Ad Astra
The magazine of the National Space Society
Volume 22, Number 2 Summer 2010
On the Cover: The International Space Station flew across the face of the Moon over NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida approximately 15 minutes before the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-131 mission. Image Credit: NASA Photo courtesy of Fernando Echeverria.
Featured Articles:
9
THE PRESIDENT’S AGENDA FOR SPACE
NSS applauds the President’s commitment to the mission of NASA and the role of space in providing for the future.
17
MISSION TRAINING: ATLANTIS’S FINAL FLIGHT
Atlantis takes her final historic flight.
by Peter Trabucco
20
FINDING SOLUTIONS IN THIN AIR
International problem solving on the ISS.
By Tabatha Thompson
24
A NEW ERA FOR SCIENCE:
RESEARCH ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
By Clifford R. McMurray
28
AMERICA’S SPACE PROGRAM FOR THE 21ST CENTURY CONFERENCE
The President defends his budget.
By Lewis Groswald
30
SPACESHIP TWO HAS WINGS
Space tourism efforts are underway.
By Douglas Mesier
32
A LOOK AT LUNAR EXPLORATION FOR NASA
Looking at what’s involved with returning to the Moon
By David Schlom
38
IS THE PRIVATE SECTOR READY FOR HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT?
A look at the issues involved in commercial human spaceflight
By Jeffrey Foust
44
NASA’S SPACE COMMUNICATIONS AND NAVIGATION
Don’t leave Earth without it!
By James Schier
Departments:
10
LETTER FROM HEADQUARTERS
Farewell…
By Brett Silcox
11
LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
By Pat Silver
13
NSS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Student innovators from the Pete Conrad Spirit of Innovation Awards.
By Lynne Zielinski
14
NSS CORRESPONDENCE
Upwards and Onwards: Space tourism offers a new dimension to humankind’s curiosity
By Meghan Baker
42
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGIATE SOLAR POWER SATELLITE DESIGN COMPETITION
By Peter Garretson
43
EDITORIAL
Not Much Has Changed…
By Dr. Al Koller
46
SPACE SETTLEMENT
The Long Run Geopolitics of Space Settlements
By Mark Hopkins
47
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIR
Change Is All Around Us
48
BOOKS
How to Find a Habitable Planet, by James Kasting
Reviewed by Charlene Brusso
50 Years of Rockets and Spacecraft, by Ed Buckbee
Reviewed by Frederick I. Ordway, III
50
CHAPTER LISTINGS
55
SIGNING OFF
Cassini provides a closeup view of Saturn’s moon Mimas