LEADERSHIP

and America's Future in Space

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LEADERSHIP

and America's Future in Space

A Report to the Administrator

By Dr. Sally K. Ride

August 1987

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CONTENTS

Preface Page 5

Introduction 7

Leadership in Space 11

Strategic Option Development 115

Leadership Initiatives 21

Mission to Planet Earth 23

Exploration of the Solar System 26

Outpost on the Moon 29

Humans to Mars 32

Programmatic Assessment 37

Evaluation of Initiatives 49

Conclusion 57

Additional Studies 60

References 62

Picture Credits 62

Acknowledgements 63

FIGURES

    1   NASA Strategic/Long-Range Planning Activities 8-9

    2   Possible Programs to Capture Leadership after 1995 17

    2   Leadership Matrix: Representative Achievements, 1957 to 1977 19

    2   Leadership Matrix: Representative Achievements, 1957 to 19

90 19

    5   Mission to Planet Earth  24

    6   The Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby Mission 27

    7   The Cassini Mission 27

    8   The Mars Rover/Sample Return Mission  28

    9   Return to the Lunar Surface: Piloted Sortie, Expendable Lander 30

  10   Piloted Mars Sprint Scenario—Split Mission Option:  33

Earth-Orbital Cargo Flight Operations

  11   Piloted Mars Sprint Scenario—Split Mission Option:  34

Earth-Orbital Piloted Flight Operations

  12   Piloted Mars Sprint Scenario—Split Mission Option:  34

Mars-Orbital/Surface Operations

  13   Piloted Mars Sprint Scenario—Split Mission Option:  35

Earth Recovery Operations

  14 Resources Required by Initiatives through 1992  46

  15 Resources Required by. Initiatives through 2010  46

TABLES

1     Transportation Requirements for the Initiatives 42

2    Orbital Facilities Requirements for the Initiatives 44

BOXES

Meeting the Challenge in Aeronautics and Space 13

Transportation Requirements 38

Technology 39

Life Sciences Research 41

Space Station Evolution 43

The Office of Exploration 53

Education 59

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