PRAGUE, Czech Republic – Here at the 61st International Astronautical Congress, some 3,000 experts from around the world are discussing every facet of 21st century space activity.
The theme of the gathering taking place September 27 – October 1 is “Space for human benefit and exploration” – clearly the tone of meeting too.
On opening day, at a Heads of Agency plenary, top officials from their respective space agencies detailed activities today and provided a look at space agendas for the near-future.
In several surprising developments, Russia’s Anatoly Perminov, Head of Roscosmos, observed that his agency is pushing forward on research and development in two areas: an in-space nuclear propulsion capability, as well as pursuing a new breed of super heavy-lift launcher.
Perminov signaled use of this capability to boost the prospects for a human mission to Mars, among other future initiatives.
“Myself, I am convinced that exploration will be a field of global cooperation…that is for sure,” advised Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA). He called 2010 a year of significant science and discovery in reviewing ESA’s space efforts, but also said linking space to the general public needs to be a priority.
Space station: expanded research
Looking back over 2010, “it was a fantastic year for us,” said Charles Bolden, NASA Administrator. Highlighting the varying aspects of NASA programs – from space science, aeronautics, as well as human spaceflight – the space agency leader emphasized the expanded use of the International Space Station (ISS) for expanded research capability.
“Working closely with our international partners, we are rapidly approaching completion of the International Space Station…the largest crewed spacecraft ever assembled.”
The ISS now measures 243 feet by 356 feet, Bolden noted, with a habitable volume of over 30,000 cubic feet and a mass of 846,000 pounds.
“The ISS represents a unique research capability” Bolden said, particularly for flight-qualifying human and hardware for beyond low Earth orbit exploration.
“I cannot over-emphasize other destinations,” Bolden said. “We are constantly encouraging the private industry to partner among themselves and create destinations for pharmaceutical research, materials processing – there’s all kinds of things. There’s no reason that people have to be in a 51.6 inclination orbit – that’s where the International Space Station is. That is not where business has to be.”
International synergy
Joining their space agency colleagues, K Radhakrishnan, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) highlighted his country’s space program for the common people, such as providing space data to help mitigate the impact from natural disasters and use of satellites for other societal needs.
The ISRO leader observed there’s increasing need for “international synergy” between nations to monitor the Earth’s climate.
Radhakrishnan said ISRO is working on technologies for low-cost access to space, including a push forward on human spaceflight.
Similarly, Keiji Tachikawa, President of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), underscored a number of space achievements, including the successful flight of the Hayabusa mission to and from an asteroid…a spacecraft that overcame “extreme difficulties,” he said.
Looking over the next few years, NASA’s Bolden said the agency’s number one short-term challenge is to safely fly out the space shuttle program. “They don’t get any easier because you’ve done them before,” he said.
Bolden added that another challenge is helping to facilitate “a cohesive agreement” within the U.S. Congress on how best to maintain NASA leadership by being provided a “meaningful budget that we can use.”
By Leonard David