space times

1SPACE TIMES•Sep/Oct2014

THE MAGAZINE OF THE AMERICANASTRONAUTICAL SOCIETYISSUE 4–VOLUME 54

JULY / AUGUST 2015

Job Name: 535619_SpaceTimesPDF Page: 01_24_SpaceTimes_July.p1.pdf

Process Plan: VP.MultiPage.PDFDate: 15-08-28Time: 13:34:03

Operator: ____________________________

PageMark-Color-Comp

❏ OK to proceed❏ Make corrections and proceed❏ Make corrections and show another proof

Signed: ___________________ Date: ______

2

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 3

FEATURES The Blog of Christopher R. Cooper: Future of Space Exploration: Apollo Program and SpaceX 4 How will we move beyond the scope of the Apollo program missions? byChristopherR.Cooper A Roadmap for an Interstellar Worldship 9 The time to explore the unknown is now, but many challenges must first be overcome. Team Astra Planeta has created a conceptual design for a worldship and produced a roadmap for its launch. AnISUresearchteamprojectbyFergusRussell-Conway,MicahKlettke,KaranGujarati, JamesBevington,AbigailSherriff,AndersonWilder,MansoorShar,KyleAcierno,BrianRamos, Jean-FrancoisRococo,Chaitra,andFlorin-CristianLazar

TECHNICAL CONFERENCE 39th Annual AAS Guidance and Control Conference 18

NOTES ON A NEW BOOK Explore the Cosmos like Neil deGrasse Tyson: A Space Science Journey 19 ReviewedbyRickW.Sturdevant

2015 ISS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE 20

AAS CORPORATE AND INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERS 23

NEW AAS INSTITUTIONAL MEMBER 23

AAS SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 24

JULY / AUGUST 2015

ISSUE 4–VOLUME 54

T H E M A G A Z I N E O F T H E A M E R I C A N A S T R O N A U T I C A L S O C I E T Y

ElonMusk,CEOandLeadDesignerofSpaceX,ProductArchitectandCEOofTeslaMotors,andChairmanofSolarCity,speakingatthe2015ISSResearchandDevelopmentConferenceinBoston,Massachusetts(Source: CASIS/Austin Jordan)

ON THE COVER

6352 Rolling Mill Place, Suite 102Springfield, VA 22152-2370 USA

Tel: 703-866-0020 ♦ Fax: [email protected] ♦ www.astronautical.org

AAS OFFICERSPRESIDENT LynD.Wigbels,RWI International Consulting ServicesEXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT J.WalterFaulconer,SGT, Inc.VICE PRESIDENT–TECHNICAL JimMcAdams,JHU/Applied Physics LaboratoryVICE PRESIDENT–PROGRAMS HarleyA.ThronsonVICE PRESIDENT–PUBLICATIONS DavidB.Spencer,The Pennsylvania State UniversityVICE PRESIDENT–STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH MadhuritaSengupta,Federal Aviation AdministrationVICE PRESIDENT–MEMBERSHIP TracyLamm,Space Center HoustonVICE PRESIDENT–EDUCATION LanceBush,Challenger Center for Space Science EducationVICE PRESIDENT–FINANCE PaulEckert,Federal Aviation AdministrationVICE PRESIDENT–INTERNATIONAL SusanJ.Irwin,Irwin Communications, Inc.VICE PRESIDENT–PUBLIC POLICY EdwardGoldstein,Aerospace Industries AssociationLEGAL COUNSEL FranceskaO.Schroeder,Fish & Richardson P.C.EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JamesR.Kirkpatrick,American Astronautical Society

AAS BOARD OF DIRECTORSTERM EXPIRES 2015A.WilliamBeckman,The Boeing CompanyVincentC.Boles,The Aerospace CorporationSandyColeman,Orbital ATKDavidA.King,Dynetics, Inc.CarolS.LaneKimLuu,Air Force Research LaboratoryIanW.Pryke,Independent Consultant-AerospaceFrankA.Slazer,Aerospace Industries AssociationMarciaS.Smith,Space and Technology Policy Group, LLC

TERM EXPIRES 2016StephanieBednarekOrton,SpaceXRonaldJ.Birk,Northrop GrummanThomasF.Burns,National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationPeggyFinarelli,George Mason University/CAPRRobFulton,Valkyrie Strategic Partners, LLCRebeccaL.Griffin,Rebecca Griffin SpaceHalE.Hagemeier,Eagle Ray Inc.MollyKennaMacauley,Resources for the FutureKathyJ.NadoJohnOlson,Sierra Nevada Corporation

