January 2004 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Details Emerge for Bush Plan
by Patrick Wiggins 09 Jan '04

09 Jan '04

Details Emerge for Bush Plan of Back to Moon and On to Mars By Lon Rains and Brian Berger Space News Staff Writers And Leonard David Senior Space Writer posted: 03:00 pm ET 09 January 2004 WASHINGTON -- An historic new direction for the U.S. space program is expected to be announced by President Bush next Wednesday that will call for humans to return to the Moon and eventually journey on to Mars -- an ambitious adventure that will necessitate adding billions to NASA's budget. White House spokesman Allen Abney said Friday that Bush will make the space policy announcement Jan. 14 in Washington. Details about the venue for the announcement should be available early next week, he said. Abney would not say what that space policy announcement would entail, nor would he confirm reports that Bush signed a new space policy directive in December. Rep. Bart Gordon, (D-Tenn.), who is expected to be the ranking minority member of the House Science Committee this year, said Bushs announcement next week is expected to be both visionary and achievable and "welcome direction for a program that has drifted in the decades since Apollo last visited the Moon." Although still officially shrouded in secrecy, the essential elements of the plan have been widely reported by news media including SPACE.com during recent weeks. The salient points include: Construction of the International Space Station will be finished using the space shuttle, after which the fleet will be retired about 2010. Science operations aboard the station will concentrate on keeping human's healthy in space. The Orbital Space Plane project will become the Crew Exploration Vehicle and focus on designing a new human-rated spacecraft that will ferry astronauts to and from Earth and serve as the baseline for hardware that will take crews back to the Moon early in the next decade. With the shuttle fleet retired, the new initiative will rely on boosters such as the Delta 4 and Atlas 5, as well as international vehicles such as the Soyuz and Ariane. There are no immediate plans to develop a new heavy-lifting rocket in the Saturn 5 class. The space nuclear power effort known as Project Prometheus will be folded into this effort, which will focus on enabling new spaceflight technology that can be tested between Earth and the Moon before committing crews to longer trips to Mars. To pay for all of this NASA's budget will be increased by some $800 million in fiscal year 2005 and then bumped up about 5 percent each year after that. Early indications are that Bush's vision for the nation's space program will be greeted with bi-partisan support in the space community and from at least two congressman who will have a large role in approving any new plans for NASAs future. "I think in general this will be well received on Capital Hill. Thats not to say there wont be individual concerns and a lot of give and take in terms of how this thing is shaped," said Brian Chase, executive director of the National Space Society based in the nation's capitol. Gordon noted that only 58 years after the Wright brothers' flight, humans traveled into space. "Only eight years after those initial flights, two Americans landed on the surface of the Moon and left the first human footprints on another world," Gordon said. "While there have been exciting and important accomplishments in robotic space exploration over the last three decades, the nation's human space flight program has drifted, with no consensus on its goals. The president has both the opportunity and the responsibility to provide leadership in this area." A lack of vision for NASA was cited as a contributing cause of the Feb. 1, 2003 loss of shuttle Columbia. With no rudder to steer the space agency's course in the long term, certain cultural deficiencies crept in and set up the conditions that allowed the shuttle tragedy to take place. It was soon after the accident that Bush, under the leadership of Vice President Dick Cheney, assembled a team to look at the nation's space policy and provide a roadmap that will lead to the sweeping changes expected to be announced next week. Senior Producer Jim Banke contributed to this story from the Cape Canaveral Bureau

