The US Human Spaceflight Plans Committee was established by President Barack Obama’s administration to review the $99 billion NASA space program. It was agreed, however, that all ongoing human spaceflight work by NASA would continue uninterrupted during the period of the review, which would focus on options in support of planning for U.S. human spaceflight activities beyond the retirement of the space shuttle.
The Augustine Committee
The Committee, is referred to as the ‘Augustine Committee’, as it was led by Norman R. Augustine, former chair of the Aeronautics Committee of the NASA Advisory Council. In October 2009 the Committee produced their report on the options for the future. Entitled Seeking a Human Spaceflight Program Worthy of a Great Nation, the report concluded that NASA is generally at its best when innovating, creating and managing challenging new projects. More routine work, such as developing, constructing and operating systems should therefore be undertaken in commercial partnership with the private sector.
NASA commercial and citizen partnerships
Following the report of the Augustine Committee, NASA formed special study teams to investigate options for this new direction for human spaceflight. Heralding a new era in human exploration, the International Space Station will be used for testing new space technology, research and development. NASA now aims to rely on forming new commercial and international partnerships to develop ideas and reduce the cost of space exploration. In an innovative new move, NASA is also inviting ‘citizen stakeholders’ to become part of the venture and share in the exploration of our universe by proposing new and creative ideas.
NASA Human Exploration Framework Team (HEFT).
The main preliminary review of future human space exploration capabilities and missions has been undertaken by NASA’s Human Exploration Framework Team, known as (HEFT). HEFT was set up in 2010 to analyze exploration and technology options and set out possibilities for future human space exploration which is safe, sustainable, affordable and credible.
The HEFT team help to provide a framework for future planning and prioritisation at NASA. Placing the emphasis on affordability, cost, performance, schedule, technology and partnership considerations, HEFT also aim to identify candidate destinations for future space exploration and to develop strategy that will open up many potential destinations for human spaceflight throughout the solar system, including the moon, near Earth asteroids, and Mars.
Human Space Exploration Guiding Principles
As part of the establishment of by NASA’s Human Exploration Framework Team, a number of ‘guiding principles were agreed. Important among these was to conduct a routine series of missions to exciting solar system destinations and build capabilities that will enable future exploration missions and support the expansion of human activity throughout the inner Solar System. The projected NASA HSF budget also means that affordability and sustainability are high on the agenda, so HEFT are looking closely at ways to leverage the International Space Station (ISS).
Balancing human and robotic spaceflight
Although the Augustine Committee was formed to address the human spaceflight program, they also reviewed robotic missions that form part of the current program. The committee concluded that the best solution is to find a balance between robotic and human missions. They recognised that human spaceflight inspires the public, but noted the accomplishments of robotic spacecraft, such as the Hubble Space Telescope, the Mars rovers, the Earth Observing System satellites, or the twin Voyager spacecraft that are poised to reach interstellar space.
HEFT are therefore exploring and evolutionary family of systems, to combine use of human and robotic systems and exploit synergies between science and HSF Exploration objectives. The team also aim to leverage non NASA capabilities, such as launches, systems and facilities. Together, these initiatives aim to prepare for new voyages of discovery of our solar system and the universe.
Tony Riches - Based in west Wales in the UK, I am a published Author and full time writer Follow me on twitter @tonyriches and visit my blogs: The ...
