Over
the last 25 years, as a result of the success of programs like Apollo,
Skylab, Viking, Voyager, and the Space Shuttle, the American public has
come to expect this country to lead the world in space science, space
exploration, and space enterprise. But during the 1980s, membership in the
once-exclusive club of spacefaring nations has grown, and our leadership is
being challenged in many areas.
In
today’s world, America clearly cannot be the leader in all space endeavors. But
we will be the leader in very few unless we move promptly to develop a strategy
to regain and retain leadership in those areas we deem important.
Leadership
results from both the capabilities a country has acquired and the active
demonstration of those capabilities. Thus, the strategy we choose must lay a
strong foundation of scientific research and technology development, and must
include visible, significant accomplishments that demonstrate the successful
pursuit of our stated goals.
To
stimulate a discussion of the future of the U.S. civilian space program, four
potential leadership initiatives were developed. Each fits comfortably under
the umbrella of NASA’s charter, each contains visible milestones within the
next two decades, and each requires a solid foundation of technology,
transportation, and orbital facilities.
It
would not be good strategy, good science, or good policy for the U.S. to select
a single initiative, then pursue it single-mindedly. The pursuit of a single
initiative to the exclusion of all others results in leadership in only a
limited range of space endeavor.
A
strategy for the U.S. space program must be carefully selected to be consistent
with our national aspirations and consistent with NASA's capabilities. It is
not NASA's role to determine the strategy for the civilian space program. But
it is NASA's role to lead the debate, to propose technically feasible options,
and to make thoughtful recommendations.
It
is in this spirit that we suggest the outline of one strategy — a strategy
of evolution and natural progression. The strategy would begin by increasing
our capabilities in transportation and technology — not as goals in themselves,
but as the necessary means to achieve our goals in science and exploration.
The most critical and immediate needs are related to advanced transportation
systems to supplement and complement the Space Shuttle, and advanced technology
to enable the bold missions of the next century. Until we can get people and
cargo to and from orbit reliably and efficiently, our reach will exceed our
grasp; until we begin the technologies proposed by Project Pathfinder, the
realization of our aspirations will remain over a decade away.
The
strategy emphasizes evolving our capabilities in low-Earth orbit, and using
those capabilities to study our own world and explore others. With these
capabilities, we would position ourselves to lead in characterizing and
understanding planet Earth; we would also position ourselves to continue
leading the way in human exploration.
According
to the NASA Advisory Council’s Task Force on Goals, “Recognized leadership
absolutely requires the expansion of human life beyond the Earth, since human
exploration is one of the most challenging and compelling displays of our
spacefaring abilities.”
We
should explore the Moon for what it can tell us, and what it can give us —
as a scientific laboratory and observing platform, as a research and technology
test bed, and as a potential source of important resources. While exploring
the Moon, we would learn to live and work on a hostile world beyond Earth.
This should be done in an evolutionary manner, and on a time scale that is
consistent with our developing capabilities.
The
natural progression of human exploration then leads to Mars. There is no doubt
that exploring, prospecting, and settling Mars should be the ultimate
objectives of human exploration. But America should not rush headlong toward
Mars; we should adopt a strategy to continue an orderly expansion outward from
Earth.
The
National Commission on Space urges 21st Century America “To lead the
exploration and development of the space frontier, advancing science,
technology, and enterprise, and building institutions and systems that make
accessible vast new resources and support human settlements beyond Earth orbit,
from the highlands of the Moon to the plains of Mars.” The United States space
program needs to define a course to make this vision a reality.
EDUCATION
An
informed public is essential to both the near-and long-term interests of the
nation's civilian space program. The public needs an appropriate base of
knowledge of scientific and technological issues in order to make educated
decisions on space-related goals. Additionally, today's educational system must
produce the high caliber scientists, engineers, technicians, social scientists,
and humanists that will actually manage the large-scale space programs that are
now envisioned. This means capturing the imaginations and interests of young
people at an early stage in their educational careers and encouraging them to
pursue studies that will prepare them to actively participate in the space
program.
“Unless
the youth of this nation are strongly motivated to seek their careers in the
often difficult fields of science and technology — of which space is a particularly
exciting and rewarding constituent — no amount of federal program emphasis
can by itself sustain a long-term leadership role for the U. S. in civil space
activities.” U.S. Civil Space Program: An AIAA Assessment, 1987
“As revealed in a recent national survey of student achievement, an estimated 90 percent of America’s high school graduates may not be capable of accomplishing even the most routine high-technology tasks in the future. While up to 90 percent of high school graduates in other countries enjoy a proficiency in math and science, a mere 6 percent of U.S. graduates attain the same aptitudes. ... This challenge exists at every level elementary through graduate education.” Pioneering the Space Frontier, 1986
“Thus,
a strong educational system is an essential component of a vital science
without which scientific progress would come to a rapid halt. It is most
important to ensure that students are being broadly educated concepts and
skills which will be useful throughout their careers.” The Crisis in Space
and Earth Science, 1986
“The
future of space biology and medicine will depend on the quality of the young
people attracted to the field. NASA should expand its fellowship programs to
encourage predoctoral and postdoctoral training at Universities, research
institutes, and NASA research centers. Even in a period of reduced flight
opportunities, there is exciting important research to be done in ground-based
laboratories.” A Strategy for Space Biology and Medical Science, 1987