher said. “We used those on what we call the Perhaps the most notable difference was the windward side—in other words, on the bottom. engine. It was bell-shaped—like the main engines These blankets are kind of thick. They look more on the space shuttle—and produced about 60,000 like the stuff that you make baseball bases out of. pounds of thrust. That’s what it looks like to me.” “There’s only been two new pump-fed engines The X-34 was 58.3 feet long and 27.7 feet wide.

28 september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 Ad Astra to the stars NASA

X-37

It has a composite RP tank, but the liquid oxygen flying to heights of up to 225,000 feet at speeds of tank was made from aluminum. Mach 8, the vehicle never flew powered. “Liquid oxygen is touchy stuff when it comes Fisher does recall one moment during the test- around carbon,” Fisher explained. “It likes to eat it. ing, however, that made him particularly proud. It The technology for liquid oxygen composite tanks came during a “tow test” when the X-34 had been is not there yet. So we had an aluminum liquid oxy- towed into the air by a L-1011 aircraft and released gen tank and a composite RP tank. We had our to make an autonomous landing using advanced own little troubles with it. Composites are new. But GPS technology and its internal navigation system. we were able to solve those and certify the tank.” “When we towed it—it was really cool—we The Orbital Sciences Corporation in Dulles, towed the vehicle up to 50 miles an hour or so and Virginia, was the contractor for the X-34 project. we released it from the tow,” he said. “We released Fisher explained that, unlike previous projects, the it off the centerline of the runway and had prepro- contractor was given more responsibility and less grammed it to basically, carefully turn itself onto supervision by the space agency. the exact centerline and then come to a stop on a “At the time, there was a concern that perhaps certain point. When we released it, the vehicle kind that use of the government engineers in that over- of came down, the nose wheel turned and the sight role wasn’t an efficient use of the government’s brakes were applied and we were just watching it do efforts, so they tried to focus government participa- it. That was really a neat thing.” tion, strictly speaking, to actually perform tasks that It was “a neat thing” that came to an end. The the contractor needed done, as opposed to an over- X-34 program was cancelled because of budget cuts sight role,” he said. “This was a case where it was a in 2001, at the same time as the X-33. very small program staff and pretty much the con- tractor was on his own to solve the technical issues.” THE X-37 (1999–????) Two X-34 vehicles were completed and one was One space plane project in particular escaped can- being built when the project was terminated. cellation under the Space Launch Initiative pro- Although the X-34 was believed to be capable of gram in 2001—that was the X-37.

to the stars Ad Astra september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 29 NASA/Carla Thomas NASA

X-38 interior mock-up showing room for seven At 27.5 foot long and 15 foot wide, the X-37 is mary purpose is to take GPS technologies through astronauts and actual an unpiloted spacecraft that is expected to operate the re-entry heating environment.” drop flight test. autonomously at speeds of Mach 25 in the orbital The first unpowered drop test of the X-37 from and reentry areas of flight. It can be ferried into a B-52 is planned for 2004. space via the cargo bay of the space shuttle. It will be propelled by JP-8, a grade of kerosene that is THE X-38 (1994—2001) commonly used to fuel jets. The Boeing Company Perhaps the most infamous and agonizing story is is currently building the X-37. that of the X-38—one of the few operational (as Like its predecessors, it is hoped that the X-37 opposed to testbed demonstrator) reusable launch will be helpful in decreasing launch costs, increas- vehicle programs. It was to be the first reusable ing turnaround speeds and clearing the way for human spacecraft built in two decades. manned commercial space flight. The X-38 differed from its predecessors in that “X-37 is actually a flight demonstrator for all it was originally intended as a rescue vehicle for the the way to orbit and back,” Dumbacher said. “It’s International Space Station. NASA policy dictates extremely important because it demonstrates the that the size of the space station crew can never total re-entry heating environment needed to check exceed the ability to evacuate them quickly in the out the new thermal protection systems that have event of an emergency. While the station can theo- been developed over the last few years. Some of retically support a long-term crew of seven, the those we had developed as part of X-33 and others Russian Soyuz capsule—the current and only had been developed through other methods. Its pri- means of evacuation—can only hold three passen-

30 september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 Ad Astra to the stars gers, thus limiting the permissible ISS crew size to the tail to give it a more rounded shape. These that number. modifications were then made to one of the proto- The X-38 was designed to carry a maximum types. Finally, the team began working on the actu- of seven passengers and thus would alleviate this al space vehicle. concern. Permanently docked at the space sta- The X-38 prototypes underwent a variety of tion, the X-38 could evacuate the entire crew at tests, including parafoil demonstrations and a num- any time. ber of free flight tests in which the vehicle was The X-38 was to be 30.0 feet long and 14.5 feet dropped from a B-52. wide. It consisted of a “wingless lifting body” con- But it was not to be. In Spring 2001, NASA figuration that was developed and tested at the announced that the X-38 had been cancelled as part Dryden Flight Research Center in the late 1960s. of a major cutback in the ISS program. Instead of wings, the configuration uses the shape Muratore was devastated. of the vehicle to generate lift. “I think it’s safe to say that everybody was heart- Another important characteristic of the X-38 broken,” he said. “In a small team like this, when was its use of the parafoil—a particular type of we’ve been working together for seven years, it’s parachute that is shaped like a wing. Theoretically, heartbreaking, especially because we were ready to the X-38 would detach from the space station, ini- take the vehicle to space. That was what this ulti- tiate a de-orbit engine burn, reenter the earth’s mately was all about. We were really looking for- atmosphere and—at approximately 40,000 feet— ward to the opportunity to do that and we were deploy the parafoil. The parafoil could be used to really heartbroken that we didn’t get the chance.” steer the vehicle—either automatically or manually— As Muratore explained, the space vehicle was to a predesignated landing point. over 85 percent built when the program was can- “The reason we did that was that when we start- celled, with the actual structure 90 percent com- ed out, we looked at landing on a runway like a tra- pleted and the wiring and sub-systems at about 60- ditional airplane or like previous space plane con- 70 percent. cepts,” explained John Muratore, the former project Today, the vehicles collect dust as a tourist attrac- manager of the X-38 program. “What we discov- tion in Building 220 of the . ered was that the early work on lifting bodies done in the 60’s and 70’s always had very low weights THE NEXT GENERATION? that they were operating at.” Alice eventually made it to the eighth square, “Consequently, when we started adding all the despite many perils and setbacks. structure in to the X-38...and all of the sub-systems Like Alice, the engineers and scientists at NASA to keep seven people alive, it started gaining hope to achieve their own goal—the goal of build- weight,” he added. “It became pretty clear that a ing a reusable launch vehicle cheaply and efficient- runway landing—a traditional runway landing— ly. To that end, they are looking to the agency’s was going to be very, very risky at best. We estimat- most recent and ambitious project: the Orbital ed that fully loaded up, the X-38 would land on a Space Plane (OSP). runway at about 250 knots. So we decided to go Now in its planning stages, the Orbital Space with the parafoil for the deployment.” Plane will be designed as a fully operational For comparison, the space shuttle lands at 200 manned vehicle that will serve as the primary ISS knots. crew rotation spacecraft, leaving the space shuttle to Muratore said that no contractor was hired to perform missions that involve heavy payloads. build the X-38—it was all done within the space In the next issue of Ad Astra, we’ll take an in- agency with a team of no more than 200 engineers, depth look at the Orbital Space Plane program. with NASA as the primary contractor. Whether it will mark the triumphant finish line “It was very different from shuttle or station for cheap access to space, or be just another nail in because with shuttle or station, you’ve got thou- the coffin of half-completed programs, only time sands of people working on things. Here on this will tell. a project, we didn’t,” he said. “It’s a family. With 200 people, you know everybody that’s working. Travis K. Kircher is a freelance writer who often Three prototypes were built. The first two had covers space related topics. He can be reached at fiberglass bodies and triangular tails. Afterwards, it was later decided to upscale the vehicle and modify [email protected]. to the stars Ad Astra september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 31 Disney’s New Mars Mission Experience

