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The Royal Aeronautical Society Discussion Paper on Human Spaceflight

The Royal Aeronautical Society Discussion Paper on Human Spaceflight. Pat Norris Chairman, RAeS Space Group http://www.raes.org.uk/space June 2006. Space Activities at RAeS. magazines, journal, lectures, workshops, conferences at RAeS HQ in London W1

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The Royal Aeronautical Society Discussion Paper on Human Spaceflight

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  1. The Royal Aeronautical Society Discussion Paper on Human Spaceflight Pat Norris Chairman, RAeS Space Group http://www.raes.org.uk/space June 2006

  2. Space Activities at RAeS • magazines, journal, lectures, workshops, conferences • at RAeS HQ in London W1 • at Branches across the UK and world-wide • events in 2005 included: • March: John Zarnecki on Huygens • April: Will Whitehorn on Virgin Galactic • May: Bob Chesson on manned spaceflight • June: Stuart Eves on military space • September: Ruy Pinto on Inmarsat 4 • November conference on near earth objects • December: David Southwood on Mars, Titan and beyond • recent events: • May 10th: Venus Express • May 30th: GNSS & air traffic management • June 7th: space tourism conference RAeS Discussion Paper on human spaceflight, June 2006

  3. Human spaceflight • Phase out of the Shuttle and the success of SpaceShipOne mark a turning point in manned spaceflight • RAeS has produced a Discussion Paper on the subject to help inform UK policy* • factors we consider relevant: • technology developments (e.g. Moore’s law) continue to make robotic satellites more cost effective • exploration out to and on the moon can largely be done robotically with man-in-the-loop via radio link: telerobotics • if exploration of Mars needs man-in-the-loop then you would require human presence on the spot: • but by the time men get to Mars, robotics will be able to do considerably more than today • especially if you spend even a small proportion of the funds foreseen for human exploration on robotic improvements How will Burt Rutan’s technology evolve? What comes after the Shuttle? * Aerospace Professional, December 2005, pp14-16 RAeS Discussion Paper on human spaceflight, June 2006

  4. Humans in space – conclusions for discussion • use robotic exploration of the moon to assess the need for man-in-the-loop on Mars • an astronomical observatory on the moon is a scientifically interesting objective of lunar missions: • and an area of particular UK expertise • high cost “prestige” manned spaceflight programmes are out of step with UK public opinion, but • there is intense public interest in human spaceflight and in planetary exploration • affordably • the Virgin Galactic initiative, building on SpaceShipOne, warrants serious government support, e.g. on the regulatory front, and by supporting related technologies and services Beagle 2: for the cost of an astronaut’s glove International Space Station – $100B well spent? DARPA’s Grand Challenge- technology for planetary rovers? RAeS Discussion Paper on human spaceflight, June 2006

  5. Your views are sought • the Royal Aeronautical Society Discussion Paper on human spaceflight is available at www.raes.org.uk/space with instructions on how to respond • or email me at pat.norris@logicacmg.com • we anticipate that this subject will attract continued and increasing attention over the next few years, so we welcome views on how best the UK can participate • the July issue of Aerospace Professional will include a report on feedback from RAeS members • will test opinion in the USA at Space 2006 inSeptember • aiming for a comprehensive review of the feedback and issuing an updated Discussion Paper in late 2006 Thank you RAeS Discussion Paper on human spaceflight, June 2006

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