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Advances in space technology have resulted in numbers of “spinoffs” – commercialized products that are made possible or have benefited by NASA know how. As humankind pushes the boundaries of space exploration ever-deeper, the opportunity to apply aerospace technology to other fields is strengthened.
Consider it as a dividend from the national investment in space exploration.
Be it new ways to increase food safety, or in helping doctors improve their ability to diagnose medical ailments – there are countless advances made possible by NASA space technology
In this section, you’ll find out how space technology advances “out there” can help you “down here” on Earth.
"When I was growing up, NASA united Americans to a common purpose and inspired the world with accomplishments we are still proud of. Today, NASA is an organization that impacts many facets of American life. I believe NASA needs an inspirational vision for the 21st Century. My vision will build on the great goals set forth in recent years, to maintain a robust program of human space exploration and ensure the fulfillment of NASA's mission. Together, we can ensure that NASA again reflects all that is best about our country and continue our nation's preeminence in space."
"Let us now embark upon this great journey into the stars to find whatever may await us. For the past 50 years, space activities have contributed greatly to US scientific discovery, national security, economic development, and national innovation, pride and power (the ultimate example of which was the U.S. victory over the Soviets in the race to the moon). Spurred on by the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik, the world's first satellite, and the concern that the U.S was falling behind in science and technology, U.S. policymakers enacted several policy actions to firmly establish the U.S. dominance in science and technology. Among them were the establishment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the national Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), increased research funding, and a reformulation of the nation's science and technology education system."
BOULDER, Colorado -- U.S. space exploration policy was the topic of debate by representatives of American Presidential hopefuls, Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama.
The deliberation took place August 14 as part of The Mars Society’s 11th Annual International Mars Society Convention being convened here at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
The airing of views from both political camps brought together Apollo 7 Astronaut Walter Cunningham representing Senator John McCain -- as well as drawing on his own opinions -- and Lori Garver, a former NASA Associate Administrator for policy and plans that represented Senator Barack Obama. “I think we all benefit by having space be bi-partisan,” Garver said.
“It’s not about manned versus unmanned…military versus civilian…government versus private sector. It is overall space policy,” Cunningham suggested, underscoring the need for a “robust space policy.”
A variety of views on space issues were thrashed out, but one central topic was the overall health of NASA’s Orion program – an element of the Constellation system of human-carrying spacecraft and Ares boosters – that can sustain exploratory space travel beyond low Earth orbit.
Both representatives voiced concern about reliance on Russia to gain access to the International Space Station once the space shuttle is decommissioned. Also, attention was paid to the gap between closing down the shuttle program and the start of human spaceflight via the Orion program.
Cross-cutting issues
Obama’s recent statements in Florida, indicating strong support for NASA, served as a lightning rod for conversation.
Cunningham argued that Obama had become a “born again believer” in Orion and Ares, but emphasized that he had not committed to a $2 billion increase to NASA’s budget.
“I maintain that Obama has no real commitment to space,” Cunningham said, flagging the fact that in late 2007 Obama was declaring a delay in NASA’s Constellation program for five years to help pay for education initiatives.
“Does he now understand that you can spend all the money in the world on education…but unless you can do something to inspire the students to learn, it is not going to go very far,” Cunningham suggested.
In full rebuttal mode, Garver stressed that Obama is the only candidate who has specifically committed to increasing NASA’s budget and to flying at least an additional shuttle flight. In addition, Obama has committed to restarting the National Aeronautics and Space Council, Garver pointed out, a way to address key and broad challenges for space that deserve high-level looks in the White House, not just by NASA.
There are cross-cutting issues in commercial, defense, international relations and civilian space that can be reviewed by such a Council, Garver said.
Stay tuned
Concerning Obama’s shift in support for NASA as pronounced recently in Florida, Garver was adamant. “They started hearing from more people within the space community and education community….they really thought it through and they recognize the importance of space.”
Garver stressed that candidates are allowed to evolve their positions. Obama has heard the message, she continued, that Constellation is exploring with humans and robots beyond low Earth orbit.
“He recognizes this is something that is a leadership position that this country needs to take….and he truly believes in that,” Garver said. “I look forward to having him as a Commander-in-Chief to carry us onward, back to the Moon and on to Mars,” she stated.
Garver also took a “stay-tuned” posture by suggesting that additional space policy direction from the Obama camp is in the offing.
Space exploration: progressively starved
Cunningham said, in his view, space exploration has been “progressively starved” since the glory days of Apollo. “McCain has always been a strong supporter of NASA and the space program,” and that the Senator believes that “curiosity and the drive to explore have always been a quintessential American treasure.” Reemphasizing that Obama has shown himself to be “singularly not interested in the nuts and bolts of policy,” Cunningham said that McCain will support the vision for space exploration, “but he will also hold NASA’s feet to the fire on program costs.”
“John McCain was sponsoring space legislation when Obama was still organizing neighborhoods,” Cunningham said. “When I hear that Obama is going to increase the NASA budget -- when up until two weeks ago he was going to take $5 billion out of it and delay the Orion by five years -- it boggles my mind.”
In a closing statement, Cunningham said that “it doesn’t really boil down to what they [the candidates] say. It boils down to what they do, what they believe in, and what kind of commitment they put behind it.”
"Swimmers from around the world are setting world and Olympic records in Beijing this month and most are doing it wearing a swimsuit made of fabric tested at NASA.
Among the Olympic gold medalists wearing Speedo's LZR Racer are Americans Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin.
Both had a hand in developing the skintight body suit.
So did aerospace engineer Steve Wilkinson from NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va.
Wilkinson, who says he's not much of a swimmer himself, is watching this summer's Olympics with enthusiasm.
