A Symbol of Freedom
By Dave Squires, Co-author of The Ungettable Joke
The US Space Shuttle, and America's space program overall have been symbols of the greatness of our system of freedom. These symbols have been torn down and the plan for replacing them is not funded (no official budget or spending authority exists). While some will argue the value of a space program, or call it a luxury we cannot afford in this economy, it has demonstrably provided more value, and created more progress than most government programs. If you watch television, check on weather reports, fly on a commercial jet, use GPS, listen to satellite radio, or search for Google maps, you are using space technology. Even the commercial rockets that launch the satellites that provide telecommunications, weather observation, space telescopes, exploration vehicles, and military satellites are spinoffs of the our space program.
I have spent 21 years working inside NASA as a contract engineer and consultant, and have gained some insight on the subject. I have looked at the value NASA provides compared to the money spent, and I have spoken on this topic to schools and colleges. The real fact is that NASA's budget is a minuscule part of the overall federal budget. It represents a budget fraction of 0.004 (only about four one thousandths) of all spending. So, let's say you pay 10,000 dollars in federal taxes in a year, this means you pay only about $40 per year or $3.33 per month for NASA!
Now, maybe you are not interested in discovering other habitable planets, finding out if there was life on Mars, tracking asteroids that might destroy the Earth, or learning about physics from the universe that produces effects that are impossible to recreate in miniature here on Earth. Perhaps you would like to destroy all those Hubble images and the science they provided, or maybe you don't care that a drug can be created in space that cannot be created on Earth (due to gravity), or that such drugs might cure cancer or treat other diseases. Personally, I like all this stuff and I'm excited to think that humanity's future could include colonies on other planets, advanced space travel and propulsion, and scientific discoveries that create a more hopeful future.
Many of the things I talked about above are part of the search for the unknown. That is , the discoveries that illuminate the reality of the universe and prove the theories upon which it operates. It is a search for knowledge that cannot be replicated in a laboratory. This search challenges human intellect to look beyond petty ideologies and into our own future, and that seems a whole lot better than fighting wars over Earth's limited resources.
But, if you like political science and ideologies, there is something more in all of this, something that is right in front of our eyes and often ignored. The greatness of our space program is in the fact that it was created by a free people. When NASA was establish in 1958 under the Eisenhower administration, it was the people who demanded it. Sure, it might have initially been a response to Sputnik, but We The People supported this response long after the Cold War purpose of the space race was over. Americans want exploration. Americans want to be the leaders in advanced technology, and Americans who pay thousands in taxes, do not generally begrudge NASA the few dollars per month it takes to make all this possible.
Some ask if NASA could be run more efficiently. Certainly. But, what government agency gives you so much for such a small investment?
The retirement of the Space Shuttle is appropriate. Although the Shuttle was an enormously effective system, it is old and limited to low Earth orbit. However, we have now lost our flagship in space exploration, and it must be replaced with something. This is an opportunity to reach higher and farther than ever before. But, where is our new program? I'm working inside NASA, and despite the claims of the present administration, the new launch program is merely puttering along at snail's pace. If there were a truly vibrant program for development of the Space Launch System, I would hear and see much more about it. All I hear are crickets -- and I can't see them at all.
The present schedule for the new launch system shows only 13 launches over a 15 year period. Of these launches, two are for show (loops around the moon with no landing), and the rest have no mission objectives established -- they are for either cargo or crew, most likely to service the ISS. While service to the ISS may be useful, it is perhaps the one of the most cost-ineffective part of what we can do in space. We need to reach higher.
A base on the Moon would be a good start. Given the recent discovery of water on the Moon (LCROSS mission), we now know that an extended stay on the Moon is possible with far less effort and investment than previously thought. Such a base provides a close neighborhood in which to practice landed space operations as a step to Mars and the asteroids. There are many things to learn in the process of moving out into space, and working on the Moon provides a near-perfect training ground for practicing our craft, doing some new science, testing new technologies, and reducing future risks.