1 0

RE: [Utah-astronomy] Bush: Back to Moon
by Paul Witte 09 Jan '04

09 Jan '04

I just wanted to say, in reference to your last comment, that I hope you don't assume everyone on this email list agrees with your political views. Because such an attitude would be a symptom of collosal narrow-mindedness. ---------- From: James Helsby Sent: Friday, January 09, 2004 4:00 PM To: 'Utah Astronomy' Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Bush: Back to Moon I was listening to NPR this afternoon (science Friday), and not only did they talk about Jr. (bush) announcing a new moon-shot, but that he will be announcing intentions to make a mars shot by 2015. Oh joy. The republicans must be so excited, a new planet to extort. Cheers, James. -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+cyanics=xmission.com(a)mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+cyanics=xmission.com@mailman.xmission.com ] On Behalf Of Patrick Wiggins Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2004 6:47 PM To: utah astronomy listserve Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Bush: Back to Moon I just heard a news report saying the president is about to announce plans for returning people to the Moon. To believe or not to believe... Patrick _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com

3 2

RE: [Utah-astronomy] Bush: Back to Moon
by Dale Hooper 09 Jan '04

09 Jan '04

That's rather interesting, because all the accounts I've heard say back to the moon in about a decade and a long term (unspecified time frame) goal of Mars. I think NPR has it wrong. Of course, it hasn't even been officially announced. Democrats are also excited - another planet to tax. > -----Original Message----- > From: James Helsby [mailto:cyanics@xmission.com] > Sent: Friday, January 09, 2004 4:00 PM > To: 'Utah Astronomy' > Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Bush: Back to Moon > > > I was listening to NPR this afternoon (science Friday), and > not only did > they talk about Jr. (bush) announcing a new moon-shot, but > that he will > be announcing intentions to make a mars shot by 2015. > > Oh joy. The republicans must be so excited, a new planet to extort. > > Cheers, > James. >

2 1

Re: [Utah-astronomy] Bush: Back to Moon
by UTAHDEB＠aol.com 09 Jan '04

09 Jan '04

Sounds like election year politics to me. Clear Skies, Debbie

6 5

RE: [Utah-astronomy] Bush: Back to Moon
by Griffin Louis A Civ OO-ALC/MAKGBA 09 Jan '04

09 Jan '04

I must say that I agree with you Rich, I don't think you are being naive at all. And even if a renewable power grid is'nt the purpose just think of all the trickle down technology that will be generated and made available for everyone's benefit as a result of such a visionary project, not to mention the breaking down of some of the political and prejudicial norms that a multi national cooperative endeavor could stimulate. -----Original Message----- From: Richard Tenney [mailto:retenney@yahoo.com] Sent: Friday, January 09, 2004 4:03 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Bush: Back to Moon I can't resist weighing in here (politically) too... hope this doesn't offend... I believe returning to the moon would be an excellent idea -- in order to fund it, we would first need to quit wasting tax dollars and human lives in the middle east (we could build a new shuttle every month with the money currently being hemorrhaged in Iraq). And if we returned with a purpose, say, with the goal to create a renewable power grid for humanity -- such as a vast array of solar collectors whose energy gets beamed back to earth via microwaves (a project a prof. at the Univ. of Houston has already drafted and shown to be not only cost effective but doable), a lot of the world's problems (poverty, hunger, suffering, etc.) that tend to foment war and hatred might just be mitigated by such an endeavor, particularly if done in cooperation with other nations, WITHOUT the goal of commercial gain for a select few. One of the big appeals of a "Star Trek" future (for me anyway) -- cooperative humans (just imagine!). No more need to drill for oil, or barter or fight wars over it -- everyone ends up with energy and to spare, which would improve the quality of life for millions, and we can then get on to bigger and better things, like the pursuit of adventure and discovery in this wonderful universe we find ourselves part of. Naiive? Perhaps, but such a hope is worth pursuing, considering the frighteningly tiresome results of the alternative... My $.02, Rich --- David L Bennett <dlbennett(a)mac.com> wrote: > I'm all for the mission if Bush and Co-President > Cheney are the first > colonists... > > On Friday, January 9, 2004, at 09:35 AM, > UTAHDEB(a)aol.com wrote: > > > Sounds like election year politics to me. > > > > Clear Skies, > > > > Debbie __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Hotjobs: Enter the "Signing Bonus" Sweepstakes http://hotjobs.sweepstakes.yahoo.com/signingbonus _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com