TERM EXPIRES 2017GaleAllenRobertH.Bishop,University of South FloridaMarkK.Craig,SAICLauraDelgadoLópez,Secure World FoundationKathleenKarika,Lockheed Martin Space Systems CompanyZigmondV.Leszczynski,VCSFA/MARSSuneelSheikh,ASTER Labs, Inc.PatriciaGraceSmith,Patti Grace Smith ConsultingDaveA.Spencer,Georgia Institute of TechnologyMichelineTabache,European Space AgencyGreggVane,Jet Propulsion Laboratory

SPACE TIMES EDITORIAL STAFFEDITOR,DianeL.Thompson

PHOTOANDGRAPHICSEDITOR,DianeL.ThompsonPRODUCTIONMANAGER,DianeL.Thompson

SPACE TIMES is published bimonthly by theAmericanAstronauticalSociety,aprofessionalnon-profitsociety.SPACE TIMES isfreetomembersoftheAAS.IndividualsubscriptionsmaybeorderedfromtheAASBusinessOffice.©Copyright2015bytheAmericanAstronauticalSociety,Inc.PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica.ISSN1933-2793.

PERIODICALSSPACE TIMES,magazineoftheAmericanAstronauticalSociety,bimonthly,Volume54, 2015—$80domestic, $95 foreign (Toorder,contacttheAASat 703-866-0020.)The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences,quarterly,printandonline(Toorder,contactSpringerat1-800-777-4643.)

REPRINTSReprintsareavailableforallarticles inSPACE TIMESandallpaperspublishedinThe Journal of the Astronautical Sciences.

SPACE TIMES•July-August2015

www.twitter.com/astrosociety

www.youtube.com/user/astrosociety

www.facebook.com/AmericanAstronauticalSociety

www.slideshare.net/astrosociety

Follow AAS on:



Operator: ____________________________

PageMark-Color-Comp


Signed: ___________________ Date: ______

3

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

AAS–AdvancingAllSpace

LynD.Wigbels [email protected]

Iamhappytoreportthatthe4thAnnualInternationalSpaceStationResearchandDevelopmentConference–“GainaNewPerspective–wasanoutstandingsuccess!Morethan700attendeeswereonhandtohearaboutthelatestspacestationachievementsanditsroleinshapingourfutureinspace.SpeakersincludedseniorofficialsfromNASA,includingDeputyAdministratorDavaNewman,AssociateAdministratorforExplorationandOperationsWilliamGerstenmaier, ISSProgramManagerMikeSuffredini,ChiefScientistEllenStofan,andChiefTechnologistDavidMiller.AstronautCadyColemanledawell-attendedNewUserWorkshop.Leadingspacestationresearchersfromthecom-mercialandacademiccommunitiespresentedsomeveryexcitingutilizationresults,andaerospaceandcommercialindustryleaderslenttheirperspectivesoncurrentandfuturepossibilitiesthatthespacestationprovides.“Aconversation withElonMusk”kickedoffthethreedayeventwith4,500peoplewatchingliveonline,andthevideohasbeenviewedover114,000timessince.Onthelastdayoftheconference,attendeesheardpresentationsbyAstronautsSuniWilliamsandKarenNybergrightafterthefirstcommercialcrewannouncement.Videosandpresentationsfromtheeventcanbeviewedatwww.issconference.org/resources.php.AASwasverypleasedtopartnerwiththeCenterfortheAdvancementofScienceinSpacetoorganizetheeventincollaborationwithNASA,andwehavealreadybegunplanningforthe5thannualISSconferenceinSanDiego,July12-14,2016.

OurnextbigeventistheWerhnervonBraunMemorialSymposium,October27-29inHuntsville,Alabama.Thethemethisyearis“SpaceExplorationandDiscovery:ExpandingHumanKnowledge.”Registrationisnowopen,andwehopeyouwilljoinusthere.

