S
SenorPeligro
Guest
Forgive me if I'm retreading old ground. I'm totally dismayed by our failure to build on the successes of the Apollo Program, the Space Shuttle and yes the ISS and our lack of drive to expand new horizons. The human exploration of Space is currently stalled with no practical plans to explore beyond the Earth-Moon system.
Instead of complaining about this, I believe it might be interesting to lay out a possible set of architectures for a New Space Program.
Let's assume a worthy objective is the "Flexible Path" of a human space-flight program comprising of :
Longer term goals:
Firstly, no politics. This is about the future, not the past. Engineering is the primary concern here, economics secondary.
There is room for multiple designs and architectures in this discussion, I'm not looking for the one true way but ideas that can work together.
Also, no sci-fi. Assume a 30 year timescale.
So what do we need and how do we make it happen?
Instead of complaining about this, I believe it might be interesting to lay out a possible set of architectures for a New Space Program.
Let's assume a worthy objective is the "Flexible Path" of a human space-flight program comprising of :
- A small scientific outpost on the Moon, minimally supported from Earth for a fixed duration
- Visit to Near Earth Asteroids and Mars
- A landing on Mars potentially leading to a fixed duration scientific outpost
Longer term goals:
- Trips to Asteroid Belt, sample recovery
- Expanded settlement on Moon and/or Mars
Firstly, no politics. This is about the future, not the past. Engineering is the primary concern here, economics secondary.
There is room for multiple designs and architectures in this discussion, I'm not looking for the one true way but ideas that can work together.
Also, no sci-fi. Assume a 30 year timescale.
So what do we need and how do we make it happen?