European Satellite launcher wants to increase it US market

European satellite launcher Arianspace has announced its intentions to enter the United States satellite launch market. Currently non-US companies are locked out of US satellite launch opportunities. The US market it currently dominated by the Boeing-Lockheed Martin alliance, known as the United Launch Alliance. Arianspace is banking on the increased demand for commercial satellite launches due to the introduction of high definition TV and Apple's new iPhone, which will one day deliver television and Internet to its users. I doubt that the US Government will be quick to allow non-US companies into its domestic satellite market.

The Space Race Continues

The race to space has just become much more interesting, and hits close to home. Iran has begun increasing the scope and technological sophistication of their space program. With help from Russia they have begun launching satellites (so far just small ones) but have a grand 20 year plan to catch up with other superpowers like the United States and China. They have not explicitly mentioned plans for space exploration and claim the satellites are solely for the purposes of monitoring the weather and natural disasters, but monitoring the activities of countries close by would not be that hard to maneuver. Also, classified information has been swapped between the Iranians and Russia. The potential military crisis that could play out is almost too much for the imagination to take.

US planning to divert funding from ISS to its own Mars/Moon Program

This is an interesting article from the Russian news source Pravada.ru. This article discusses John Glenn's statement on how the United States is not getting its money worth in regards to the International Space Station. The ISS is a joint project between the US, Canada, Japan, and Russia, as well as other countries. The ISS has had its troubles, and it is behind schedule. This article asserts that the United States will divert funding from the ISS to its own Mars and Moon missions. If true, such action would further strain US-Russian relations during a time of already increased tensions.

First International Library on Mars

The planetary society is sending a DVD full of names of people from around the world on the Pheonix landers mission to Mars. The purpose of this remains a mystery to me, but 200,000 people from 70 countries have all ready signed up. Unfortunately the deadline has passed so no one reading this blog will have a chance to land on Mars with Pheonix. The society will send a small dvd disc with the names of individuals, (all ages were encouraged, especially children) and "the disk will also include "Visions of Mars," a collection of 19th and 20th century stories and art by some of Earth's visionaries." Once pheonix lands on Mars the dvd will be the first interplanetary human library in existance. We will spread our knowledge and names to the martians and let them know we have arrived. Perhaps this is meant to be some sort of high-tech time capsule, and in 200 years when humans are living on mars we will find this mini-disc and learn about the names of people living in the early 21st century. At least multiple countries are involved in this gound(space)breaking moment in history.

US Debates Response To Chinese Anti-Satellite Test

This article featured on Spacewar.com addresses international ramifications associated with China's recent demonstration of its anti-satellite weaponry. President Bush's new space policy asserts that the United States has the right to use space for "defense and intelligence-related activities in pursuit of national interests". This differ from previous international policy which has outlawed the militarization of space. Michael Pillsbury, a consultant for the Pentagon writes that the Chinese have advertised how they could win a war that they normally would not be able to win if they were able to disable their enemy's satellites. This is troubling considering the US's heavy reliance on both civilian and military satellites.

How will Mars be divided among the nations of the Earth?

As I write my first paper, I have begun to wonder how Mars will be divided among the nations of the Earth. Will countries without space travel programs be allowed to colonize Mars? What will be the fate of countries that are too poor to afford Mars colonies? Will Martians associate themselves with their home countries, or will they simply be Martians? These questions will have to be addressed by the United Nations in the near future.

France is in the Race

As Russia, China, India and the United States pour large quantities of money into research and development in the 'moon, mars and beyond', France does not want to be left behind. On February 7th the French Parliamentary committee for scientific and technological endeavors issued a report proposing cooperation amongst European nations to boost spending and research on space. France's government has realized the time for hesitation is through and if they wait much longer the 2nd space race will be over, without Europe's participation. In the past countries such as England, Spain, and Italy have had separate space programs and France proposes a joint venture into nuclear capabilities and the Galileo satellite.

So, other countries are starting to realize the next race has begun. Because we all know what happened last time, will it be different? Will the separate super powers work separately to beat the other team, or will we all work together to make the most scientific progress? Regardless, China's most recent display of strength seems to have sufficiently scared France and the ball has started to roll.

Cleaning up old Trash

Scientists are getting pretty excited about new images of old rovers lost and abandoned on mars. It seems parachutes of Missions from the 70's are still lying on the barren surface of mars. Members of the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment will look for images of the 1997 pathfinder, as well as 'lost' British and Russian probes. They hope to learn more about the surface and terrain of mars through these images. While reading this article and viewing some of the pictures of what they expect to find sitting on the surface it almost seemed comical. We are planning to colonize and export humans and their habitat to a barren planet because we are about to destroy ours, yet we have all ready started ruining mars. Failed missions, old missions, debris from landing all ready litter the surface. We all ready need a clean-up crew to clean up our inconsiderate mess. At least there is nothing living there to be harmed by our actions..

What issues will arise for mars program?

Even though is is a little old and we talked about her in class will her actions lead to the mars program to becoming re planed? Does her actions create a mental battle for NASA or will this lead to more press for the program? Finally will this lead to NASA questioning who they put in space, such as male female as well as race will this create new problems for space travel and the government.

