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It's been 41 years since that first "giant leap" to the lunar surface - a feat that stands as humanity's farthest and arguably greatest voyage ever made. When will astronauts next land on the moon? Will they ever?
That goal may seem farther away now than it was last year, due to the White House's decision to revise America's vision for human space exploration and leave lunar landings off the to-do list. But maybe that's the wrong impression. Maybe the step-by-step approach that is taking shape in Congress, at the White House and within NASA will bring the moon - and other destinations beyond Earth - more surely within our grasp.
That's an optimistic view. But the space effort needs a little optimism, in light of what's happened since last year's 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. The back-to-the-moon initiative begun five years ago was canceled after an independent panel found that it was unworkable given current budget constraints. A new initiative for human spaceflight was drawn up, targeting a yet-to-be-named asteroid in 2025 and eventually Mars and its moons - but forgoing a return to our own moon, based on a "been there, done that" rationale. The new initiative is now being dramatically tweaked by lawmakers, extending the period of uncertainty for the space agency.
All that could make for a gloomy 41st anniversary. But I'm going with an optimistic spin: The important thing to do at this point is to settle on a way forward, and shift the debate from arguing over the destination (the moon? Mars? asteroid?) to building the ships capable of going anyplace beyond Earth orbit.
The spaceships that existed in 1969 were designed for a single purpose: to send humans to the moon and return them safely to Earth. Once the Apollo program ended, NASA had to start from scratch with the design for the space shuttles, which have been in operation for nearly 30 years. Now that the shuttle era is nearing its end, the smart thing to do is to take what can be adapted from that era and build a space launch system that can take the next giant leaps - to an asteroid, to Mars, and yes, even the moon.
It looks as if that's the flexible path that Congress, NASA and the White House are settling on. Can spaceflight companies ranging from the Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin to SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace make it happen? The signs are encouraging.
Just this week, Boeing and Bigelow detailed their plans for a plug-and-play space station system. It's not hard to imagine that such a station could serve as the assembly point for spacecraft that could head toward the moon or Mars. After all, the inflatable spaceship design now being tested by Bigelow started out as a NASA concept for a Mars transport vehicle. Other innovative designs will surely emerge ... if the will and the wherewithal are available.
The will and the wherewithal are key factors: Will America's leaders keep a straight course on the path to the next frontier? Will taxpayers go along? Can international cooperation be as much a motivator in the 21st century as international competition was in the 1960s? The answers to those questions are hazier.
As robotic spacecraft send back more data about the moon, Mars, asteroids and other faraway places, the reasons for reaching out will become clearer. There could be valuable resources to extract, or deep questions to answer, or new territory to settle. Of course, we could decide that none of those reasons is worth the trip. We could be stuck on this rock until we go extinct. But on this Moonday, I choose to be optimistic. How about you?
Update for 11:55 p.m. ET: One more development is detracting from the optimism ... the House Science Committee's draft authorization bill for NASA, which is due for markup on Thursday. In two important areas, the development of commercial spaceships for reaching low Earth orbit and support for suborbital research using passenger-worthy craft, the draft bill undercuts the compromise worked out by the Senate with the White House's assent.
The bill seems to be intended to make things as hard as possible for companies such as Boeing and SpaceX to get a toehold in the business of resupplying the International Space Station or flying research payloads on quick suborbital trips. Such opportunities are key to opening up wider access to space - much as government airmail-delivery contracts were key to kick-starting commercial aviation in the 1920s.
Check out Space Transport News, NASA Watch, Space Politics and QuantumG's Blog for more on the House committee's draft. Today, Apollo astronauts Neil Armstrong, Gene Cernan and Jim Lovell said they favored either the House or the Senate version, while a statement from SpaceX voiced strong support for the Senate version. This Wall Street Journal commentary suggests that both versions are letdowns.
Although the legislative process has a long way to go, it's not too early to tell your members of Congress what you think. As I said before, it all comes down to will and wherewithal. Are you willing to stand up for the space vision you believe in, and follow through on your convictions with your votes and your tax dollars?