BY JOE MARINO PHOTOS BY JOE MARINO AND BILL CANTRELL

he History Channel was just broadcasting the story of and his TMission Control team, “Failure is Not an Option,” on Sunday evening. This program bought back memories of times past, when the thinkers and doers of the fifties and sixties sacrificed their all to reach “the goal” of manned lunar explo- ration. To reflect upon this achievement must bring these men of NASA both the pride in what was done in that short decade and uncertainty about what followed. What weight do the shoulders of these giants carry now? What happened to the spirit of manned exploration? What mighty boosters were on the drawing board at the time when the V launched Apollo 17 on our final manned voyage to another world? When will we see another crew board a spacecraft at the Cape and launch to lands unknown? Whatever happened to Mars by the 1990s? Whatever happened to the dream?

32 september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 Ad Astra to the stars Clockwise from opposite, bottom: The monorail at Epcot Center; Futuristic entry path sets the mood at the attraction; Intrepid “adventurers” journey inside to begin the mission to mars.

Well, to coin an old phrase, the dream is still alive and living approximately fifty miles due west of the Kennedy Space Center in a land called … EPCOT? Yes EPCOT, where Disney’s thinkers and doers, the “Imagineers,” have constructed a train- ing center and launch site for manned exploration of Mars. In fact, unknown to most of us, the folks at Disney have already sent approximately 400,000 people from all over the world, our world that is, to the Red Planet. All of it takes place, not from KSC, but from the ISTC, the International Space Training Center, where people from normal walks of life both “train” for and “fly” on a mission to Mars. Sue Bryan, a Senior Show Producer with the Disney Company, provided NSS with a review of the facility and an invitation for all NSSers to join the training program for the three-month voyage of a life- time. She, along with her colleague, Bob Zalk, to the stars Ad Astra september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 33 When asked why Sue and her colleagues got involved on such a project, her response was straight and to the point, to sup- port NASA’s goal of edu- cating the next genera- tions to space flight. Mission Space was the answer. It is now 4:00 a.m. My colleague Bill and I have departed for a three-hour drive to EPCOT to join a crew and experience a have, in essence, three-month journey to the Red Planet which in become the mission planners of the 2003 time, will take only four minutes. For the sake attraction. Along with 650 Disney and NASA of never experiencing this before, as there is really propulsion and robotics engineers as well as astro- nothing else like it, we figured that we’d pass on the nauts, the five-year, 350,000 work hour effort was to steak and egg breakfast. create an environment where those who want to The facility’s courtyard display depicts the open- “feel” the experience of space flight can go and train. ness and infinity of space. Off to the side, a replica “Mission Space,” presented by Hewlett Packard, of the moon showing all manned and unmanned officially opened its doors to would-be astronauts in landing sites bring the individual back to the real- August. The overall theme of the attraction is “We ism of exploration. I heard one young woman pass choose to go,” which paraphrases President on to her daughter, “Yes. We did land on the moon, Kennedy’s address when we decided to go to the but that was before my time,” as they gazed upon moon. The centerpiece of the attraction is the the various landing spots. Surrounding the walls of “ride,” a four-minute thrill ride where one actually the interior of the courtyard are quotes from past feels the sensations experienced by only the very few explores and thinkers, including , global space voyagers over the past fifty or do years. Plato, President Kennedy and Arthur C. Clark.

34 september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 Ad Astra to the stars are assigned to a team: Gold, Blue, Red or Green. Your visual cues still give you the sense that you are about to embark on a journey into space. When Actor Gary Sinese (from the movie ) you enter the facility, preps you, via a video instruction, of your upcom- you feel as if you are entering an industri- ing journey. Gary acts as the prime Mission al area. Here is where you first get the sense of the Controller and he as well as his back-up walks you place, the International Space Recruiting Center. through the final training process. You are assigned Welcome to the ISTC. Combining science fact and a role as Commander, Pilot, Navigator or Engineer. fiction, you proceed through the facility on your Each role has an assignment throughout the jour- way to the training area. Here is where you become ney. The ride, you see, is also interactive. Each indi- more aware of the theme. You are virtually time vidual will have “assignments” throughout the expe- warped three decades ahead. It is now 2033 and you rience. Mission Control advises who and when to From left, opposite: are on a mission to the Red Planet. You become hit the switch, and for what purpose. If done prop- Entrance to Disney’s somewhat familiarized with the launch vehicle, the erly and on time, you do feel the effect; if not, then Mars Adventure; Space X2, and can view the Sim Lab and Training Mission Control advises that the spacecraft com- 2001 logo; details of the Operations facilities. Shortly after, you can see the puter will override the failure to activate the switch X-2 Deep Space Shuttle, Mission Control Room, the heart and soul of the and the journey continues. Then as the doors to and visitor’s info on facility. As you proceed past the Mission Control your capsule open, there is no turning back. You are space explorer. Room you enter the Team Dispatch area where you about to take a three-month journey (that is what Photos Joe Marino. to the stars Ad Astra september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 35 an additional 30 years of advanced technology can do, cut the transit time in half) to Mars. You enter your spacecraft through a side door. You take your place in your assigned seat, pull a restraint down from above you and get ready. The console rolls toward you, cutting your personal space and visibility and the video screen in front of you activates. As you hear Mission Control advise you to prepare for launch you feel the spacecraft roll you back, as if you were in a position to launch, similar to what you see on Space Shuttle launches. The video screen shows computer graphics of a gantry and the sky as if you were looking upward. A wayward bird passes into and out of view. The countdown proceeds. As main engine start, one can feel vibration and see smoke building up the sides of the gantry. Visual and aural cues really set the scene well. As you hear “liftoff,” the visual cues you get on the screen indicate movement. At that point, you are literal- ly thrust back into your seat and are off as you ascend to the heavens. The G forces build and you have the sensation that you are actually launching.

36 september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 Ad Astra to the stars You feel acceleration. Your body becomes heavy, and for Bill and heavens, without being I, it was necessary to take in a deep breath or two to as much as ten feet off the ground, you will offset the effect of the forces exerted on us. You can enjoy the experience from start to end. I know that the feel the pressure on your chest, just as the astronauts younger ones will get a real thrill out of it. As my col- do. Through the launch, Mission Control calls up league Bill told his son (a ride enthusiast as well), soon commands to stage the rocket and to ignite the next after having this experience, “It is like no other ride in stage. Again, you feel the effect of your actions as any other park.” It is that different. you hit the switches. It is a truly remarkable experi- It is truly an opportunity to experience what ence. The most unbelievable part, however, hap- only the astronauts have done. pens soon after you reach “space.” The engines cut Sue Bryan explains that the forces exerted are off and all of a sudden you feel… weightless… similar to some rollercoaster rides. Yet, she holds off How in the world did Disney pull this one off? from advising how many Gs are experienced and Well, this is the science behind the ride. The forces the way the ride actually works. Yet, this holds the From bottom, opposite: exerted during launch immediately stop and you mystique of it. Details of the Mars ride sense that you are floating. It is truly amazing. Within four minutes, you have landed on Mars. equipment; Disney’s For the sake of not telling you about the entire expe- The graphics of Mars were taken from actual NASA “Mission Control”; rience and giving away trade secrets, I will just leave the photos and so as you approach the planet, the land- Joe Marino (center) rest to your imagination. The theme of the ride, after all, scape takes on an almost realistic, although graphic straps in for blast-off; is classic Disney. For those hard-core space enthusiasts, look. It is an experience worth having, especially for futuristic concepts for all I can say is that you will get a thrill out of the ride. those who have always wondered what it is like to spaceships of the 21st For those of you baby boomers with a deep routed feel the sensations of launch and . century. Photos Joe as to what it feels like to be hurtled into the Next stop, a ride on the vomit comet. a Marino and Bill Cantrell. to the stars Ad Astra september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 37 BAKER A look at the changingEG M BY

standards of space exploration.

