Projects: Aim for Mars
Stepping into the Future
A Workshop in Memory of the Columbia Seven
On April 29-30, 2003, The
Planetary Society, the Association
of Space Explorers, and the American
Astronautical Society held a workshop at the George Washington University's Space
Policy Institute about the future of human space transportation. The
following papers were presented as background material to the conference:
The
following conclusions have been endorsed by The Planetary Society
and the American Astronautical Society and by a number of astronauts
present at the workshop.
Conclusions
Human space exploration is a great and unifying enterprise
of planet Earth. The loss of Columbia reminds us that astronauts
are the emissaries of humankind as part of our civilization's aspirations
for great achievements and new discoveries. The United States' commitment
to human exploration reflects humankind's movement outward from Earth,
to become eventually a multi-planet species. We do this to understand
and cope with the limits of Earth, its finite resources and indeed
its finite lifetime, and to satisfy the innate desire of people to
advance civilization and understand their place in the universe.
We do this not just for our own country, but also for all our planet's
citizens. Furthermore, the space enterprise provides a unique means
of building national intellectual, technical and personal capabilities.
It is a commitment to a positive future.
The Planetary Society, the Association of Space Explorers-USA,
and the American Astronautical Society convened a group of experts
at a workshop, in memory of the Columbia space shuttle crew, to assess
launch vehicle requirements to meet the needs of human space exploration
beyond Earth orbit. Our conclusions from this assessment are:
The Imperative
- There are strong societal imperatives for exploring space. The
natural curiosity to explore new frontiers coupled with an instinctive
desire to preserve the future of humankind motivates our continued
exploration of space. Space exploration will provide new knowledge
and resources for a more prosperous and secure future.
- There are fundamental questions concerning our cosmic origin,
our future and whether or not we are alone in the universe. Science
in pursuit of these questions can provide a credible goal-oriented
strategy for an evolutionary approach to exploring deep space destinations
with both robots and humans.
- The exploration of deep space by humans will be energized by
the goals of individual nations woven into an international enterprise
and infused with a sense of human destiny in space.
The Destinations
- The most important scientific destinations for human explorers
are the Moon, Mars, Near-Earth Objects and the Sun-Earth Lagrangian
point L2 (for astronomical observatories). {Lagrangian points (L1-L5)
are points in space where the gravitational forces from the two most
nearby influential gravitational masses (in this case the Sun and
Earth) are in equilibrium.}
- Mars is the ultimate destination for human explorers in the foreseeable
future. Consequently the robotic Mars exploration program should
progress beyond sample return to robotic outposts in preparation
for human presence.
A Strategy
- By adopting a phased approach to human exploration beyond Earth
orbit, we can develop a cost-effective program that is exciting,
scientifically rewarding and for which the risks can be measured
and managed.
- The initial stages of a robust human exploration architecture
can proceed using existing and currently planned propulsion technologies.
- We see no essential role for continuing flight of the shuttle
orbiter beyond its immediate goal of completing construction of
the International Space Station and early transport of crewmembers
to and from the Station. As soon as an alternate mode of human
transport into and from low Earth orbit (LEO) is available, which
should be accomplished as soon as possible, the shuttle orbiter
should be retired.
- Crew and cargo should be transported separately to increase flexibility,
reduce cost and reduce risk associated with human space exploration.
- The underutilized fleet of existing expendable launch vehicles
should play a major role in the next stages of human space exploration,
as well as in human and cargo transportation into LEO.
- Increased investment in on-orbit operations and in-space propulsion
technologies is required.
International Cooperation
- Exploration beyond Earth orbit is an intrinsically global enterprise.
It is unlikely that any nation acting alone will commit the necessary
resources for a major human exploration mission initiative beyond
Earth orbit.
- International partnerships provide tangible benefits for human
space exploration. These include broadening public and political
support, sharing of the cost and risk, adding resiliency and enriching
the scientific and technological content.
- To this end all space faring nations should strengthen mechanisms
for exchanging information on human exploration activities and
plans, increase international participation in robotic exploration
missions, and explore mechanisms for sharing critical roles among
partners.
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