AASispartneringwiththeAmericanAstronomicalSocietytoorganize“FutureinSpace”GoogleHangouts.July17markedthestartoftheserieswithadiscussiononthecurrentstateofexoplanetresearchandtheexcitingresultsthatmaybecomingwiththenextgenerationofspacetelescopes,includingJWST,WFIRST,andTESS.ThesecondeventintheserieswasheldonAugust14.“ForeseeingtheFuture:SpaceAstronomyinthe2020’sandBeyond”focusedonhowfuturespacetelescopeswillhelpusaddressquestionssuchaswhetherwearealoneintheuniverseandifotherEarth-likeworldsarecommon.

The11thStudentCanSatCompetitionwasheldJune12-14with42teamsfromtencountriescompeting–thelargeststudentturnoutever!FirstplacewiththehighestoverallscorewenttoAGHUniversityofScienceandTechnologyfromPoland,withTheUniversityofAlabamainHuntsvilletakingsecondplace.CarletonUniversity(Canada)wonthirdplace,whileMiddleEastTechnicalUniversity(Turkey)andSRMUniversity(India)tookfourthandfifthplace,respectively.SethJaiParkashMukandLalInstituteofEngineering&Technology(India)wontheTenderfootAwardforthehighestscorefromateamcompetingforthefirsttime.Congratulationstothesestudentsfortheiroutstandingwork!

Inclosing,IencourageallmemberstoconsidernominatingworthycandidatesforFellowsandourannualawards.Com-pleteinformationonsubmittinganomination,aswellaspastawardrecipientsandalistofFellows,canbefoundontheAASwebsite.ThedeadlineforFellownominationsisSeptember30andforAwardnominationsOctober31.




Operator: ____________________________

PageMark-Color-Comp


Signed: ___________________ Date: ______

4 SPACE TIMES•July-August2015

The Blog of Christopher R. Cooper: Future of Space Exploration: Apollo Program and SpaceXbyChristopherR.Cooper

Were the Moon missions worth the cost? Are humans doomed to Earth? (Source: SpaceX)

Myfatherhadhis60thbirthdayrecently.EverysooftenIhearastoryfromhimabouthow“thingshavechanged”intheU.S.Helikestodistillthe“things”toemotionslikehope,faith,exceptionalism;aninnocence.Ialwaysaskforanecdotes.Howhavewe“lostourway?”ThemeanderingexplanationleadstotheSpaceProgram.ThestorygoesthatApolloProgramwastheapex.Thatlosingthemomentumofchasingadreamaftershatteringtheneedresultedinaslow-growinglethargy.

Now,don’tgetmewrong.MyfatherlovesAmerica.He’saveteran,he’sworkedhardtobringtheAmericanDreamtomyfamilyhisentirelife.Idon’tknowifhe’srightabouthow“thingshavechanged.”Perhapsit’sjustwithtimethatwelookbackonhistorywithrose-coloredglasses.Nostalgiacanbeacloudysetofspecs.Still,Ican’thelpbutthinkofNormanRockwellwheneverthetaleisspun.Thefamilysitsaroundthebubble-televisionwatchingontenterhooksasthelatestNASAmissionisdetailed.Icanalmostseemyfathertherewithacowboyhatandaredwagon.

Thisthoughtof“innocencelostinAmerica”isn’tuniquetomyfather.Myunclesandauntslovetochimeinwithagreementwhenthey’rearound.Icanalmosthearsomeoneholdingbacka“kidsthesedays”comment.Itisn’tuniquetomyfamily,either.Infact,“Americalostitsinnocence,”vergesonrepetitivetrope.Ithinkit’salossofvision,alossofpriority.

Is the U.S. Spending Enough on NASA, is Space Exploration a Priority?

Perhapsthere’sanargumenttobehadwithspaceexploration,though.TheU.S.isn’tspendinglikeitusedto.IntheageoftheApolloProgram,NASA’sportionofthefederalbudgethoverednear3%insomeyears.Onaverage,NASAhascostabout1%ofthefederalbudget.



Operator: ____________________________

PageMark-Color-Comp


Signed: ___________________ Date: ______

5SPACE TIMES•July-August2015

NASAfundingistrendingdown.The2015budgetrequestisfor$17.5B,abitlessthan2014.Itrepresentsabout0.45%ofthefederalbudget.$4Bofthatisdedicatedtohumanspaceexploration.NASAisconsistentlyunderfunded,despitethefactthatthepublicoverestimatesNASA’scost.A2007studyfoundthattheaverageAmericanthinksthatwespendabout24%ofourfederalbudgetonNASA,orabout48x reality.