More from msnbc.com about Apollo 11 and its meaning:
- Your moonshot memories
- Moonshots on your computer
- Revisit Apollo on your TV screen
- How spaceflight sparks spinoffs
- Video: A long look back at Apollo 11
- What we didn't know about the moonwalk
- Audio slideshow: Voyage of the Millennium
- Interactive timeline: Glory Days on the Final Frontier
- More about Apollo 11 and space history
More from the Web for your Moonday meditations:
- Celebrate Moonday, a.k.a. Evoloterra
- Buzz Aldrin on America's future in space
- Behind the Black: A flag in the dust
- Universe Today: Elevator on the moon by 2020?
- The day's roundup from RLV and Space Transport News
Join the Cosmic Log corps by signing up as my Facebook friend or hooking up on Twitter. And if you really want to be friendly, ask me about "The Case for Pluto."
Leave a Comment:
I hope that before I die I am able to see my great country accomplish another great feat of daring, technology and spirit in the space race. I doubt it will happen but I still have hope.
I share that hope, and as of last week's news from the senate, I think it is definitely in the foreseeable future.
Great article.
PC,
It's in our nature, we cannot help ourselves, no matter the cost, no matter the dangers we will go into space. We have to. Columbus had to sail to the new world. All the great african explorers (Burton, Livingstone, et al) had to try to find the source of the Nile. We had to climb Mount Everest and go to the North and South poles.
Whether the first man on mars is from NASA, China or Virgin Galactic, it will happen.
I don't think we need to be bemoaning a perceived lack of direction or lack of funding or anything of the sort. The biggest danger to the human exploration of space is the survival of the species long enough to develop the technology to do so.
Stop worrying about the dollars and cents and start being more concerned about our continued bickering between the right and the left, the so-called liberals and conservatives. Xenophobia, ignorance and intolerance are the greatest obstacles to the next giant leap for mankind.
Sorry kids, we are ONE WORLD. We need to realize that and start acting like it, or humanity won't survive long enough to develop the technology to allow us to reach the stars no matter how much money we spend.
Like I keep saying,
PEACE (and I really mean it)
I couldn't agree more skip! One world, one people.
Hi Skip,
Well said! We're one specie.
The American spirit is alive and well in the minds and hearts of all those who grow up wanting to be astronauts. we all love science and exploration and adventure. our ingenuity powers the future. regardless of the current public education system America still produces some of the brightest scientists and engineers ever to grace the Earth. All it takes is that drive, that spirit of discovery to see new things, go to new places, to journey into the undiscovered parts and shine the light of our curiosity on everything in hope of illuminating some new morsel of information.
I have a deep faith in the commitment of all those currently involved in the space program in the United States of America. I know there is a great deal of support for the space program in the American people. I wish and hope along with my fellow Americans like Pirate C to see another great step taken, another vast journey made, another great feat of daring accomplished.
It is truly the American spirit that will revive the space program from it's current slumber. With wars around the world and humanitarian efforts still in dire need in many corners of the world there are those who would make an argument against spending American tax dollars on the space program. "what's the point" they say. "how does it benefit so and so" they say.
Human nature is what it is. The here and now is so close it can hardly be ignored. Life is a beautiful menagerie of situations and events. the hard work, blood sweat and tears, the labor of love that everyone involved in the space program has put forth will not be snuffed out by politics or administrations bent on taken America in a new direction. We will adapt. That's what we do. We will prevail. Make no mistake, the journey from our planet to the stars has begun. Like the pebble that starts the avalanche, the future of the space program will be that of great discovery and monumental human undertakings. Men on the moon. it's quite the achievement. Yet, it is only the pebble. only time can tell what the avalanche will look like.
