Ad Astra
The magazine of the National Space Society
Volume 18, Number 2, Summer 2006
Cover image: Space Elevator by Dan Roam ©
Featured Articles:
14
COMMANDING THE VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE
For U.S. Air Force ColonelJack Weinstein, commanding the 30th Space Wing in California is like having a front-row seat to the future.
By Leonard David
16
MOON FLAG FLIES OVER MARS DESERT OUTPOST
Members of the Moon Society simulate a Moon Base at the Mars Desert Research Station.
By Peter Kokh
23
SPACE SETTLEMENTS: THE STATE OF THE ART
Introduction by Mark M. Hopkins
24
SAVING HUMANITY:
ELON MUSK ON THE NEED FOR SPACE SETTLEMENT
Ad Astra interview by Robin Snelson
26
MISSION TO MARS: THE OUTBOUND JOURNEY
The first manned mission to Earth’s crimson neighbor will be difficult, the author writes, but the technological problems are not insurmountable.
By James Oberg
28
MAINTAINING THE MIND
Deep space missions may have technological hurdles, but preserving the sanity of crewmembers far from home may prove the toughest challenge.
By Tariq Malik
30
LIVING IN A TIN CAN
Biosphere 2 generated lots of jokes for late-night comedians, but the failure to create closed Earth-like ecosystems for long term space missions is no laughing matter.
By Jane Poynter
32
MINING NEAR-EARTH ASTEROIDS
The Solar System beckons with resources unimaginable on Earth.
By Dr. Daniel D. Durda
34
THINKING DIFFERENTLY WITH SPACE ELEVATORS
By depending too much on rocketry and brute force, humanity might be missing its chance to glide into space on gossamer threads.
By Dave Brody
38
WHAT IS THE BEST TRAJECTORY TO REACH AN ASTEROID?
The European Space Agency’s Advanced Concepts Team held a contest for engineers to find the best trajectory from our planet to asteroid 2001 TW229.
By Bill Christensen
Departments:
5
LETTER FROM
HEADQUARTERS
The Next Great Journey
By George Whitesides, NSS Executive Director
20
OPINION
Failure to Launch
The Bush Administration should have included space exploration and science in the American Competitiveness Initiative.
By Dr. Ernest J. Cioffi
42
REVIEWS
Space Race: The Epic Battle Between America and the Soviet Union for Dominion of Space
Reviewed by John F. Kross
Apollo Moon Missions: The Unsung Heroes
Reviewed by Robert Z. Pearlman
43
COMMUNITY
Space Settlements: Let’s Have No Unnecessary Sense of Self-limitation
By Gary Barnhard, Chairman of the Executive Committee
44
SPOTLIGHT
Jack Fox: Founder of the Florida Space Coast Chapter of the National Space Society
45
CHAPTER LISTINGS
48
SIGNING OFF
Apollo-Soyuz: A Remembrance
By Andrew Chaikin