magine the future where the massive destructive facts reveal themselves, one Iforces of matter slamming into matter is condensed begins to see the enormous and controlled into a form a travel, or perhaps the intense endeavour it is to send a few humans heat of a 10 kW laser transforming air into plasma delicately spiralling towards the stars. Each booster places you among the stars. Possibly the common electrostatic on either side of the orbiter holds 1.1 mil- zap of energy we find every time we pull our socks out of the lion pounds of fuel, an almost incompre- dryer will function as a leap through space, and flying saucers hensible amount. Altogether the space shuttle will be the self-fulfilled reality the human race has only fantasized fully loaded weighs in at a modest 4.4 mil- about. The caustic by-products of present-day fuelled propellants lion pounds. Liquid propellants have have led many to search out the benefits of alternate sources of allowed astronauts control over the energy for a different type of space propulsion. To harness new shuttle as well as being a forms of energy that are not dependent on fossil fuels or that stronger, more lasting fuel cause detrimental health effects is truly an amplification of our compared to solid rocket own promising intellect. Although highly regarded as fiction, boosters which were cre- new forms of propulsion are being tested and sought after by ated a hundred years earlier, many of the most adventurous scientists and explorers in an however the overall cost and attempt to make the stars a few astronomical units closer. production involved is a growing In 1926 the American physicist Robert Goddard revealed to concern. the world that instead of using gunpowder as a source of quick The marvellous imagination and ingenu- power or ascension, perhaps a stronger and more effective fuel ity it took to create the recognizable shuttles we should be liquid-based such as gasoline, and the modern space age see today is continuing in the next generation of has never looked back. The common image we all recognize today spacecraft designers. is the current liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen tanks that strad- The current trend places an emphasis on being dle the orbiter, which carries the astronauts. Many question why economically frugal while maintaining the goals of the the space program costs so much money, and clearly when the space program if not improving them. Just as in the car

38 september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 Ad Astra to the stars propel the craft. As an example of how hot the air must be, imagine the sun’s heat, and multiply it several times. The air should reach between 18,000 to 54,000 degrees Fahrenheit. To withstand such heat this futuristic craft indus- must be made out of silicon carbide. Once air is heated to such try there is an intensity, it begins to morph into plasma which gives the ship a noticeable sway toward envi- its propulsion. Such a clean source of power combined with a ronmentally sound vehicles lightweight craft allows this design to be pollution free. A full- including hydrogen fuel cells, so is scale version of this ship is reported to be around thirty years there a wish that exploring space does away but many successful trial runs have added much enthusi- not compromise our own monetary and asm to this concept under the careful eye of Dr. Leik Myrabo, ecological integrity. Although many support- leading researcher and current patent holder on lightcraft ers remain loyal to the space program, general- designs. Reportedly the laser light craft could reach an estimated ly their is a sense of futility as to why we continu- ten percent of the speed of light, a huge benefit to being able to ously send millions of dollars hurdling into space explore the darker veins in space, and yet once the craft is out while most of it burns up in the atmosphere. A compa- there, the only concern is how to keep track of it as its speed will ny called “Lightcraft Technology’s” is successfully research- take it beyond our own tracking methods to date. ing a laser propelled spacecraft. Currently the space shuttle If that doesn’t illuminate the imagination then perhaps ion requires its fuel to be on board; with laser technology, however, propulsion will. Otherwise known as the common tickling sound it allows the engineer to create a very light, stealth object that no heard when clothes are pulled out of the dryer, it has already been longer needs to be burdened by huge amounts of fuel. The in use since 1998 when Nasa launched the spacecraft Deep Space source of the energy will instead be located on earth, within a 10 1. An ion is defined as an atom or molecule that has lost or gained kW laser. The laser is comprised of carbon dioxide and when one or more electrons, thereby making it a charged atom. Ion used, is one of the most powerful in the world. The design of the propulsion depends upon the concept of repelling, and has many ship must allow the laser to heat an area called the “absorption attractive qualities to its design. A fuel made up of xenon gas is

NASA Images chamber” which would heat significantly enough to expand and bombarded with electrons that knock away its own electrons

to the stars Ad Astra september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 39 causing it to become positively charged. A positively and negatively ful and possibly the most useful in space travel. Antimatter howev- charged grid at the rear attracts the xenon atoms, which creates the er is not in abundance even though its reflection, matter, exists repelling action sending the ship thrusting forward and the xenon everywhere. Therefore, technology such as CERN (European atoms shooting backwards. This behavior allows the ion engine to Organization for Nuclear Research) in Switzerland and Fermilab in be ten times more efficient than current rocket engines and last for create a space where atoms are destroyed to create anti- months. This ion ship can race at a speed of 60,000 mph and is matter by sending atoms at near light speeds. The amount that is highly efficient especially when pursuing the depths of deep space produced, however, is not yet enough to maintain an engine that as well as continuously operating at a record breaking two hundred simply rockets off from direct atom to atom destruction unless the days. The most basic rules of the miniscule atom and its behavior engine is modified to use less antiprotons. NASA is a leading has been understood and manifested into the space program suc- designer for this spacecraft and hopes to have developed this tech- cessfully. Deep Space 1 has been attempting to read the surfaces of nology enough to send ships out in the next couple of decades. The asteroids since its launch. Although the system is not perfected, sci- energy released is reportedly 10 billion times the amount created by entists have been pleased with the outcome and future possibilities the current means of propulsion, which would make getting to of this very low cost, efficient craft. The search continues, however, Mars a quick month-long voyage instead of the year it currently to find the optimal system that allows deep space navigation and takes. There are plenty of leaps and bounds to make before anti- longevity, perhaps microwaves. matter propulsion becomes an immediate reality, as even contain- The invention of the microwave has transformed dinner ideas ing such an energetic dance within a craft challenges our current for over twenty years. In the fifties, frightening images of saucer technology. As always, these incredible developments in technology shaped spaceships encapsulating eerie aliens has haunted the social with space exploration in mind filter down toward earth’s more mindscape for some time. It is a popular cult image that thrives in “practical” side. The development of a technology that could hold the imaginations of moviemakers and goers around the world. The antimatter and matter together offers medical applications as Penn eerie aliens could turn out to be our own astronauts riding a flat disc State reports for radiotherapy of tumours. towards the sky one day if microwave propulsion becomes a success The search continues in finding the optimal space propulsion as microwave technologies takes its turn in joining the new frontier unit, perhaps it will not be just one of these technologies, but a of spacecraft design. Microwaves are short waves with a high fre- combination of many. Solar power remains a forerunner in adding quency placed before radio waves on the spectrum. If a ship is going lift and boost to the more advanced concepts as well as being an to use this type of propulsion it must be of a large diameter, hence excellent source of satellite and probe transportation with little to the familiar shape of a flying saucer. It is similar to laser propulsion no by-products. The epic vision of elegant solar sails remains a in that it does not have its fuel source on board the ship, but unlike favorite and accessible source of propulsion. NASA continues to laser light craft in that its power source will not be earth bound, but add more and more possibilities to its list of futuristic propulsion, reside in an orbiting solar power station. Though the construction including a rocket that uses oxygen while it still has it in abundance of both the spacecraft and the orbiting energy source are years away, and liquid oxygen on board the craft when it goes beyond our it still promises to be one of the more intriguing exploration tools. atmosphere. The University of Washington, Seattle has created the The solar satellite would beam down microwaves to a ship covered M2P2, or Mini Magnetosphere Plasma Propulsion, which ideally with tiny antennae, which would transform the waves into electric- attracts ions from the sun, or solar wind, within its plasma sail or ity thereby allowing the ship to be thrusted from fiction into fact. “bubble” and sends the craft into space. There remains a desire to Using solar and electric power, microwave propulsion combines keep things as low cost as possible, but also to expand upon human- current forms of energy sources to get it initially off the ground. ity’s own need to reach much further into space as we continue to The benefits of its shape will allow it to tilt sideways once in space be teased at the wonders and challenges it has to offer. and reach a speed reportedly 50 times the speed of sound. It will be Whether it is utilizing the massive heat of a laser or corrupting able to hold ten or more passengers and run completely silent. If the matter as we know it, the inventions and creations being proposed image of flying saucers does not mix up fantasy with reality enough, reveal a wonderful level of imagination. Sculpting the future of perhaps another form of propulsion will. spacecrafts is no small feat, and yet since Neil Armstrong’s first step Imagine there is an alternate dimension to our own, with some- outside that capsule and onto a completely foreign terrain, NASA one just like you in appearance, occupation and intellect, and yet has grown and advanced exponentially in developing technologies. something remains intrinsically different, they are of the opposite The rise and fall of public support and funding has tempered the gender. In our own reality no such alternate dimension has yet to race to the stars, yet the passion and intrigue still remain an integral exist, however in the world of matter, antimatter has become a sci- part of the space program. Will the future hold sleek saucer space entific certainty. Antimatter is matter, only the opposite, just as a ships flying soundlessly into the depths of space, or will it be solar positron is the opposite of an electron. Like a time travel conun- sails majestically caressing the night sky? No matter what, the new drum, if matter and antimatter meet, they cancel each other out by devotion to faster, cheaper and healthier spacecrafts is becoming a a powerful explosive greeting emitting high amounts of radiation. reality that will lead humankind toward a new path in greeting This radiation is a form of energy that is perhaps the most power- the stars. a

