Commercial space travel, advanced space research get boost

(This article also appears on the Joint Recon Study Group site.)

This week, two interesting developments emerged regarding some of the future paths NASA may take.

On Monday, NASA officials announced that they will devote $50 million in federal stimulus money toward developing commercial passenger service into space.

In addition, a new report due out Friday from the National Research Council (NRC) recommends that NASA revive the activities of the agency's former Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC), which was shut down in 2007.

What does this news mean about the directions NASA is taking and what does it mean for space travel, space science and related technological and commercial advancement?

COMMERICAL SPACEFLIGHT

According to published reports, the $50 million from NASA is intended as seed money to encourage private aerospace companies to pursue the development of commercial spacecraft.

These spacecraft could provide transportation to and from the International Space Station (ISS) and other destinations in Earth orbit.

Several companies have reportedly expressed interest. Only American companies are eligible for project funding.

NASA is already providing $500 million to private companies for the development of rockets and capsules that can deliver cargo. Outfitting these kinds of platforms for human passengers or developing entirely new kinds of spacecraft are quickly becoming important issues.

When the Space Shuttle program is discontinued in 2010, the U.S. will have no apparent capability to deliver cargo or human passengers to the ISS.

In addition to servicing the ISS, various satellites and similar space hardware, new commercial spacecraft will be needed for other private space activities.

Commercial space station-type habitats are being developed that will provide orbiting environments where several people can live and work. Other spacecraft systems will be needed to get astronauts and guest passengers, as well as supplies and cargo, to and from the orbiting habitats.

REVOLUTIONARY SPACE CONCEPTS

Meanwhile, the National Research Council's recommendation to reactivate or create something like the former NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts holds the promise of innovation on many fronts related to space travel.

NASA had funded the program with $4 million annually prior to being shut down in 2007.

The NRC's report, due for release this Friday, states that an activity like the former NIAC is needed now for "the explicit purpose of being an independent source of revolutionary aeronautical and space concepts."

The NRC report is titled "Fostering Visions for the Future: A Review of the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts."

The report states, "Today, NASA's investment in advanced concepts and long-term technological solutions to its strategic goals is minimal."

According to news media sources, the report notes that "The majority of the NIAC-supported efforts were highly innovative. Many pushed the limits of applied physics. Overall, the efforts supported produced results commensurate with the risks involved."

The NIAC had provided grants for projects which also obtained funds from outside organizations, the report adds. In addition, many of the projects continued even after NIAC funded ended and some were incorporated into NASA's ongoing activities.

Technologies and methodologies developed through the support of a new version of a NASA advanced research projects group could trigger significant progress in space activities, the report indicates.

Undoubtedly, innovations from these kinds of advanced space studies can contribute to the successes of NASA and other government entities as well as private commercial space efforts which now appear to be making significant progress.

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