I'm optimistic, but I think it will take another country, like China or another developing country to take the Challenge first, then that should wake us up a bit, Giving us a Challenge to do even Better. Just like the Space Race of the 60's with the Soviet Union. If the Soviet Union had not been knocking at our front door, in the 60's. I doubt that we would have been as ambishous to go to the Moon. Another Space Race would be just what this country needs!!!!! I Hope
I'm optimistic, but I think it will take another country, like China or another developing country to take the Challenge first, then that should wake us up a bit, Giving us a Challenge to do even Better. Just like the Space Race of the 60's with the Soviet Union. If the Soviet Union had not been knocking at our front door, in the 60's. I doubt that we would have been as ambishous to go to the Moon. Another Space Race would be just what this country needs!!!!! I Hope
I'm Optimistic, but I think it will take another country like China, to really wake us up. Just as we had a space race in the 60's with the Soviet Union, another Space race would really do us some Good. Get our heads out of our A$$
Unfortunately, that would only lead to another 'crash,' 'waste anything but time' program optimized to 'beat country X,' (and how would we even define successful 'beating,' this time? When they couldn't win, the Soviets denied being in a race, and far too many believed it.), with no good plan for what to do next, rather than just proceed with developing our commercial and exploratory space activity at a steady pace.
History shows that 'first' doesn't always mean anything. The Scandinavians (Vikings) got to the New World from Europe first, but where are they, now? It was teh Spanish, french, English, Portuguese and Dutch, that made it stick.
Which one do you want to be?
It's extremely hard to say what'll happen. The shuttle era had it's moments, but even as a kid I always noticed and thought "It doesn't go anywhere..."
With or without the shuttle the ISS will be gone within 15 years. If I wanna think optimistically I suppose I could think that maybe in 15 years we'll see the start of commercial crews flying in it's place either attempting tourism with space hotel (which Bigelow seems to stand a chance of spearheading) or even more hypothetically satellite repair crews. Either arena seems just tangible now.
At moment I think it is too soon to expect commercial ships to do much, but I do believe within 20 years they stand a chance. Whether we'll be back on the Moon or anywhere near Mars I'm not holding my breath for in the vaccum of space.
what we are currently seeing is the initial phase of a private corporation space race. this is an inevitable step to take, although the United States government (in my opinion) is making a huge misstep by getting in bed with private corporations in this way. NASA is VERY good at what it does. NASA has a proven track record and while they don't get the kind of funding that something like medicare does, Congress almost universally supports NASA. the space program creates MANY MANY skilled labor jobs and high paying technical jobs. it just provides job period. The only problem is the delays and cost overruns that go along with something like research and development.
My opinion - Spend as much as necessary to go to the moon and build a permanent international outpost complete with top of the line crew quarters, mess hall, storage, greenhouses, medical facilities, communications hub, science lab, fabrication shop, launch facilities, HQ, etc...
and it should be done quickly. i know there are safety concerns and no one wants to rush anything, but the idea of planning one truly great mission per half century sickens me.
A "been there, done that" attitude towards the Moon is ridiculous and inaccurate. We've barely even begun to explore the Moon. I'd like to see a checkbox on the tax return to allow taxpayers to earmark a certain amount of taxes, or even to donate money to be used ONLY for a Moon exploration program. I believe this would be hugely popular, and could be a signicant source of funding.
HOLY crap that is GREAT idea!!! my god, write that down and send that to your senator! likewise i will do the same. I would save all year to donate to that kind of fund. Great idea!
I agree that allowing to earmark dollars for space exploration is a good idea. Let's just be clear that we are talking about potential refund monies and private funds donation and not earmaking tax dollars to specific programs or else we will end up with severe budget crises in other programs.
I would also like to applaud everyone who has responded so far for the civil tone of the discussion.
This is good. It gives me hope. Look at that great idea above. When we think and pull together we can accomplish anything. When we gripe and snipe we don't accomplish anything.
PEACE
Yes, indeed. We need to get individual tax payers who want to donate to be able to put their dollars in a fund that will be used ONLY for the purpose of funding the space program. I do believe we should continue to use funding from the annual federal budget also. the only funding i would suggest shifting around is the funding for the "war on terror". I am NOT saying we need to just pull out and let those countries collapse and I am not saying we need to endanger our troops by leaving them underfunded. Also, I do feel America does need to spend on security. But i feel passionately that there are better ways to mitigate (and even eradicate) "terror". but that is a debate for another time.
Imagine an American space program in which everyone who wanted to could join in and make an impact. to a certain extent that's already what we have now, but I'm talking about a real drive to get humans into space by the thousands if not millions. Put people to work. train people. make a real difference in the history of humanity.