"I'm paying very close attention to the swimmers' times," said Wilkinson. "I'm amazed that so many athletes are wearing a fabric I tested in a laboratory in Hampton, Virginia."
Researcher Wilkinson has tested dozens of swimsuit fabrics in NASA Langley's 7- by 11-Inch Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
"This is a fundamental research facility," said Wilkinson. "What we look at are concepts for reducing drag on otherwise smooth surfaces. This is more directed toward fundamental physics ... the interactions between the flow AND THE SURFACE." The fabric that made it through Wilkinson's wind tunnel analysis has already caused a big splash since the LZR Racer swimsuit was introduced in February. Even before the Olympics swimmers wearing the skin-tight body suit set 48 world records. "
NASA’s return to the Moon is filled with scientific promise – to address key questions about our solar system, the universe, and our place in them. But there is far more at stake in the replanting of robotic landers and human footprints on the Moon’s aged and cratered landscape.
Hundreds of lunar scientists, engineers and associated strategists met last month at the NASA Ames Research Center near Silicon Valley, California to help hammer out a lunar exploration roadmap.
The July 20-23 gathering was staged by the newly established NASA Lunar Science Institute (NLSI) which is managed by Ames to sharpen both our intellectual prowess about the Moon, as well as define how best to carry out research “of the Moon…on the Moon…and from the Moon.”
Survival edge
Addressing attendees of the NLSI meeting was Paul Spudis, a key leader in lunar exploration. He is a senior lunar scientist at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, Texas, and also on the Board of Advisors of the Coalition for Space Exploration.
“By going to new places, seeing things, and being forced to devise explanations for the new things we see…it broadens both our imaginations and our knowledge base,” Spudis emphasized. Furthermore, he added, “you get a survival edge over those that don’t explore.”
Spudis underscored the fact that the story of life on Earth is the story of extinction. That is, our planet has the scars to show that we have been on the other end of a rogue asteroid impact. “Fundamentally, that extinction is driven by causes that are at least partly cosmic,” he said, pointing out that the next great impact is not a question of if, but a question of when.
What that means, Spudis suggested, is that the true motivation for human spaceflight is to move people off planet. “That’s the ultimate goal.”
“If we have no future beyond what we have on Earth…then the simple fact is that the human race is doomed.” First-order reconnaissance
Why send humans to the Moon?
For one, Spudis noted, people bring unique capabilities to space exploration. To conduct field science requires intense interaction of human with environment. Also, humans can repair and maintain complex equipment and installations.
“Machines do not and will not possess intelligence of necessary magnitude to explore the solar system,” Spudis noted. Robots are good, however, for remote, hostile environments to provide first-order reconnaissance. “But we don’t always know ahead of time what measurements are significant and which are irrelevant,” the scientist argued.
Spudis told the audience that there’s a trio of answers that jump to the forefront when he is queried about “why the Moon?”
“It is close…it is interesting…and it’s useful,” Spudis responded.
In terms of distance, the Moon is just three days away as the rocket flies. Secondly, the Moon is interesting as it contains a record of planetary history, evolution and processes unavailable for study on Earth or elsewhere. Lastly, in terms of its usefulness, the Moon can be utilized to retire risk for future planetary missions – be it sending people to Mars or to the asteroids, by re-acquiring experience and testing needed hardware.
Mantra for the Moon
In a sense, Spudis underscored a mantra that’s at the very heart of humankind’s return to the Moon. And that is to “arrive, survive, and thrive.”
ARRIVE: Create transportation systems to take humans to and from the Moon; use this system to access cislunar and translunar space.
SURVIVE: Build habitat to safely house human explorers, to protect them from environmental hazards, thus giving explorers the ability to extract consumables from local materials.
THRIVE: Create new infrastructure and capabilities by using the material and energy resources of the Moon…to extend this economic zone first to cislunar, then to translunar space.
In closing, Spudis advised those gathered that the Moon helps to address a profound question: Can people live on other worlds? Fundamentally, the answer to that question can change the history of the human race, he suggested - a true scientific challenge for humanity.
"There's a new Buzz on the big screen: No, it's not Buzz Lightyear in a "Toy Story" sequel. Instead, you'll see an animated version of Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin in the new 3-D children's movie, "Fly Me to the Moon."
If anything, Aldrin gets even more animated in real life, particularly when he's talking about what he'd do to fix America's space program.
Aldrin has to rank among the most visible and most traveled astronauts from the Apollo era: Just in the past week, he popped up at the Virgin Galactic rollout of SpaceShipTwo's mothership and on NBC's TODAY show as well as the New York and Los Angeles premieres of "Fly Me to the Moon."
He's currently in talks for a movie based on his life story - and Aldrin's wife, Lois, thinks Reese Witherspoon would be the perfect actress to take on her role in the film. "Lois likes Reese Witherspoon because she played a similar part in [the Johnny Cash biopic] 'Walk the Line,'" Buzz Aldrin told reporters.
Like Cash, Aldrin has faced his own demons, including bouts of depression and alcohol abuse in the wake of his flight to the moon in 1969. Aldrin and Neil Armstrong came under extra pressure because of their status as the first humans on the moon - and while Armstrong is dealing with the burden of fame by carefully guarding his privacy, Aldrin is dealing with it by immersing himself in public life.
Nowadays his greatest passion is getting space exploration back on track, and he's come around to a view that's different from NASA's. When I called up Aldrin today to talk about the movie, which premieres Aug. 15, his perspective on exploration was the first thing we talked about.
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BOULDER, Colorado -- U.S. space exploration policy was the topic of debate by representatives of American Presidential hopefuls, Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama.
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NASA’s return to the Moon is filled with scientific promise – to address key questions about our solar system, the universe, and our place in them. But there is far more at stake in the replanting of robotic landers and human footprints on the Moon’s aged and cratered landscape. ;)