1 0

RE: [Utah-astronomy] Bush: Back to Moon
by Dale Hooper 09 Jan '04

09 Jan '04

It's just my opinion, but I think so and here are some of the reasons why: 1. Hubble heats up and cools down every orbit (i.e. sunlight vs shadow) - I think this is one of the reasons why they had to replace the solar panels. 2. Stability in general - on the moon you would be on a nice solid stable surface. 3. Possibility of much, much longer integration times. The earth gets in the way of your FOV quite a lot in orbit - so you would have to slew to a different object or wait until the earth is out of your FOV. On the moon you could observe the same object for close to two weeks straight. Obviously, the Hubble Space telescope does a fantastic job, but, I think for future hopefully - larger scopes the moon makes sense. The Hubble replacement telescope (Webb) won't be in a servicable orbit, whereas (big assumption here) assuming there is a permanent moon base - a moon based scope would be servicable. > -----Original Message----- > From: Richard Tenney [mailto:retenney@yahoo.com] > Sent: Friday, January 09, 2004 3:24 PM > To: Utah Astronomy > Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Bush: Back to Moon > > > Is there any advantage to a lunar based scope vs. a > space based scope (in earth orbit)? Seems that one > closer to home is a lot easier (not to mention > cheaper) to upgrade and service, or...? > > Rich > > --- Dale Hooper <Dale.Hooper(a)sdl.usu.edu> wrote: > > I > > think we should start it off by landing a Hubble > > "equivalent-sized" telescope or better on the moon > > which would eventually be serviced by the future > > astronauts. The telescope would have to be powered > > by RTG's (2 weeks of dark) and solar (2 weeks of > > light). >

1 0

Bush: Back to Moon
by Patrick Wiggins 09 Jan '04

09 Jan '04

I just heard a news report saying the president is about to announce plans for returning people to the Moon. To believe or not to believe... Patrick

4 3

RE: [Utah-astronomy] Bush: Back to Moon
by Dale Hooper 09 Jan '04

09 Jan '04

If this really happens, I would guess that they would eliminate shuttle science missions. The three remaining shuttles would probably be used 90%-95% for ISS support only with possibly one or two Hubble service missions. Otherwise, I don't see where they would have any budget to even begin research on the moon return. But, I'm certainly for a manned return to the moon. I think it should have happened twenty years ago. I think we should start it off by landing a Hubble "equivalent-sized" telescope or better on the moon which would eventually be serviced by the future astronauts. The telescope would have to be powered by RTG's (2 weeks of dark) and solar (2 weeks of light). Dreaming, Dale. > -----Original Message----- > From: Patrick Wiggins [mailto:paw@trilobyte.net] > Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2004 6:47 PM > To: utah astronomy listserve > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Bush: Back to Moon > > > I just heard a news report saying the president is about to > announce plans for > returning people to the Moon. > > To believe or not to believe... > > Patrick >

2 1

Bush: Back to Moon
by David Dunn 09 Jan '04

09 Jan '04

Ignoring the political implications, OAS had a meeting a month ago on the search for life in the universe. It seems that this is a major push for NASA. Going back to the Moon is viewed as an important part of learning to travel and do research in our Solar System. I also remember watching a show on Discovery where an astronaut talked about mining for fuel on the Moon. If I remember correctly, he said that a shuttle cargo bay full of this material would provide for the energy needs of the USA for a year. I was a little young (7 -12) when they went to the Moon before. I think it will be neat to see it happen again. Dave

2 1

Wireless cameras
by Chuck Hards 09 Jan '04

09 Jan '04

Has anyone any experience with those wireless cameras? This seems like a great solution to long-cabling problems or having to take a computer out with the scope. C. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Hotjobs: Enter the "Signing Bonus" Sweepstakes http://hotjobs.sweepstakes.yahoo.com/signingbonus

1 0