[ad_1]
Making its 60th anniversary next month, reaffirms its vision for the next years of spaceflight.
"It's time for us to return to the moon, friends," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine told space industry members Monday morning at the annual AIAA Space Forum in Orlando.
Bridenstine, a presidential appointee who took the helm of NASA in April, reaffirmed Trump's 2017 directive to send astronauts back to the moon – but described how the mission could come to fruition.
Chabeli Herrera / Orlando Sentinel The NASA Administrator, Jim Bridenstine, reaffirms NASA's mission to revisit the next few years at the AIAA Space Forum in Orlando on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. L & # 39; NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine at the Moon over the next few years at the AIAA Space Forum in Orlando on Monday, September 17, 2018. (Chabeli Herrera / Orlando Sentinel)
In a keynote speech on NASA's history, Bridenstine described the agency's plans to return to the pace of exploration established in the 1960s, 11 years after the agency's creation.
Now, NASA plans to take advantage of the robust private space industry to create a more sustainable and long-term presence in the space.
"We do it in a way that has never been done before," said Bridenstine. "There is only one country on the planet that will build an architecture for sustainability so we can come and go on the moon."
Courtesy of NASA NASA rendering of the lunar gateway that will orbit the moon. NASA render of the lunar gateway that will orbit the moon. (Courtesy of NASA)
Bridenstine was talking about a spaceport that would orbit the moon and would serve as a starting point for deep space exploration missions. In conjunction with the space launch system, the most powerful rocket ever built by NASA and the spacecraft under construction at the Kennedy Space Center, the bridge would serve as a lunar space station that would support multiple missions in different areas of the moon. to Mars.
Orion is expected to complete a mission-free mission (Exploration Mission-1) orbiting the moon by 2020. Exploration mission-2 should take a crew on a lunar flyby in mid-2022 And the first astronauts could visit the gate by 2024, according to NASA.
Reusability will ultimately play a central role in Bridenstine's views of the next era of the program, highlighting a trend that has become the cornerstone of rocket development in recent years.
According to Bridenstine, by Exploration Mission 4, Orion will have reusable components.
"We need every part of the architecture between the Earth and the Moon to be reusable," he said.
The moon would then serve as a training ground where NASA will refine its technology before the next big jump.
"We're going to remove the risk, and we're going to take all the architecture out of Mars," said Bridenstine.
A panel of former NASA administrators speaks at the AIAA Space Forum in Orlando on Monday, September 17, 2018. From left to right, former trustees Richard Truly, Daniel Goldin, Sean O & # 39; Keefe, Michael Griffin and Charles Bolden Jim Bridenstine. A panel of former NASA administrators speaks at the AIAA Space Forum in Orlando on Monday, September 17, 2018. From left to right, former trustees Richard Truly, Daniel Goldin, Sean O & # 39; Keefe, Michael Griffin and Charles Bolden Jim Bridenstine.
As the mission of bringing the United States back to world domination by establishing dominance – and especially human domination – in space is at the heart of NASA's current plans, former NASA administrators have warned Bridenstine to focus on other areas of hypersonic exploration.
"NASA is more than a human spaceflight," said former NASA administrator Daniel Goldin, speaking at a NASA panel at age 60. "People have different expectations for NASA and you have to make sure there is a balance between the programs."
Charles Bolden, another former NASA director, said he would like to focus less on launchers and focus more on orbits and platforms in orbit to reach the surface of the moon and Mars.
It is still unclear whether these surfaces will serve as colonies for humans, but Bridenstine does not exclude this possibility.
"We do not envision a permanent presence of humans on the moon," said Bridenstine, before pausing and adding, "Although I'm not opposed to that."
Want more news from the space? To follow . or; Twitter
LEGEND
In the seven years since the end of the Space Shuttle program, the region has gone from almost 12% unemployment to 3.9% unemployment, supported by new businesses and a diversified economy.
In the seven years since the end of the Space Shuttle program, the region has gone from almost 12% unemployment to 3.9% unemployment, supported by new businesses and a diversified economy.
LEGEND
In the seven years since the end of the Space Shuttle program, the region has gone from almost 12% unemployment to 3.9% unemployment, supported by new businesses and a diversified economy.
In the seven years since the end of the Space Shuttle program, the region has gone from almost 12% unemployment to 3.9% unemployment, supported by new businesses and a diversified economy.
LEGEND
In a tweet Thursday night, SpaceX announced its intention to name the first individual to go around the moon – and why.
In a tweet Thursday night, SpaceX announced its intention to name the first individual to go around the moon – and why.
LEGEND
This is the 49th anniversary of the landing of Apollo 11 on the moon, and lunar question gamers have a lot of questions.
This is the 49th anniversary of the landing of Apollo 11 on the moon, and lunar question gamers have a lot of questions.
LEGEND
Sarah Boye and her daughters visit the new Sally Ride Elementary School on Wednesday, August 1, 2018. The Boye family has suggested that the new school be named to commemorate Dr. Ride as the first woman in space. (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel)
Sarah Boye and her daughters visit the new Sally Ride Elementary School on Wednesday, August 1, 2018. The Boye family has suggested that the new school be named to commemorate Dr. Ride as the first woman in space. (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel)
LEGEND
NASA and Boeing astronauts discuss next mission next year. In the former NASA space shuttle treatment facility, the Boeing workers got their hands on three capsules, at different stages of construction and completion, that will transport the astronauts into space.
NASA and Boeing astronauts discuss next mission next year. In the former NASA space shuttle treatment facility, the Boeing workers got their hands on three capsules, at different stages of construction and completion, that will transport the astronauts into space.
Source link