Mob,
I like the way you are thinking. Something we could all pull together on. A goal to take our minds off our petty self-interests. I'm in, looks like Gomer is in, let's start the ball rolling.
PEACE
Okay, so we've got people interested. What we need to do is get more people interested, specifically we need to get everyone Excited enough to act.
Something I like to bring up and remind people of is the TVA - the Tennessee Valley Authority. If you haven't heard of it I'd suggest looking it up. it's a great history lesson, but more importantly it's a lesson we can learn from and model a new program after.
I'd like to suggest a new program or agency to operate in cooperation with NASA that would put millions of American's to work. basically you get everyone you can from school children to Janitors to rocket scientists and engineers and everyone in between and you put them to work building the infrastructure to build a REAL space program. get EVERYONE involved on a level the likes of which we haven't seen since WWII. every household was encouraged to do it's part. It was something you could be proud of. but instead of building tanks and bombs we'll build spaceships, space stations, moon bases, and all the high tech equipment that goes along with it. we'll explore every avenue of terra-to-space system from space-elevators to rockets, to anything you can dream up.
There are people who want to do this, but there is no management, or system to guide us.
Amen, Mob! and pass the plate.
Having worked in the aerospace / defense industry since college, I would much rather build spaceships than bombs any day. It just doesn't get people stirred up these days like it used to. I've lost the fire right now, and I'm afraid a lot of others have too.....
However, I'll agree with Skip that I can't believe that we are all having a civil discussion, I'd almost given up on Cosmic Log since the switch to Newsvine.
Mob, we are in the Ben Bova days, just read any of his books. It's going to take the someone with cojones to take that next step beyond Richard Branson and his suborbital "E" ticket ride. I'm waiting for some University benefactor to sponsor the first Lunar Radio Observatory on the farside.
Thanks Mark, maybe we've started a movement. I agree, of late it seemed like even the most benign topics brought out the crazies but this has been a wonderful discussion and a refreshing change.
Personally, I enjoy reading COSMIC LOG and look forward to it each day. I always learn something but reading the comments section is often like driving past a bad car wreck. You don't want to look but something makes you slow down and gawk anyway and then you drive away disgusted or depressed or saddened.
I've certainly enjoyed today's edition very much.
PEACE
Indeed! how cool would it be to see major construction being done on the moon! there is, of course, a lot to figure out, but a specific question raises in my mind as to your idea of a radio observatory on the farside of the moon. Anything built on the moon will need to be protected from many threats, namely, meteorites and solar flares, things that our atmosphere and magnetosphere protect us from down here on the ground. any ideas?
I am in deep admiration of NASA's (and America's) scientific achievements over the last few decades. It is a source of inspiration around the globe. No less important are the achievements of numerous other space agencies that help us better understand our universe around us.
I am not looking for a man to go the Moon or Mars or an asteroid right away. It will happen when the funding is there and the political will. Politics and economics follow a curious cycle. Let NASA continue its unmanned missions, construct its future spaceship and invest in space science the way it has been doing since its inception.
We need to get off this planet if we wish to ensure the long term survival of our species. The longer we stay alive, the better we can understand our universe and find our place in it. So let's keep investing in science.
I appreciate all the positive feedback on the checkbox idea. During the period in which President Bush's administration was formulating space policy, there was a solicitation for public comment by the commission. I submitted this idea, then, along with several others. I have also made this suggestion to my Senators and Congressional Representatives. Maybe a chorus of voices will get someone's attention?
What an opportunity lost! For a while (1969-1974) we had the moon in our hands, but then let it slip from our grasp. Like the Michael Angelo painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, we could have been like the gods... but then settled for a soft touch... and a long good by.... But were we ready for long-term Celestial Prime Time? Are we ready now; can we overcome the monumental technollogical, historical, financial and psychological impediments to colonizing the Moon...?
