Planetary Society Opens Dialog with Augustine Committee

by Susan Lendroth

Yesterday, in an invited presentation, Planetary Society Executive Director, Louis Friedman, laid out the Roadmap for Human Space Exploration to the presidentially appointed Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee, chaired by Norm Augustine.

NASA established the Committee at the request of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the Committee's report is due back by the end of this summer.

Their charter reads: "The Committee will conduct an independent review of ongoing U.S. human space flight plans and programs, as well as alternatives, to ensure the nation is pursuing the best trajectory for the future of human space flight -- one that is safe, innovative, affordable, and sustainable."

Friedman presented recommendations on how the U.S. -- in concert with other spacefaring nations -- might build a step-by-step program to move humans beyond Earth orbit. These efforts are part of The Planetary Society's continuing advocacy of space exploration, which have included over the past year Town Halls, surveys, and web-based interaction with the public. The support of our members helps ensure that we keep reaching out to other worlds.

Read more on The Planetary Society's Roadmap for Human Space Exploration.