You might wonder how I can know such things. Well, there is no single absolute expert on the array of subjects relating to space flight and missions, but I have been involved in a few programs that gave me useful insight. I was the supervisor of an electrical engineering group performing the development of multiple space shuttle payloads. I was the task leader and systems engineer for the Integrated Vehicle Health Management task under the Second Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle (2nd Gen RLV) program. I was the lead systems engineer and risk manager for Nano-satellite missions including GeneSat-1 and PharmaSat. I was the project manager for the O/OREOS astrobiology satellite, and I was the risk manager for the LCROSS lunar impactor mission that discovered water at the south pole of the Moon. I presently work as a consultant on University satellite projects and NASA's LADEE mission. I have also been the lead electrical engineer on numerous ground and airborne projects that support NASA's space and flight research.
Through all of this, I have seen some waste, but I mostly see engineers and scientists who are so dedicated to the work that they are willing to do it for far less income than they would get in industry, working long hours to meet ridiculously tight schedules, and achieving amazing feats of engineering and science in the process. Why? Because they have a spirit of exploration and they hope that what they do will advance humanity farther and faster than any other endeavor or political ideology could. They also have, at their core, a love for what they do and an appreciation for helping to bring something new into the human consciousness. They believe, as I do, that you cannot discover what "nobody knew" if you merely accept what "everyone knows". They have a heart for research and exploration that is released in a free country to do things that can scarcely be dreamed of in other societies. Our few dollars per taxpayer frees all of this drive and intellect to achieve great things on our behalf.
I hope this article gave you some real hope in our technological destiny, but not just in space. Our space exploration is comparable to exploration in other Earth-bound sciences that get far less attention, but are also seeking to pull back the curtain that covers hidden knowledge in the Universe. Discoveries in physics, nano-technology, micro/molecular-biology, bio-medical technology, and other areas can move us forward tremendously too, and they also benefit symbiotically from space research.
These are some of the things in which hope for the future of Americans might be well placed; and I believe that such hope comes only from a free people who can freely vote for those who support these things. We need leadership that can clearly state a vision as well as their commitment to it. Our present leadership has played political games with America's future and set us back years, if not a decade or more, in our progress.
I hope you also see the value in rebuilding our Space Program, and once again creating a new American flagship as a Symbol of Freedom to the world.
By Dave Squires, Co-author of The Ungettable Joke
Copyright, Dave Squires, Co-author of The Ungettable Joke ( http://www.ungettablejoke.com )
The US Space Shuttle, and America's space program overall have been symbols of the greatness of our system of freedom. These symbols have been torn down and the plan for replacing them is not funded (no official budget or spending authority exists). While some will argue the value of a space program, or call it a luxury we cannot afford in this economy, it has demonstrably provided more value, and created more progress than most government programs. If you watch television, check on weather reports, fly on a commercial jet, use GPS, listen to satellite radio, or search for Google maps, you are using space technology. Even the commercial rockets that launch the satellites that provide telecommunications, weather observation, space telescopes, exploration vehicles, and military satellites are spinoffs of the our space program.
I have spent 21 years working inside NASA as a contract engineer and consultant, and have gained some insight on the subject. I have looked at the value NASA provides compared to the money spent, and I have spoken on this topic to schools and colleges. The real fact is that NASA's budget is a minuscule part of the overall federal budget. It represents a budget fraction of 0.004 (only about four one thousandths) of all spending. So, let's say you pay 10,000 dollars in federal taxes in a year, this means you pay only about $40 per year or $3.33 per month for NASA!
Now, maybe you are not interested in discovering other habitable planets, finding out if there was life on Mars, tracking asteroids that might destroy the Earth, or learning about physics from the universe that produces effects that are impossible to recreate in miniature here on Earth. Perhaps you would like to destroy all those Hubble images and the science they provided, or maybe you don't care that a drug can be created in space that cannot be created on Earth (due to gravity), or that such drugs might cure cancer or treat other diseases. Personally, I like all this stuff and I'm excited to think that humanity's future could include colonies on other planets, advanced space travel and propulsion, and scientific discoveries that create a more hopeful future.
Many of the things I talked about above are part of the search for the unknown. That is , the discoveries that illuminate the reality of the universe and prove the theories upon which it operates. It is a search for knowledge that cannot be replicated in a laboratory. This search challenges human intellect to look beyond petty ideologies and into our own future, and that seems a whole lot better than fighting wars over Earth's limited resources.