40 september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 Ad Astra to the stars Four new astronauts—including one of the NSS’ own—enter the U.S. Astronauts Hall of Fame.

espite stormy central Florida skies, a large four shuttle missions: STS-8 (August 30-September Dcrowd of dignitaries, media and tourists gath- 3, 1983), STS-51G (June 17-24, 1985), STS-32 ered at the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center (January 9-20, 1990), and STS-49 (May 7-16, on 21 June 2003 to witness the induction of four 1992). From April 1987 through September 1992 new luminaries into the pantheon of space achieve- Brandenstein served as Chief of the Astronaut ment known as the U.S. Astronauts Hall of Fame. Office. In October 1992 Brandenstein retired from Among those honored was Captain Daniel C. NASA and the U.S. Navy and joined the private Brandenstein (USN, Retired), who only last fall sector, first with Kistler Aerospace and now with stepped down after serving for two years as NSS Lockheed Martin, where serves as a vice president. President. On a stage flanked by a replica of a Space In 2000, he was elected President of the National Shuttle Orbiter to one side, and a simulated “stack” Space Society, following fellow astronaut Charlie of external tank and solid rocket motors on the Walker. other, Brandenstein accepted his award during a The six surviving Mercury Seven astronauts torrential downpour. “I had tremendous opportu- conceived the U.S. Astronauts Hall of Fame as a nity to work with a great space team, great crews,” place where space travelers could be honored, and he said. Brandenstein thanked his wife for her sup- the artifacts of their historic flights displayed. port while he flew on four Shuttle missions, and Located on US 1 adjacent to Kennedy Space credited his parents for having an early impact on Center, the Astronaut Hall of Fame opened in his life. 1990, when the facility honored the original Sharing the limelight with Brandenstein were Mercury Seven astronauts. Initially operated as a , the first American woman in space, private institution, the Hall of Fame and its associ- Robert “Hoot” Gibson, who flew the first shuttle ated Space Camp Florida began experiencing finan- mission to dock with Mir, and Story Musgrave, the cial trouble with the reduction in tourist travel after first human to fly an untethered spacewalk. Dan September 11. The Hall of Fame was acquired by Bottom Left: Dan Brandenstein’s spaceflight career began when NASA the Delaware North Corporation in 2002 and is Brandenstein. selected him for astronaut training in 1978. now an official part of Kennedy Space Center Below: Exterior and Brandenstein logged over 789 hours in space during Visitor Complex. The four astronauts honored on interior attractions at 21 June followed 48 of their colleagues who have the U.S. Astronauts been enshrined in the Hall of Fame since 1990. The Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame now includes astronauts from the Gemini, Apollo, , Apollo-Soyuz and Space Shuttle programs. a NASA NSS

to the stars Ad Astra september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 41 MODULESa

Despite the tragedy of the Space generation launch systems, 89% of commercial space launches” and Shuttle Columbia earlier in the year, members overwhelmingly support a reforming “export control laws that Members of the National Space future government-industry partner- place U.S. aerospace industry at an NSS Society have made known their ship for that effort, as opposed to an international competitive disadvan- MEMBER enduring commitment to the future industry-only approach, which was tage,” each claimed about 40% of space exploration in this year’s mem- only supported by 1% of respondents. member support. SURVEY ber-only survey. While some scientists and law- Finally, respondents were given In the months, and possibly years makers may debate the role of robot the opportunity to communicate to the to come, President George W. Bush vs. humans, NSS members unequivo- National Space Society their thoughts BY JOSH RICHARDS, will be in position to make a number cally confirmed their commitment to on what can be done on their behalf. NSS 2003 SUMMER INTERN of key decisions regarding the future human space exploration. More than Once again, members were not limit- of U.S. space exploration. When 91% of respondents favored a vigor- ed to one selection, but rather were asked what the President’s chief ous human space exploration program able to choose from a range of possi- focus ought to be, that would also balance funding bilities. With each receiving 69% responses indicated that 42% of NSS “robotic missions that can provide levels of support, respondents asked members supported a long-term plan critical information to pave the way NSS to utilize “every method possible for space exploration that includes for human explorers.” Only 4% of to get the NSS message of future both robotic and human exploration members favored a robot-only explo- space vision before the public and plans to return to the Moon and a ration program, while only 3% at large” and to fight “any proposals human mission to Mars. The idea of favored human-only exploration that in Congress that attempt to scale “developing a next generation launch excluded robotic probes. back human space exploration” were system” was highlighted by 29% of In the coming years, the commer- the key concerns of NSS members. respondents as also needing to be a cial space sector will continue play a Maintaining 66% support, respon- top priority of the President. critical role in the development of dents also asked of NSS to “maintain Although the completion of the and missions, but extensive educational efforts to International Space Station (ISS) has survey results indicate a strong con- members of Congress and the been scheduled for the year 2004, the cern that government regulation and Administration.” future of this project remains uncer- tax policies will discourage the pri- This information helps the NSS tain. However, 72% of NSS members vate sector. When posed with multi- staff and elected leadership target have endorsed the preservation of the ple possibilities, selecting as many as our actions, so on behalf of the NSS Space Station by indicating the need deemed appropriate, NSS members team, thank you to all who partici- to “develop a comprehensive station overwhelmingly recommend the idea pated in this year’s survey. a science plan to be implemented by of providing “tax credits or tax incen- scientists and entrepreneurs.” tives to companies developing low- Only a small number of those sur- cost space launch systems,” with veyed (5%) believe that ISS funds 71% approval. Additionally, 49% told should be cut all together, and that NSS that the government ought to the resources should be channeled to “place a temporary moratorium on other human space flight goals. any federal taxes on products devel- Emphasizing a need for both gov- oped in Low Earth Orbit to encourage ernment and industry to be actively orbital research and development.” involved in the development of next Reducing “government regulation of Josh Richards

