Innovation, the key to future Human Space Exploration

[anemazoso]

Today's volume of The Space Review includes an article written by the the former head of NASA's Exploration Systems Research and Technology program.

This article should be required reading for those participating in the current debate on the direction of NASA.

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1572/1

 

[Ghostrider]

He lists a series of innovation milestones for making manned space exploration less expensive, and we all agree those innovations are needed. The point is how to get those innovations done, and how can one ever motivate the private enterprise to throw money on something that doesn't deliver big dividends by the end of the month. Which happens to be the crux of the whole question.

 

[Donamy]

The biggest problem is we are stuck in a "Me generation".

 

[Urwumpe]

The biggest problem is we are stuck in a "Me generation".

It is even worse. We are sandwiched between a "let somebody else do this" generation and a "Been there, done that" generation.

 

[anemazoso]

He lists a series of innovation milestones for making manned space exploration less expensive, and we all agree those innovations are needed. The point is how to get those innovations done, and how can one ever motivate the private enterprise to throw money on something that doesn't deliver big dividends by the end of the month. Which happens to be the crux of the whole question.

That's why the new budget proposal funds R&D. The idea is that the government spends the money and takes the risk on these types of technologies because the private sector won't. Good examples of this in the past have been the perfection of computer chip manufacturing for the Apollo program. Before Apollo there was not a market for the type of manufacturing and private companies did not have the apatite for that rick in development. But, once developed has provided a sort of positive-feedback-loop further reducing the cost and increasing performance. :tiphat:

Though I have to admit that this is quite the "Wish List" of items.

 

[Ghostrider]

It is even worse. We are sandwiched between a "let somebody else do this" generation and a "Been there, done that" generation.

And the next one is the "dress in black, use eyeliner and cry a lot" generation.

 

[anemazoso]

And the next one is the "dress in black, use eyeliner and cry a lot" generation.

:rofl:, so true.

 

[T.Neo]

Innovations and technology mean nothing without money, which will not be granted unless there is interest in spaceflight by the government and the population.

So yeah. Propaganda by space enthusiasts to increase this interest, perhaps?

 

[Urwumpe]

So yeah. Propaganda by space enthusiasts to increase this interest, perhaps?

"Oh my friendly god, a huge asteroid is going to impact on Earth. We are doomed!!!!1" did not work.

 

[T.Neo]

Perhaps we should try that with a comet instead?

Comets are scary.

 

[Ark]

The biggest problem is we are stuck in a "Me generation".

Yes, yes, it's all the younger generation's fault, not the baby boomers in leadership positions throughout the government that can't see past the next election cycle. Those damn teenagers and college kids are ruining everything.

 

[Ghostrider]

Those damn teenagers and college kids are ruining everything.

You can bet on it. And speaking about those damn teenagers, they're playing on my lawn again.

 

[Dambuster]

Yeah, now'd be a good time to remember who raised us teenagers...

 

[Ghostrider]

Yeah, now'd be a good time to remember who raised us teenagers...

Freddy Krueger and Samantha Fox, who else?

 

[Urwumpe]

Freddy Krueger and Samantha Fox, who else?

Hulk Hogan and the A-Team!

 

[Loru]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers and Airwolf

 

[jinglesassy]

We do have the tech already but the world is to scared of it to use it it has an n in it they think all it can do is destroy but it can do so much more.

 

[Ark]

No, we don't have the tech, that was the point. There is nothing we can grab off the shelf and slash costs by a factor of ten. That's why we need to dump money into developing the tech that can do the job cheaper and better than current stuff.

 

[Loru]

We do have the tech already but the world is to scared of it to use it it has an n in it they think all it can do is destroy but it can do so much more.

Please remember that space race was driven by cold war. Surely people that created those wonders of technology (Apollo, Shuttle, Soyuz) were visionaries, but there was pressure from outside (governments, society) to do those things. And now we lack it. I'm afraid that without some major crisis there will be no real space exploration.

From economic point of view space is still too expensive and we need really cheap surface-LEO transportation to move further.

 

[Ark]

From economic point of view space is still too expensive and we need really cheap surface-LEO transportation to move further.

Everything hinges on launch costs, you can't go anywhere or do anything without getting to LEO first, and that remains ludicrously expensive. SpaceX will put a dent in that, but it's still not going to be enough. SSTO is what we really need.