NASA Must Establish the Moon and Mars Astronaut Corps

[dreada5]

http://space.com/adastra/adastra_astronautcorps_050713.html<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>To inspire the American people about the Vision for Space Exploration, and to focus the agency on its central mission, NASA should immediately establish a Moon and Mars Astronaut Corps. This elite cadre, set up within the existing astronaut body, would bring together the heroes who will lead the great journey ahead.<br /><br />Such a corps would tremendously augment the connection between the NASA of today and the NASA that will explore the Moon and Mars. Strengthening this connection — between the programs that NASA is working on now and the explorations in NASA’s future — is critical for both the near- and far-term success of the vision.<br /><br />Establishing a Moon and Mars Astronaut Corps would be a cost-effective, high-impact action that would give the vision a heroic human face inside and outside of NASA. It would also materially improve the development programs of the next decade.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Thoughts? I think its a good idea, thats cheap and should be very effective. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br />

 

[lunatio_gordin]

problem is, these guys may be retired by the time the mission actually gets going.

 

[gunsandrockets]

Sorry. I think it's nothing more than a bad public relations stunt. There must be better ways to improve NASA public relations than this proposal.

 

[dreada5]

I agree that a large chunk of it would be just about public relations, but I think it'll also have some practical use in finding and troubleshooting issues related to interplanetary manned spaceflight.<br /><br />Those who joined up would be well aware that since flights aren't due to start for another 10 years at the earliest, they most likely would not pilot those interplanetary flights.

 

[cdr6]

I think you are on to something here, on both accounts. First... NASA needs to de-emphise the test pilots in lieu of geologists, civil engineers, and other disiciplines once the test flight phase of CEV is complete. Then second... NASA needs to keep the program front and center in the public's eye. On a scale equal to or greater than the Apollo days. This will help avoid the budget hack which congress cycles through almost on a whim. The scientific community (of which NASA is a part) is woefully unskilled and ignorant when it comes to the importance of PR. (Notable execptions being Von Braun, Sagan, Zubrin, and Rutan.)

 

[erioladastra]

To truly be useful astronauts you would have to train them as such and have them working real-world tasks like current astronauts do (e.g., support development, planning, critical meetings, engineering). That would be enormously expensive. If you just want PR that is affordable, hire better PR people.

 

[dreada5]

According to the article above they WOULD BE "active" astronauts and supposedly setting up the corps and giving these astronauts lunar/mars mission-related research work could be done for minimal costs...

 

[dreada5]

Got a link?

 

[john_316]

<br />Ditto<br /><br />

 

[spacefire]

is NASSA going to have a special kind of asstronauts that will travel to Uranus? <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[ehs40]

they maybe retiring but what they learn in the program could be passed on to the guys that would take there place at the least a lot could be learned by establishing this program

 

[spacester]

The astronaut corps is a huge part of NASA's operating budget. The quality of their future existence may well depend on their cost-effectiveness.<br /><br />Their cost-effectiveness will be a strong function of the match between their capabilities and their mission. So it is critical that we define their mission early and we define it well. Administrator Griffin is moving swiftly to do so, and I have faith that the main thing holding him back at all is the need for some deliberation in defining the overarching mission.<br /><br />By the end of the year, that vision will likely be in place; it would be good to see the Astronaut Corps acting pro-actively, but this proposal comes from outside the corps, does it not?<br /><br />They may be looking at um workforce size reductions. With luck and concerted efforts, alt.space will stand ready to put these displaced but talented individuals to work for the common cause. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[john_316]

<br />actually spacester dont you think the astronaut corps will grow once CEV is in place since the CEV should be easy enough to operate that any one can fly one?<br /><br />because a mission specialist will be more akin to landing parties of scientist and the astronauts will pretty much run the spacecraft as pilots and engineers.<br /><br />just a thought....<br /><br />

 

[le3119]

NASA basically has a junior astronaut program, which serves as a pool for select candidates. I say we need to get SOMEONE to the Moon quick so we can inspire our younger generation (and hopefully get their science skills up to par). Lunar operations would excite the public again. Going around the Earth 200 miles up again and again is not inspiring.

 

[erioladastra]

"The astronaut corps is a huge part of NASA's operating budget. The quality of their future existence may well depend on their cost-effectiveness."<br /><br />That is not supported by the numbers. Yes, the training etc for the astronauts is a lot, in the few %, but by no stretch a huge part.

 

[erioladastra]

"According to the article above they WOULD BE "active" astronauts and supposedly setting up the corps and giving these astronauts lunar/mars mission-related research work could be done for minimal costs... "<br /><br />Which is exactly what outsiders who don't live in the real world always say. When I look at a new car, I am sure it can be sold for much less than they are asking for it. In fact, I think all cars should cost $50. But there is reality which prevents my dream! <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[erioladastra]

"NASA basically has a junior astronaut program, which serves as a pool for select candidates."<br /><br />Again, not really supported by the numbers. Look at the last few classes. Many from the military and then a bunch from other institutions not related to NASA. Of course, you will always have some NASA folks make it, after all there are a LOT of bright people here, who are very talented and spend years working on procedures, hardware, operations etc and therefore know a great deal about the systems astronauts would need to gain experience on.

 

[spacester]

erioladastra, correction accepted. I should have said "significant", not "huge".<br /><br />The point I was trying to make is that under new leadership, it is likely that the Astronaut Corps' operating costs will almost certainly come under increased scrutiny.<br /><br />I'm no NASA budget wonk, but with Abbey gone and with a non-Astronaut heading the agency, with fiscal sanity a priority and high-level budget items in competition, this seems a very safe prediction.<br /><br />I like the Astronauts, but they should start thinking about these new realities. In particular, I would like to see some of them go to work as Private Astronauts. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

spacestar,<br /><br />If money gets that tight they might cut the number but I don't think there is much room to reduce the cost per astronaut for training etc. Griffin, while very practical is also extremely aware of the realities. Astronauts are an extremely visible part of the manned space program so he won't cut much. In addition, a lot of people don't realize the amount of work they do besides public outreach and flying in space. Some, not all, of this might might be done more cheaply by others but you are still not reducing that much.

 

[astrophoto]

It's not the 60's anymore. Kids dont look up to Mickey Mantle and Buzz Aldrin. It's time to drop the 'astronauts are superman heroes' routine and get something tangible on the table. People just dont care about test pilots and their crewcuts anymore, just as a generation ago they no longer cared for Cowboys.