While that adds up to a lot of frequent flyer miles, there are no specific destination points tied to extended human space travel.
NASA does not have any specific agenda like building a Moon base, carrying out a human sortie to an asteroid or dispatching an expedition to Mars.
Rather, space agency officials want to pursue the development of new technologies that are valuable, not only for robotic and human exploration, but also for the commercial development of space.
Old think: the Apollo paradigm
"Its a new way of doing business," John Mankins, manager of the HTCI in NASAs Advanced Projects Office, told SPACE.com.
"This is a fundamentally different approach for developing technology," Mankins said. "Were not trying today to build what will be the final technology tool kit to go to asteroids, build lunar colonies or get to Mars," he said.
"What were trying to do is get started on strategic investments, the interim steps, that offer significant value and have nearer-term payoffs," he said.
The HTCI approach is far different than the Apollo paradigm.
Mankins said that technological tour de force of the 1960s saw dollars poured out of public coffers to pay for all the hardware, infrastructure and to carry out missions. Back then, there was hope of spinoff applications sometime after the lunar dust had settled from Moonwalking astronauts.
"We see cost-sharing, leveraging the taxpayers dollar and creating commercial partnerships that bring research and development power directly to bear on the challenge of exploration," Mankins said. "We want to get our technology and economic benefits along the way," he said.
Walk softly, but carry a big payload
NASA has issued a Cooperative Agreement Notice geared to entice private firms and universities in a quest to meld commercial and exploration objectives. In doing so, a NASA long-term space agenda can be put in motion while, at the same time, nearer-term projects can be nurtured, such as huge communications platforms, space business parks and microgravity factories, as well as public space travel and tourism
The HTCI is looking to fund projects in select categories: space resources development; space utilities and power; habitation and bioastronautics; space assembly, inspection and maintenance; exploration and expeditions; space transportation.
Fabricating immense structures in space far from Earth means heavy use of robots. NASA planners see robots or other devices -- cranes or forklift-type devices -- working side by side with astronauts to move about large construction pieces. In some instances, giant gossamer structures need to be erected as part of large telescopes, antennas and sunshields.
Tool time for explorers
Ways to inspect and diagnose problems involving large systems in space is being sought by NASA. Such capabilities could also be one key to future commercial space servicing. Very small, free-flying, autonomous devices able to stay in space for on-call inspection duties are needed.
There is an urgent need for power in space. Of benefit to any private or government space project is space solar power, including wireless power transmission, space nuclear power and cryogenic propellant depots.
Once explorers arrive at their destination, their tools will become the measure of their scientific productivity. Sensors, instruments and laboratory systems are needed -- equipment that can survey atmospheres, the surface and interiors of planets, as well as glean other measurements. NASA wants a bevy of exploration tools and are looking to partnering with industry and academia to acquire the hardware.
Catalyst converter
Mankins said in a February 9 briefing on the HTCI that approximately $15 million is on the table for cooperative projects, with $5 million delegated to NASA field center research projects. Another $15 million is possible in the next NASA budget cycle, he said.
"The funding for HTCI is very small, but its a step in the right direction," said Mark Saunders, NASA deputy director for space access and exploration programs at Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.
Saunders said that over the last several years, NASA has been prohibited in studying how the agency would explore beyond low Earth orbit.
The HTCI provides an opportunity to work on new technologies helpful for nursing along safer, more affordable ways for the commercial development of space in low Earth orbit. "It also lets us think about what we might do if were allowed to go beyond low Earth orbit," Saunders said.
"We see HTCI as a way to make affordable and effective campaigns of human and robotic exploration of targets across the inner solar system," Mankins said. Along the way, tangible benefits via commercial applications can be realized, he said.
"Think of the $20 million not as an end in of itself," he said, "but rather as a catalyst over the next few years that will lead to substantial change."
advertisement