42 september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 Ad Astra to the stars space community

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS The National Space Society is an THE YOUTH ARE OUR FUTURE activist organization and as such Natalie Orms of Danville, Kentucky stands in front there are always opportunities for of her winning entry in the Boyle County Middle volunteers. Currently there is a par- School Science Fair. Natalie’s entry explained the ticularly strong need for help in these theory and mechanics behind the “Space areas (services and direct financial Elevator” concept and drew upon research papers, contributions are also tax computer imagery, and an elaborate model to deductible): inform audiences. Natalie has long had an inter- 1. Fundraising. If you have experi- est in space, and was encouraged on the project ence in nonprofit or other types of by her Father, Bob Orms, an NSS member. Science fundraising, we’re also looking for fair judges were impressed with Natalie’s - new ways to build our efforts. oughness—we at NSS are impressed with 2. Website and Internet. Do you have Bob Orms Natalie’s interest in a spacefaring society! WWW design and layout experi- ence? If you want to volunteer your the heart of NSS’ community out- If you feel you have skills that time and experience, please contact reach activities. Chapters provide would be helpful to the NSS Board us. members with the unique opportunity please visit the nss.org web site and 3. Graphic Design. NSS periodically to work towards a spacefaring civi- select “About Us”, then “Rules and needs graphic design work for proj- lization right in their own community. Bylaws of the Society” for more ects, so if you have experience in this If you are willing to assist with information on what needs to be field and want to help advance the the creation of a NSS chapter in your done in order to run. Candidates are NSS cause, let us know! community, please either contact requested to notify NSS Headquar- 4. New Chapters. Want to bring NSS NSS headquarters at 202-543-1900 ters by 1 January 2004 of their inten- to your community? Start a chapter! or send an email to Jim Plaxco, NSS tion to run. 5. Free Printing. Do you own a print Vice President of Chapter Affairs at All members are encouraged to shop or willing to pay for print work? [email protected] and send suggestions, as to who should 63$&($57 NSS periodically needs to print include the phrase “New Chapters” be selected by the Nominations materials for special projects and in the subject line. Your activism will Committee, to the Office by 1 could use your help! make a difference! January 2004. Petition candidates If you want to help with one or must file their petitions by 15 more of the above volunteer projects, GRASSROOTS NOT ASTROTURF! January 2004. a 3$,17,1*6 35,176 3267(56 send an e-mail to NSS Headquarters 2004 is an election year for the NSS at [email protected] and be sure to Board of Directors. The NSS is the 0RRQZDONHUV DXWRJUDSKV VLJQLQJV include your name, address, and premier membership organization DQG DSSHDUDQFHV )ODJVSDWFKHVDQGDUWLIDFWV phone number. promoting the vision of people living )/2:172 and working in space. As described 7+(0221 DXWKHQWLFDWHG E\ WKH $SROOR DVWURQDXWV WKHPVHOYHV START AN NSS CHAPTER in the NSS Bylaws and Rules, every VDWLVIDFWLRQ DXWKHQWLFLW\ JXDUDQWHHG The National Space Society is seek- member of the Society has the privi- (;&/86,9(JDOOHU\IRU SDLQWLQJVIURP$SROOR DVWURQDXWWXUQHGDUWLVW ing volunteers willing to assist with lege of potentially bringing forward $/$1%($1 the creation of new NSS chapters in their name for consideration by the OLPLWHGHGLWLRQVDOVR their communities. Chapters are at membership to be a Director. ZZZQRYDVSDFHFRP

to the stars Ad Astra september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 43 MODULESa

NSS CHAPTER PROJECTS Fax: 510/520-6070 • Chapter website REGION 04 Welcome to the NSS Chapter Projects [email protected] • Host for ISDC 2004 Academy page! Here you can find out what projects • Volunteers for the Challenger Learning Chapter are underway or being planned by National Center at Chabot Space and Science Austin Space Frontier Society Kyle Vacca Space Society chapters. Here, too, you can Center, Oakland, CA. John Strickland PO Box 2649 publicize your own projects, ask for help, 12717 Bullick Hollow Road USAF Academy, CO 80841 and share your experiences. Sacramento L-5 Society Austin, TX 78726 719/333-4759 In every issue of Ad Astra, we will Robert Compton 512/258-8998 [email protected] highlight chapter projects which are not 3945 Grey Livery Way [email protected] • Sponsored astronaut visits and presen- only newsworthy, but also encouraging to Antelope, CA 95843 • Revision of Boy Scouts of America tations to cadets other members. 916/344-3290 Merit Badge Handbook on Space • Conduct observatory nights If you have questions or need more [email protected] Exploration • Coordinate and conduct trips to information about any project, or want to www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Laun • Space issue and briefing paper for sen- Cheyenne Mt, Lockheed Martin and contribute to any current or planned proj- chpad/1939 atorial campaign of John Cornyn of others ect you see here, please contact the per- • Prototype H2O2/kerosene rocket (static Texas son shown. test completed) • Participation and papers at conventions Wichita Chapter of NSS Ad Astra! • Web site and councils on space-related issues Dr. Randall Chambers • Public shopping center displays 2704 Winstead Circle

REGION 01 NSS of North Texas Wichita, KS 67226-1179 Orange County Space Society NSS Seattle Louis Mazza 316/684-2614 Larry Evans David Stuart PO Box 1671 Fax: 316/684-6748 st PO Box 53241 14618 21 Ave. SW Arlington, TX 76004-1671 [email protected] Irvine, CA 92619 Seattle, WA 98166 972/681-3600 • Magazine and newspaper articles Voice/Fax: 949/770-0702 206/241-6165 www.utdallas.edu/plemmos/nss • Educational and training programs at [email protected] [email protected] www.nssnt.org the Cosmosphere and Space • Public displays and programs www.hometown.aol.com/clvancil • Chapter website Center • Student Space Congress • Space Day displays and volunteers • Information table and display at The • Support for and participation in estab- • After School Academy • NSS speakers and staffed display table Science Place, Dallas, TX lishing ASTRA KANSAS DAY proclama- • Space Camp Southern California at Norwestcon, regional Sci-Fi conven- • Co-authored Boy Scouts Merit Badge tion and celebration for the Governor of tion Handbook revision Kansas Oasis • Donated World Space Week posters to • Evaluation and judging of presentations Steve Bartlett REGION 03 schools, libraries, and The Science at Wichita State College of Engineering 7108 Peabody St. Tucson L5 Space Society Place and National Institute for Aviation Long Beach, CA 90868 Dick H. Fredericksen Research’s Engineering Openhouse and Phone: 562/627-3991 7351 E. Speedway #11-G San Antonio Space Society Banquet www.oasis-nss.com Tucson, AZ 85710 Carol Redfield • Numbered NASA HSF News Digest [email protected] 520/722-2230 609 Ridgeview Drive Reports • Public talks and lectures [email protected] San Antonio, TX 78253 • Participated in NARAM-44, the th • Star Parties at Mount Wilson www.azstarnet.com/public/nonprofit/tucl 210/679-7625 National Association of Rocketry’s 44 Observatory 5 Fax: 210/522-3729 Annual Meeting and Competition. • Mars Rover Simulator • Judging space-related exhibits at [email protected] • Speakers for space-related convention regional school science fair • Support for Radiance Academy West, a Heart of America Chapter NSS panels • Chapter newsletter charter school the chapter helped to George Howard • Monthly newsletter “The Odyssey” start PO Box 22537 • List of space-related websites world- Oklahoma Space Alliance NSS • Support for activities at St. Mary’s Kansas City, MO 64113-0537 wide c/o Syd Henderson University 816/523-7593 102 W. Linn Apt. 1 • Support for Young Astronauts organiza- [email protected] REGION 02 Norman, OK 73069 tion at Galm Elementary School • “William Bent Station” project to give Golden Gate Space Frontier Society 405/321-4027 • Distribution of CDs from NSS Education idea of what it would be like to live in a Brook E. Mantia [email protected] Committee Adopt-A-School packet Moon- or Mars base. PO Box 11341 members.aol.com/osanss/science • Produce CD of abstracts from ISDC Berkeley, CA 94712-2341 • Bimonthly newsletter “Outreach” 2003 Utah Space Association Phone: 510/393-0518 • Bimonthly e-mail newsletter “Update” J. David Baxter

