|
|
Gateway to the Solar System
| Article
# : |
16049 |
|
|
Section : |
NATURAL SCIENCE
|
| Issue
Date : |
7 / 1989 |
2,641 Words |
| Author
: |
Franklin D. Martin and Alan Ladwig
|
"Our lunar program is far more than an all-out try to be the
first nation to put a sign on some lunar crater
reading 'Kilroy was here.'"
--Werner von Braun (1962)
The week of July 16 offers an excellent opportunity to salute the events and individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of exploration during this week in history.
It is a week of historic firsts: Vega became the first star (a site for future exploration?) to have its picture taken (1850); Wiley Post became the first airplane pilot to solo around the world (1933); and John Fairfax became the first man to complete a solo rowing trip across the Atlantic (1969).
It is a week to celebrate the birthdays of famous explorers: the Norwegian polar explorer Roald Amudsen (1872); the English mountain climber Sir Edmund Hillary (1919); and America's first orbiting astronaut, John Glenn (1921).
The highlight of this commemorative week, however, is the celebration of the space exploration events that occurred on July 20: the 1969 landing of the first human on the Moon, followed six years later by the landing on Mars of the robotic spacecraft Viking. For all those who believe mankind's destiny lies beyond Earth's boundaries, this week offers an excellent occasion to reflect on our exploration heritage and to contemplate where the next "giant leaps" might take us.
What achievements are we likely to accomplish that will be the cause for celebrations during the twenty-first century? Will we build on the legacy of the Apollo program and return people to the Moon to more fully explore the promise of lunar science and lunar resources? Will we send expeditions to the red planet of Mars, to reach beyond the grasp of Viking's robotic arm and witness first hand this world of canyons, sand dunes, windstorms, and mountains? From what cosmic vantage point will our future explorers--and perhaps settlers--cast their gaze toward Earth?
These are the intriguing questions that now lie before the nation as the world celebrates the emerald anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing on the Moon.
Among the goals of the current National Space Policy is the directive to "expand human presence beyond Earth orbit into the solar system." While the policy does not articulate a specific location, timetable, or purpose, a study team led by NASA's Office of Exploration is moving forward to identify alternatives and recommendations for an early 1990s presidential decision for a focused program of human exploration. Through a nationwide study effort involving the talents of personnel from NASA, universities, and private industry and individuals, we are working to fully understand the exploration options for missions to the Moon and Mars. This study seeks to avoid an oversimplistic Moon versus Mars debate, and instead takes this occasion to focus on opportunities, rationale, and scale of future human missions to our Moon. This understanding will help define the required investments that must be made in near-team NASA programs if the country wants to realize long-term accomplishments in the early part of
...
Read Full Article
|
|