Let's re-examine the technology first: We have experienced many (but not all) of the Moon's geological and topographical features and their associated hazards. Colonizing the moon however presents a whole new level of challenges. Thanks to previous and present day exploration, we are aware of a geographic "sweet spot" that would allow sustained human habitation. When the final journey of Apollo 17 left the Moon's surface it jettisoned its Luna Lander craft to impact the Moon. Seismic recorders left behind picked up the impact, recording a load, long bell-like sound, indicating a porous sub-structure. This, and subsequent observations indicated the potential for a shielded environment against the hazards of radiation and thermal extremes. By strategically positioning the Luna Base in proximity to the perpetual day/night demarcation zone -- and an indicated water reserve -- we have the potential for a thermostatic controlled, life sustaining oasis. O.K.... so we've got the location; now employing a decade of zero tolerance engineering preparing and positioning the robotics to establish the infrastructure, we're ready! But what's our mission...?
If history is any indicator, one of the Moon Bases major attractions would be its military application. Imagine all the exotic military hardware that could be requested away in those Luna cavities, ready to pop out and zap some earthly target. Naturally, they could invoke a counter-strike, probable fragmenting/segmenting the porous Moon's shell with enough ferocity to unbalance or nudge it out of its orbit! Do you think this prospect would even Doctor Strangelove pause for concern? Maybe.... But let's look at the brighter side; that same weaponry in conjunction with an Earth-based arsenal, could be employed to nudge any errant asteroid/comet away from a Earth or Luna impact or. Forget Doctor Strangelove -- JUST REMEMBER SIBERIA (1907) -- IT HAPPENED THERE!
From the financial prospective, how could America have dared to accomplish what we had done on July 20,1969? The pledge, "... in this decade, we shall land a man on the Moon, and have him safely return,,," needs no credit for authorship. We were a nation flushed with victories of a war justly fought, led by an exuberant warrior of those campaigns,supported by near total dominance in the world of commerce and technology... spurred on by a "made to order" international rivalry. In short, "we were the 800 pound gorilla in the room!" Today, no such a hegemony exists; we are a nation now hard-pressed to rally ourselves for a cause -- any cause! Added to this, we have indulged in wars of attrition, and poorly planned and executed social and industrial projects. Will there be a new battle cry emerging from our people and our leaders to bolster us in the hope for a brighter tomorrow?
Finally, we must ask ourselves if we are ready to assume the burden of God's work.... Can we rise to the philosophical -- dare I say spiritual heights -- required to become caretakers of another heavenly body, a body made by a Creative Force infinitely greater than ourselves. Or will we allow the small voices, the haters of humanity -- except their own clique -- to extinguish the flame of man's greatest achievement, and his hope to ward off the probability of another Death Star! Excerpting the words of the man who lit that flame,
"... in this world, God's work, is truly our own..." President John Fitzpatrick Kennedy
from the financial prospective, how could
Yes, my notable addition to your enlightened group conversation maybe my referencing:
"... Forget Doctor Strangelove- -- JUST REMEMBER SIBERIA (1907).... It happened there...!
But I'd like to also emphasize the need to focus on the sublimation of the human spirit. This will prove to be the true measure for ALL of humanity (White, Black, Asian.Mid-Eastern etc.) to become the Caretakers of another heavenly body. This, and this alone will be the guarantor of our survival....
E-mail alan
Testing testing testing
I give my full support to the Senate version of the Jupiter SD-HLV because of its multi-tasking potential. I find the joined-at-the-hip Shuttle/SSI configuration is a liaison that guarantees a M.A.D.(Mutual Assured Destruction) for both entities; necessity screams out the need to develop a broader versatility.
By having created a space station behemoth ,we have painted ourselves into a corner We have commited far too much time and resources on a high priced escapade that nearly exhausted our national stamina.We can still salvage a degree of functionality from its cumbersome frame by its serving as a future space life buoy/boat. We'll need to trim her down, getting rid of her excess bells and whistles....
Concomitantly, The Jupiter project allows for the revamping and reorienting of the Shuttle, giving it, first, the ability to clean up the mess in near-space (SSI' bells and whistles, and other space debris). Then the modified Shuttle's bay could deploy small space robotic vehicles to shunt the debris to a designated safe zone, then - voila - from their observable developing functionality, serve aboard SD-HLV as the designated Moon Base robotic dues-ex-machinea (out of this world machine)