44 september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 Ad Astra to the stars space community

378 I Street • Planetarium presentations Erie, PA 16510 • Promotion of Space Exploration Act of Salt Lake City, UT 84103 814/899-8069 2002 801/359-0251 Cuyahoga Valley Space Society [email protected] • Challenger Center [email protected] George F. Cooper III • Astronomy Night • Promote local space development http://members.aol.com/utahspace 3433 North Avenue • Blastoff Rocket Club authority • Quarterly newsletter “Aurora” Parma, OH 44134 • Chapter website 216/749-0017 Philadelphia Area Space Alliance International Chapters [email protected] Earl Bennett Queensland Space Frontier Chapter REGION 05 • Monthly chapter newsletter PO Box 1715 Noel Jackson Huntsville Alabama Philadelphia, PA 19105 PO Box 419 Gregory H. Allison Lunar Reclamation Society, Inc. 215/633-0878 Nundah Queensland 4012 PMB 168 Peter Kokh [email protected] Australia 1019A Old Monrovia Road PO Box 2102 pasa02.tripod.com 61-7-3266-6324 Huntsville, AL 35806 Milwaukee, WI 53201-2102 • Presentations at Super Science [email protected] 256/859-5538 414/342-0705 Weekend, New Jersey State Museum • Literary Project—donation of chapter Fax: 256/461-3045 [email protected] • Special Awards judging at George library materials to schools and library [email protected] www.lunar-reclamation.org Washington Carver Science Fair http://hiwaay.net/~hal5 • Monthly publication “Moon Miners’ • Special exhibit at New Jersey State Deutsche Raumfartgesellschaft e.V • Public lectures on space-related sub- Manifesto” Museum in conjunction with NASA German Space Society jects • Booth and exhibit at Aviation Career Traveling Exhibit Michael Stennecken • Continuation of Project HALO, including Day, Mitchell Field • Presentations at Philcon Science Fiction Greta-buenichmann-Str. 3 test firings of large and small hybrid • “Rockets for Schools” annual rocket Convention 48155 Muenster rocket motors launch event DC-L5 (Metro Washington DC) +49 251 131857 Middle Tennessee Space Society Sheboygan Space Society Donnie Lowther [email protected] Chuck Schlemm Wilbert G. Foerster PO Box 16630 www.drg-gss.org 508 Beechgrove Way 728 Center St. Arlington, VA 22215-1630 • Item in personal package of Russian Burns, TN 37029 Kiel, WI 53042-1034 703/567-1630 cosmonaut to ISS and back 615/441-1024 920/894-2376 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] • Cable access program “Around Space” Don’t see your project here? Want to • One-hour weekly television program www.tcei.com/sss make a correction? Add your project? Ask “Space TV” • “Rockets for Schools” display REGION 08 for help? To do any of these things, send • Display at Dickson Renaissance Center • Chapter website Suffolk Challengers for Space your information and/or questions to: • Participated in Girl Jamboree Prof. Reagan Lorraine Lavorata Astronomy Night REGION 07 182 Millard Avenue G. B. Leatherwood • Educational presentations to groups of Baltimore Metro Chapter of NSS West Babylon, NY 11704 NSS Director of Projects—Chapters Vanderbilt University Childcare children Dale S. Arnold, Jr. 631/321-0964 776 Spring Valley Parkway • Display tables at Cumberland Science 102 F Seevue Ct. [email protected] Spring Creek, NV 89815-6224 Museum Bel Air, MD 21014 [email protected] Phone/Fax: 775/753-9165 • Monthly presentations during public 410/879-3602 www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hall/ Email: [email protected] viewing nights at the Vanderbilt Dyer [email protected] 5950/challengers.html Observatory • Display and manned table at Andrews • Aid to Internet space start-up company AFB air show • Educational lectures on French space REGION 06 • Science programming at Maryland program Chicago Society for Space Studies Regional Science Fiction Convention Lawrence Boyle • Judging and prize awarding at Long Island Space Society PO Box 1454 Maryland Regional Science Fair Arthur Smith North Riverside, IL 60546 • Display and space backdrop at outdoor 8 Cherry Lane 708/788-1336 community festival Selden, NY 11784 708/455-6229 631/732-1367 [email protected] NSS North Coast Chapter [email protected] www.astrodigital.org/csss Edward C. Longnecker www.lispace.org • “Cartoon History of the Space Program” 88 Pine Leaf Drive • Chapter web site

to the stars Ad Astra september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 45 MODULESa