But, if you like political science and ideologies, there is something more in all of this, something that is right in front of our eyes and often ignored. The greatness of our space program is in the fact that it was created by a free people. When NASA was establish in 1958 under the Eisenhower administration, it was the people who demanded it. Sure, it might have initially been a response to Sputnik, but We The People supported this response long after the Cold War purpose of the space race was over. Americans want exploration. Americans want to be the leaders in advanced technology, and Americans who pay thousands in taxes, do not generally begrudge NASA the few dollars per month it takes to make all this possible.
Some ask if NASA could be run more efficiently. Certainly. But, what government agency gives you so much for such a small investment?
The retirement of the Space Shuttle is appropriate. Although the Shuttle was an enormously effective system, it is old and limited to low Earth orbit. However, we have now lost our flagship in space exploration, and it must be replaced with something. This is an opportunity to reach higher and farther than ever before. But, where is our new program? I'm working inside NASA, and despite the claims of the present administration, the new launch program is merely puttering along at snail's pace. If there were a truly vibrant program for development of the Space Launch System, I would hear and see much more about it. All I hear are crickets -- and I can't see them at all.
The present schedule for the new launch system shows only 13 launches over a 15 year period. Of these launches, two are for show (loops around the moon with no landing), and the rest have no mission objectives established -- they are for either cargo or crew, most likely to service the ISS. While service to the ISS may be useful, it is perhaps the one of the most cost-ineffective part of what we can do in space. We need to reach higher.
A base on the Moon would be a good start. Given the recent discovery of water on the Moon (LCROSS mission), we now know that an extended stay on the Moon is possible with far less effort and investment than previously thought. Such a base provides a close neighborhood in which to practice landed space operations as a step to Mars and the asteroids. There are many things to learn in the process of moving out into space, and working on the Moon provides a near-perfect training ground for practicing our craft, doing some new science, testing new technologies, and reducing future risks.
You might wonder how I can know such things. Well, there is no single absolute expert on the array of subjects relating to space flight and missions, but I have been involved in a few programs that gave me useful insight. I was the supervisor of an electrical engineering group performing the development of multiple space shuttle payloads. I was the task leader and systems engineer for the Integrated Vehicle Health Management task under the Second Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle (2nd Gen RLV) program. I was the lead systems engineer and risk manager for Nano-satellite missions including GeneSat-1 and PharmaSat. I was the project manager for the O/OREOS astrobiology satellite, and I was the risk manager for the LCROSS lunar impactor mission that discovered water at the south pole of the Moon. I presently work as a consultant on University satellite projects and NASA's LADEE mission. I have also been the lead electrical engineer on numerous ground and airborne projects that support NASA's space and flight research.
Through all of this, I have seen some waste, but I mostly see engineers and scientists who are so dedicated to the work that they are willing to do it for far less income than they would get in industry, working long hours to meet ridiculously tight schedules, and achieving amazing feats of engineering and science in the process. Why? Because they have a spirit of exploration and they hope that what they do will advance humanity farther and faster than any other endeavor or political ideology could. They also have, at their core, a love for what they do and an appreciation for helping to bring something new into the human consciousness. They believe, as I do, that you cannot discover what "nobody knew" if you merely accept what "everyone knows". They have a heart for research and exploration that is released in a free country to do things that can scarcely be dreamed of in other societies. Our few dollars per taxpayer frees all of this drive and intellect to achieve great things on our behalf.
I hope this article gave you some real hope in our technological destiny, but not just in space. Our space exploration is comparable to exploration in other Earth-bound sciences that get far less attention, but are also seeking to pull back the curtain that covers hidden knowledge in the Universe. Discoveries in physics, nano-technology, micro/molecular-biology, bio-medical technology, and other areas can move us forward tremendously too, and they also benefit symbiotically from space research.
These are some of the things in which hope for the future of Americans might be well placed; and I believe that such hope comes only from a free people who can freely vote for those who support these things. We need leadership that can clearly state a vision as well as their commitment to it. Our present leadership has played political games with America's future and set us back years, if not a decade or more, in our progress.
I hope you also see the value in rebuilding our Space Program, and once again creating a new American flagship as a Symbol of Freedom to the world.
By Dave Squires, Co-author of The Ungettable Joke
Copyright, Dave Squires, Co-author of The Ungettable Joke ( http://www.ungettablejoke.com )
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Ungettablog-too
This is one of two GoodReads blogs by authors of The Ungettable Joke. Perhaps dueling blogs is a bad idea -- we'll see. Ungettablog-too will carry similar content to the original Ungettablog, but allo
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