Writing Assignment #2

Speaking in the international implications I'm reminded of the "crazy Russian" in Armagedeon(sp). The vodka drenched russians no longer take center stage in crazy space people, now we have the chemically imbalanced Americans. Cheers to America. Another title for us. Perhaps this will be another step which will make NASA become EVEN MORE CAUTIOUS YET!! Just at a time when technology is flourishing and the US is in a postition to lead another space race we've got a pair of receding plutos between our legs instead of the Juppiters that happily bounce along in our quest to conquer the rest of thew world one "terrorist" at a time. So tragic. Perhaps this will give the EU a chance to do something, probably not though they are to busy taking vacations and enjoying their free time. Maybe the Japanese?? Nah, they like their Island just fine. Russia can't do it anymore. Maybe China? I think so, they need somewhere for their growing population? They certainly have an affinity for the color red? So I think this crazy women will drive China to colonize mars. I don't know if you've ever played any Civilization games but it looks like the "Hive" is going to when. Good for them. In the long run it means cheap and plentiful General Tso's chicken in space!

Writing Assignment #1

Zubrin (Mars Society)
I think that Zubrin and company have quite admirable goals. Unfortunately I think he's a little crazy and willing to be overly optimistic in order to support these goals. For example: "We must go for the youth. The spirit of youth demands adventure. A humans-to-Mars program would challenge young people everywhere to develop their minds to participate in the pioneering of a new world." From their mission statement. If we start a program then kids will be smarter and more driven?? He's full of it so much I wonder if his eyes aren't brown! But I think it's also important that he is not looking at he why not side of the issue as to pioneering human exploration of Mars but the Why Not!? attitude required of adventurers.

Hoagland (Enterprise)
Okay, so he's just crazy. I'm speaking not only from the fact that he's obsessed with ridiculous photo's which he photoshopped for his own purposes but also because of his interview with Art Bell which the have transcripts of on the website. I've listened to quite a bit of Art Bell in my life because I'm an insomniac and he's pretty entertaining but non-the-less it's a refuge for the neer-do-wells of the scietific community. I'm not that impressed but it's cute the way they copy Star Trek for their website. I wish him luck, he makes Zubrin look moderate.

Astronaut Love Triangle Highlights Mars Mission Challenge: Avoiding Crazy on Long Flights

Someone Else may have already posted this but I found it to be particularly pertinent to our discussion in wednesday's class. It's a PopSci article specifically about how this event might affect a possible Mars mission.

Astronaut Love Triangle Highlights Mars Mission Challenge: Avoiding Crazy on Long Flights

Boeing, Arianespace Battle To Launch Italian Satellites

In this article published by Defensenews.com and writer Tom Kington highlights the competition between the European and American Aerospace industry. Boeing and Arianespace are currently in the race to win the Italian government's approval to launch Italy's next Cosmo-Skymed satellite into orbit. The Europeans argue that European tax dollars that will be used to finance the launch should be payed to European companies. Italy has already chosen Boeing to launch two of it Satellites because Boeing has available launch times and Arainspace did not.

Website Review: Enterprise Mission and the Mars Society

There are two types of Martian development and exploration. Each have their own motives. Some scientists wish to show that life existed on Mars, answering the human desire to know secrets of the universe. Other scientists wish to research and develop technologies that will allow us to eventually colonize Mars and use it to further the wants and desires of the human population.

The first group of scientists got together and formed the Enterprise Mission. The purpose of this mission is to uncover the truth about life on Mars. They believe that the government, not just the United States' but all others involved in Space exploration have evidence of intelligent life on the Moon and Mars but have kept it a secret the past thirty years for fear of causing mass hysteria. They do not necessarily believe the famous face was built, they just want the answers and think the government is hiding them. It seems a bit too conspiracy theory to actually be true, but some of the members of the enterprise mission feel that NASA scientists had to be holding back information. Apparently some conversations with NASA scientists were unsatisfactory, and the only explanation for their actions is a hidden political agenda. Members of this mission also feel that the failure of the last mission to Mars was intentional, so NASA would not have to disclose its findings of intelligent life to the public. While it would be great to know for certain of a lost human society living on the moon and Mars, these scientists could probably put their knowledge and resources to better use.

The other type of research and development focuses on the practicalities of mass space travel. That is dealing with all the potential planning issues that would come up for any project to construct an area suitable for human life. This website is truly the future in action. Most likely none of us will be around to see the results of these scientists work because it is so primitive and basic right now, we are just trying to get there without exploding. However it has taken less than a century to get this far, and in this information age when technologies increase exponentially, who knows.

Pheonix goes to Mars

The new Pheonix lander is in the final stages of its planned trip to Mars. It is expected to land in 2008.

The purpose of the Pheonix is to collect samples of ice for scientists to study. The ice will provide a base to analyze and study the history of the planets atmosphere and the general properties of the soil and surface. The biggest problem facing the scientists in charge of this mission is finding an appropriate landing place for the Pheonix. What looked like a suitable area, upon closer observation, turned out to covered in obtrusive boulders. Surface maps appear to provide a useful tool and guide for the planets terrain, but nothing is certain until we get there. Meaning there are a select few number of places to safely land spacecraft. The problems raised in this article, while United States specific, raise other potential questions for later visits to Mars. Will the early bird get the worm? Whoever finds the best places to land will be the only ones that can use the area. Will other countries have to find other places to land that are far enough away from the American posts?