TX - Clear Lake Area Chapter of NSS MO - Heart of America Chapter NSS REGION 02X Murray G. Clark George Howard P.O. Box 890588 P.O. Box 22537 Houston, TX 77289-0588 Kansas City, MO 64113-0537 National Space Society Chapters Region Two Chapters Organizer 281/367-2227 816/523-7593 Bryce Walden [email protected] [email protected] The NSS Chapter List is available at P.O. Box 86 www.nsshouston.org/ Oregon City, OR 97045 UT - Utah Space Association http://www.nss.org/chapter. 503/655-6189 TX - NSS of North Texas J. David Baxter Please direct all changes to NSS [email protected] Louis Mazza 378 I Street Headquarters at [email protected]. PO Box 1671 Salt Lake City, UT 84103 CA - Golden Gate Space Frontier Arlington, TX 76004-1671 801/359-0251 Society 972/681-3600 [email protected] CHAPTERS COORDINATORS Brook E. Mantia [email protected]/www.issint.org http://members.aol.com/utahspace/ P.O. Box 11341 V.P. of Chapter Affairs Berkeley, CA 94712-2341 TX - San Antonio Space Society Jim Plaxco 510/393-0518 Carol Redfield 700 Cape Lane 925/520-6070 FAX 609 Ridge View Dr. REGION 05X Schaumburg, IL 60193 [email protected] San Antonio, TX 78253 847/923-7122 210/679-7625 [email protected] CA - Sacramento L5 Society 210/522-3729 FAX Region Five Chapters Organizer Robert Compton [email protected] Harry Reed U.S. Chapters Coordinator 3945 Grey Livery Way 163 Harrison Rd. Bennett Rutledge Antelope, CA 95843 NM - New Mexico Space Society Benton, KY 42025 4264 E. Maplewood Way 916/344-3290 Fred Aiken 270/527-2386 Centennial, CO 80121 [email protected] P.O Box 94133 [email protected] 720/529-8024 www.adguy.com/sac.L5/index.html Albuquerque, NM 87199-4133 720/529-8024 FAX 505/856-2145 AL - Huntsville Alabama L5 Society [email protected] OR - Oregon L5 Society [email protected] Gregory H. Allison Bryce Walden PMB 168 International Chapters Coordinator P.O. Box 86 1019A Old Monrovia Road Michael James Oregon City, OR 97045 Huntsville, AL 35806 PO Box A2078 503/655-6189 REGION 04X 256/859-5538 Sydney South, NSW 1235 503/655-6189 FAX 256/461-3045 FAX Australia [email protected] [email protected] 61-2-9808-1429 www.OregonL5.com Region Four Chapters Organizer http://hiwaay.net/~hal5 [email protected] George Howard WA - NSS Seattle P.O. Box 22537 GA - NSS Atlanta David Stuart Kansas City, MO 64113-0537 Bill Gardiner UNITED STATES 14618 21st Ave. SW 816/523-7593 1197 Spur 138 Seattle, WA 98166 [email protected] Jonesboro, GA 30231 206/241-6165 770-473-7617 REGION 01X [email protected] CO - Front Range L5 Society 770-477-0515 FAX www.hometown.aol.com/clvancil Bill Nelson [email protected] 2295 Gross Circle East #2 Region One Chapters Organizer Boulder, CO 80302 KY - Kentucky Chapter of NSS James Spellman, Jr. 303/247-9797 Harry Reed 4617 Oak Lane, Mtn. Mesa REGION 03X [email protected] 163 Harrison Rd. Lake Isabella, CA 93240-9713 Benton, KY 42025 760/379-2503 CO - Mile High L5 Society 270/527-2386 [email protected] Region Three Chapters Organizer Mark Schloesslin [email protected] Claire Stephens McMurray 6937 E. Briarwood Circle CA - NSS Spaceport 1206 Classen Blvd. Englewood, CO 80112 TN - Middle Tennessee Space Chapter Norman, OK 73071 303/779-5692 Society James Spellman, Jr. 405/329-4326 [email protected] Chuck Schlemm 4617 Oak Lane, Mtn. Mesa [email protected] 508 Beechgrove Way Lake Isabella, CA 93240-9713 CO - United States Air Force Burns, TN 37029 760/379-2503 AZ - Tucson L5 Space Society Academy Chapter 615/441-1024 760/379-2503 FAX Dick H. Fredericksen Kyle Vacca [email protected] [email protected] 7351 E. Speedway #11-G PO Box 2649 http://hometown.aol.com/wspaceport/ Tucson, AZ 85710 USAF Academy, CO 80841 TN - NSS Memphis/Mid-South Welcome.html 520/722-2230 719/200-6506 Robert Hudson [email protected] [email protected] 3861 Trufant CA - OASIS www.azstarnet.com/public/nonprofit/tucl5 Memphis, TN 38128 Steve Bartlett KS - Wichita Chapter of NSS 901/388-1480 PO Box 1231 OK - Oklahoma Space Alliance NSS Dr. Randall Chambers midso_space@.com Redondo Beach, CA 90278 Thomas Koszoru 2704 Winstead Circle www.memspace.org 310/364-2290 514 Fenwick Ct. Wichita, KS 67226-1179 http://www.oasis-nss.org Norman, OK 73072 316/684-2614 [email protected] 405/366-1797 316/684-6748 FAX REGION 06X [email protected] [email protected] CA - Orange County Space Society http://members.aol.com/osanss/science/ Larry Evans Region Six Chapters Organizer P.O. Box 53241 TX - Austin Space Frontier Society Larry Ahearn Irvine, CA 92619-3241 John Strickland 610 West 47th Place 949/770-0702 12717 Bullick Hollow Road Chicago, IL 60609 949/770-0702 FAX Austin, TX 78726 773/373-0349 [email protected] 512/258-8998 [email protected] [email protected]

46 september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 Ad Astra to the stars space community

IL - Chicago Society for Space MD - Baltimore Metro Chapter of NSS NY - NSS/NYC University of New South Wales Studies Dale S. Arnold, Jr. Candace Pankanin Space Frontier Society Lawrence Boyle 102 F. Seevue Ct. 300 Gorge Road #66 Jennifer Wood PO Box 1454 Bel Air, MD 21014 Cliffside Park, NJ 07010 c/o Student Guild North Riverside, IL 60546 410/879-3602 201-945-0769 1st Floor, East Wing 708/788-1336 [email protected] [email protected] Quadrangle Building 1/455-6299 www.nssnyc.org University of New South Wales [email protected] PA - NSS North Coast Chapter New South Wales 2052 www.astrodigital.org/csss/ Edward C. Longnecker Australia 160 W. 8th St. Apt. 3E 61-2-9746-5518 IL - Chicago Space Frontier L5 Erie, PA 16501 SPECIAL INTEREST CHAPTERS [email protected] Society 814/459-2572 Bill Higgins [email protected] CA - Society MS 355, Fermilab Box 500 Linda Plush, RN Batavia, IL 60510 PA - Philadelphia Area Space 3053 Rancho Vista Blvd H377 CANADA 630/393-6817 Alliance Palmdale, CA 93551 [email protected] Earl Bennett 661/949-6780 Calgary Space Frontier Society www.astrodigital.org/csfs PO Box 1715 [email protected] Paul Swift Philadelphia, PA 19105 www.spacenursingsociety.com 218 - 200 Lincoln Way IL - Illini Space Development 215/633-0878 Calgary, Alberta T3E 6K6 Society [email protected] AL - The Odyssey Foundation Canada Joannah Metz pasa2.tripod.com Harry K. Coffman 403/287-3107 314 Talbot Laboratory 104 S. Wright St. P.O. Box 18987 [email protected] Urbana, IL 61801 VA - DC-L5 (Metro Washington DC) Huntsville, AL 35804 217/244-4263 Donnie Lowther 404-786-5958 Niagara Peninsula Space Frontier [email protected] PO Box 3955 [email protected] Society www.uiuc.edu/ro/isds Merrifield, VA 22116 www.theodeysseyfoundation.org/ Raymond Merrick 703/354-2665 PO Box 172 IL - North Shore NSS [email protected] Thorold, Ontario L2V 3Y9 Jeffrey Liss www.aroundspace.com Canada 1364 Edgewood Lane INTERNATIONAL CHAPTERS 905/680-9784 Winnetka, IL 60093 [email protected] 847/446-8343 AUSTRALIA 312/201-0737 FAX REGION 08X [email protected] NSS of Australia Philip Young GERMANY OH - Cuyahoga Valley Space Region Eight Chapters Organizer GPO Box 7048 Society Bennett Rutledge Sydney NSW 2001 Deutsche Raumfahrtgesellschaft e.V. George F. Cooper, III 4264 E. Maplewood Way Australia German Space Society 3433 North Avenue Centennial, CO 80121 61-2-9614-1900 Michael Stennecken Parma, OH 44134 720/529-8024 [email protected] Greta-Buenichmann-Str. 3 216/749-0017 720/529-8024 FAX http://nssa.com.au 48155 Muenster [email protected] [email protected] Germany Central Coast Space Frontier +49 251 3944 863 WI - Lunar Reclamation Society, MA - NSS Boston Chapter Society +49 251 3944 864 Inc. Roxanne Warniers Tony James [email protected] Peter Kokh 5 Driftwood Rd. 98 Malison Street www.drg-gss.org P.O. Box 2102 Acton, MA 01720 Wyoming, NSW 2250 Milwaukee, WI 53201-2102 978/266-2625 Australia 414/342-0705 [email protected] 61-2-4329-4748 [email protected] http://nss.ac/ma [email protected] IRELAND www.lunar-reclamation.org NY - Long Island Space Society Newcastle Space Frontier Society NSS Ireland WI - Sheboygan Space Society Arthur Smith Jack Dwyer Alan Kelly Wilbert G. Foerster 8 Sherry Lane PO Box 1150 P.O. Box 6896 728 Center St. Selden, NY 11784 Newcastle, NSW 2300 Dublin 2 Kiel, WI 53042-1034 631/732-1367 Australia Ireland 920/894-2376 [email protected] 61-24963-5037 +353-1-87-2220425 [email protected] www.lispace.org/ [email protected] www.tcei.com/sss www.nssa.com.au// NY - New Frontier Society of Greater Rochester, NY Queensland Space Frontier Society MEXICO REGION 07X Carl Ellsbree Noel Jackson 117 Kirklees Rd. P.O. Box 419 Sociedad Espacial Mexicana, A.C. Pittsford, NY 14534 Nundah Queensland 4012 Jesus Raygoza B. Region Seven Chapters Organizer 585/381-4218 Australia Apartado Postal 5-75 Bennett Rutledge [email protected] 61-7-3266-6324 Guadalajara, JALISCO 45042 4264 E. Maplewood Way http://space.rochester.ny.us [email protected] Mexico Centennial, CO 80121 3/647-5710 720/529-8024 NY - Suffolk Challengers for Space Sydney Space Frontier Society [email protected] 720/529-8024 FAX Prof. Reagan Lorraine Lavorata Wayne Short [email protected] 182 Millard Avenue GPO Box 7048 West Babylon, NY 11704 Sydney, NSW 2001 631/321-0964 Australia NOTE: [email protected] 61-2-9150-4553 [email protected] [email protected] This list is constantly changing. http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/ Visit www.nss.org for the Hall/5950/challengers.html most current chapters listing.

