Colorado Springs, Colorado NASA wants to rekindle the spirit of space exploration, but finds its long-term future coming up short due to inadequate power and propulsion technologies.
NASA chief Sean OKeefe has begun wrestling with space agency goals for the 21st century. He presented a sweeping review of challenges facing the civilian organization here at the 18th National Space Symposium, sponsored by the Space Foundation.
Recapture the spirit
Buoyed by the docking of Atlantis to the International Space Station, OKeefe said that he is in the process of selecting a program executive officer for the International Space Station (ISS). A task of that individual is to better integrate how each of NASAs enterprises can utilize the unique capabilities of the orbiting outpost.
Looking beyond the ISS, OKeefe said that a near-term objective is to recapture a spirit of exploration.
We are at this point, I am convinced, at a very critical crossroad in the agencys history as well as I think in the aerospace community at large, OKeefe said. Cold War message
OKeefe said that Project Apollo, while a great technological feat, also delivered a unique political message to others on Earth.
If were honest with ourselves, it was less about destination and a lot more about sending messages to others on this planet of what are capabilities could be, and were, and should beto avoid threats to ourselves as Americans, OKeefe said.
That is the Cold War legacyof sending a powerful message to others, OKeefe said.
Today, NASA must embrace a set of enabling technologies to move out onto the space frontier.
A critical issue remains access to space, specifically the building of a reusable launch vehicle, OKeefe said. In this regard, both civilian and military objectives in space is boosting confidence that such a launch capability can be achieved, he said.
Severe limitations
But OKeefe said that there are severe limitations to exploring space in years to come.
Getting through the Solar System faster is a major priority that NASA is now undertaking, OKeefe said. Nuclear propulsion and power are solutions to extend the human reach through space, as well as meeting military and national security objectives, he said.
However, several problems stand in the way of furthering human exploration objectives, OKeefe said. Physiological implications of long duration space travel on the human remains a daunting issue, he said.
Furthermore, how to cope with radiation effects also stand in way of dispatching humans beyond Earth orbit, OKeefe said. We dont know how to deal with radiation effects, he said, noting that Mars Odysseys instruments have found radiation levels three times higher than seen on the International Space Station.
That gives us cause for constant consideration, OKeefe said.
By increasing travel speed through space, via nuclear propulsion, reducing exposure times of crews to high radiation is also accomplished, the NASA chief added.
China and the ISS
OKeefe said that moving forward on growing the International Space Station largely depends on what research objectives are clearly assigned to the outpost.
Science will drive the ultimate configuration of the ISS, OKeefe said.
When asked about new partners for the ISS, specifically China, OKeefe said that is an attractive and appealing possibility.
Chinas burgeoning space program, including future human spaceflight, is a demonstration of that countrys national prowess and capacity, OKeefe said.
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