25 years??

[ehs40]

where do you think the space program will be?

 

[gawin]

I think we saw a glimps into the future of men in space early this year. when in just 18 months from concept to flight and in comparison minimal ammount of funding. a privit company sent a man to the edge of space twice in 5 days.<br /><br />I see the majority of spcae travel as beeing in the privit sector. spcae hotels and other such ventures. If NASA is still around i belive it will be more into long range missions and missions that will still be cost prohibited to corporations.<br /><br />I feel now that the privit sector is getting involved in the space race we will see huge advances in the very neer future. for a couple of reasons.<br /><br />1. NASA will have to gett its but in gear to develop new and better tech or end up losing its funding all together becuase XYZ corp has made something better then thiers.<br /><br />2. If thier is a profit to be made people will build it<br /><br />3. new blood new ideas!!! <br /><br />we need a push to somthing new to keep the public interested in the space program. the first 25 years of the space program saw from a captured greman rocket evolving into a human steeping foot on another heavenly body.<br /><br />the last 25 years saw us usher in a great new space plane that was reusable but then realy nothing at all to capture the publics eye sence. Yes thier is the ISS but thier also was MIR and skylab i know they arnt on the same scale but they are still to most peoplea been thier done that sort of thing. The people need somthing to get excited about somthing new somthing better<br />.<br />the next 25 i stongly belive we will see advances way beyond anything that we truly expect.<br /><br />long winded i know<br /><br />gawin

 

[john_316]

We will probably trying to figure out if we need a HLV or smaller one to launch the CEV or vice versa.....<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br />

 

[le3119]

I think the next 25 years will witness several major developments:<br /><br />1. Materials: self-healing, shapable, "smart", lighter weight, stronger radiation shielding.<br /><br />2. Nuclear propulsion systems: plasma based (like VASIMR), isotopic fuels (like Americium-242m) cutting travel times to the planets down to weeks and months. Low-mass safe nuclear reactors for space use, advances in laser-solar and perhaps antimatter drives.<br /><br />3. Solutions to pressing medical problems, especially to the wasting effects of microgravity.<br /><br />4. Advanced robots to take on the hazardous duties of space operations, and smart AI probes to complete exploration of the solar system, ahead of human exploration. <br /><br />5. And, yes, private initiatives competing to provide cheaper and safer solutions to space travel. <br /><br />Advanced multi-stage launch systems, a variety of X-prize orbiters and cargo carrier solutions, hopefully, the refining of fuel and radiation shielding from lunar resources. Lunar aluminum and magnesium fuels could produce new line of solid booster rockets for Earth-orbit transfers. <br /><br />The number of space-faring nations will triple, to include "developing" economies like Nigeria, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, South Africa. Manned programs pursued by the US, Europe, Russia, China, India, perhaps Mexico, Brasil and South Africa. International competition and cooperation, depending on the geopolitics back on Earth, will be common, space travel will be on the frontpage weekly. Overall, I think the future is bright, despite the uncertain future of the Shuttle program. <br /><br />Oh yes, space tourism will really take off. I guess $1-5 million tickets for orbital, cislunar travel will be common. It depends on the number of millionaires on Earth and the comfort and safety of travel offered.