to the stars Ad Astra september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 47 lifting off MODULESa

THE OSP: OPENING THE DOOR TO THE MOON BY BRIAN E. CHASE, NSS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Orbital Space Plane (OSP) program has emerged as a major debate dable and versatile fleet of vehicles that can fulfill topic in space policy circles. Even though the OSP was in the planning an even wider range of missions: by developing a stages in the months prior to the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia, crew and perhaps cargo capability that can be that fateful morning in February has pushed OSP to the forefront. launched aboard EELVs, our nation’s competitive- The loss of Columbia convinced some that the only way forward is ness in the commercial space arena will improve. to focus all of our resources on a replacement for the Space Shuttle and Another part of this debate is the design of the to skip a program like OSP. Others take what I believe to be a more rea- OSP itself. While there is a wide range of designs soned argument, which is calling for an incremental approach to replac- that can fulfill the basic requirements for OSP— ing the Space Shuttle, a plan in which OSP figures prominently. crew transfer to and from ISS—the choices are Brian E.Chase Under the latter model, the OSP’s development would be acceler- more limited when you consider OSP missions ated—which NSS called for early in the program, and NASA has now beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO). embraced—so that it could be available in 2008 as a crew rescue vehi- Yes, you read right. The OSP is being envisioned as a building block cle for the International Space Station (ISS). With OSP in place as a for human missions beyond LEO. In late September NASA released its backup capability for the remaining Space Shuttle fleet, NASA would “Level 2 Requirements” for OSP, which included the statement that get some “breathing room,” so to speak, and be able to focus its long- it“…will also provide a bridge to the future by serving as a foundation term energy and resources on a true next generation launch system. for future exploration missions.” This means that OSP could serve dou- Unlike the reusable-centric thinking that has dominated thinking ble duty supporting ISS and as a crew return vehicle for a lunar or Mars in the last twenty years (as proven with the Space Shuttle, the econom- mission. But the energy dissipated upon reentry from a lunar or Mars ics of reusable versus expendable systems is not as simple as it first trajectory is much greater than a return from ISS, so it is important that appears), the OSP will be flown aboard an expendable launch vehicle, the design be carefully considered—an Apollo-style capsule is much specifically the new Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV). more capable of handling that type of reentry than a winged vehicle. In Although designed for unmanned missions, these two new vehicle fact, some experts believe that, using today’s technology, a winged vehi- designs represent significant improvements in safety, reliability, and effi- cle would have a difficult time surviving that type of reentry. ciency over their predecessors. Both of the EELVs—Boeing’s Delta IV U.S. Congressman Dave Weldon makes a good case in his column and Lockheed Martin’s —are already in use, and they are capa- in this issue that a capsule design is the right answer for OSP when you ble today of meeting the launch requirements for unmanned scientific, consider cost, safety, and flexibility. It turns out a growing number of , and commercial missions. Once modified for human current and former astronauts agree with that approach. Let’s hope launch requirements to support OSP, the EELVs will represent a formi- someone at NASA is listening. Ad Astra!

Visionary Donors

B UZZ A LDRIN C OUNCIL I NDIVIDUALS

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry Edward Apke Ⅲ Jack Bader Ⅲ Richard F. Beers Ⅲ Michael Cronin Ⅲ Stephen R. Donaldson Paul Canolesio Michael Downey Ⅲ Hugh Downs Ⅲ Vernon Edgar Ⅲ Steven Goddard Ⅲ David R. Hamlin Lars S. Easterson David Hampton Ⅲ Mark Herrup Ⅲ Adrian S. Hooper Ⅲ Hugh Hotson, Jr. Ⅲ Robert Hunter Robert Edwards Ⅲ Ⅲ Ⅲ Ⅲ Gregg Foote Dave Jacques William Jaeger Randy D. Kelley Don Kimball Jeffrey Kodosky David Peter Kapelanski Georgette Koopman Ⅲ Ronnie LaJoie Ⅲ Evan Malone Ⅲ Eugene Montgomery Ⅲ James O’Neil

J. Michael Lekson Frederick I. Ordway III Ⅲ Christopher Pancratz Ⅲ Ed Post Ⅲ Guilermo P. Rodriquez Ⅲ Greg Rucker Charles T. Lenzmeier Neil Ruzic Ⅲ Randall Skinner Ⅲ Charles E. Stauble Ⅲ Mike Symond Ⅲ John A. Swanson Dean E. Eric W. Tilenius Ⅲ Adrian Tymes Ⅲ Jeffrey C. Walker Ⅲ Glen P. Wilson Ⅲ Jay Wittner Mary Morss John H. McQuilkin Stanley J. Novak C ORPORATIONS Allan M. Schiffman & Phylis Ooi Fisher Space Pen Ⅲ Lockheed Martin Ⅲ Raytheon Ⅲ SGI Ⅲ Space Adventures Eric Tilenius

48 september Ⅲ october Ⅲ november 2003 Ad Astra to the stars Spend a Year in Space

isit a different celestial destination each week while you organize your life on Earth. V Enjoy 53 stunning images from the NASA archives, the Hubble Space Telescope, interplanetary spacecraft, and world-famous observatories. Each week brings you a fun and informative photo-essay, daily Moon phases, space trivia, astronomical phenomena, major holidays, and plenty of room for your own notes. You’ll also get 16 monthly calendars (through April 2005), two year-at-a-glance calendars, and a long-range multi-year calendar that goes all the way out to 2006.

As an NSS member you can purchase this 144-page full-color calendar for only $10.95 (a $4 savings) and get free U.S. shipping. Just use the NSS sponsor discount when you order. www.YearInSpace.com (800) 736-6836 Space

is our

future.

http://www.nss.org/ phone: 202.543.1900

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