“From the Earth to the Moon” by Norman Rockwell, 1969

NASA budget as a percentage of the federal budget(Source: http://www.academia.edu/179045/_Public_Opinion_Polls_and_Perceptions_of_US_Human_Spaceflight_)



Operator: ____________________________

PageMark-Color-Comp


Signed: ___________________ Date: ______


NASA’sbudgetrealityhasbeendivergingfrompublicperceptionfordecades.It’snowonderwehavesciencecelebritiespan-handlingtothepublicoverhalfofapenny.

Neil deGrasse Tyson said it best with “We Stopped Dreaming”

NeildeGrasseTysontalksaboutamindsetinthevideo“WeStoppedDreaming”(https://youtu.be/CbIZU8cQWXc).AmindsetwheretheaverageAmericanwould“thinkabouttomorrow.”Theideathatwe,asapeople,wouldlookforwardtotechnologyadvances;thepossibilitiesunlockedfromresearchanddevelopment.Thatwe,asapeople,weregalvanizedtodreamaboutthefuture.Afutureinwhichwehaveinvestedforthelongterm.Thisisn’tafutureguidedbyquarterlyreportsorelectioncycles.It’soneinwhichweareguidedbyimprovingthehumancondition.Whentheguidinglightofexceptionalgoalsisreplacedwithmain-tenanceandstatusquo,dreamsareshattered.Theengineers,scientists,technologists,andmathematiciansoftomorrowneedtobeledbythevisionofexceptionalgoals.Withoutthem,scientificprogressstalls.Withoutadreamtopursue,wemortgageourfuture.

Benefits of NASA space exploration

TheApolloProgramyieldedanincrediblereturnoninvestment.TheU.S.hadreal,tangiblegainsfromtheinvestmentsmadeintheproject.TheprogramwasamajorsteppingstoneintofuturebeyondEarthprojects.HardwaredevelopedduringtheApolloProgramerawasusedinSkylab,ourfirstspacestation.Skylabproducedvaluableresultsthroughitssolarobservatoryandexperi-mentsperformedonboard.Skylabisjustoneofthespacecraftthatwouldnothavebeenfeasiblewithoutknowledgefromthelunarprogram.In1975aspacedockingwiththeSoyuzspacecraftoccurred.ItwasamajorsteptowardrebuildingrelationsbetweentheU.S.andtheU.S.S.R.ItplayedakeyroleintheendoftheColdWar.Avarietyofbreakthroughsinearlybreastcancerdetectionoccurred.Theaccelerateddevelopmentofintegratedcircuitswasmadepossiblethroughspaceexplorationresearch.Severalmajorspin-offsweretheproductofthelunarprogram.Therewererealbenefitsofspaceexploration.

Tysonmakesapointinhisspeechandvideo.Perhapstheoneinwhichthisentirestoryisbasedupon.Hesuggeststhathavingaculturalmindsetwherethepeopleareinternallyinvestedinthefutureenablesthoseverypeopletobringthefuturetopresent.Perhapsthat’swhatmyfathermeanswhenhesays“thingshavechanged.”

Maybethere’ssolaceinaplacewewouldn’thaveexpectedit.Traditionally,governmenthasbeentheonlysourcewiththeauthorityandresourcestobreachspace.Thatmightbechanging.Canprivateentitieswithcommercialneedsexistwithinthevacuumofspace?

3…2…1

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft (Source: SpaceX)



Operator: ____________________________

PageMark-Color-Comp


Signed: ___________________ Date: ______


Ifoundmyselfanxiouslywaitinginfront ofascreenforalaunchcountdown.I’dsayI’mafanofspaceexploration,butI’mnotthetypetositaroundwatchingrocketlaunches.IregretnothavingseenaSpaceShuttlelaunchbeforetheprogramended,though.However,thisfeltlikesomethingentirelydifferent.TheInternetwasawashinexcitementforSpaceX’sDragonspacecraftlaunch.Itwasn’tjustthegeeksandnerds,either.Mainstreammediahadpickedupthestory,andElonMuskhadbecomeacelebrity.MuskfoundedSpaceXonthebasiseventuallyEarthwillnolongersupportourspecies.It’sadifficultconcepttointernalizeasit’saneventfarinthefuture,butitisinevitable.Atsomepoint,someonehastomakethedecisiontospreadhumanitybeyondEarthorourspeciesdieswithit.Acrosstheglobe,regularpeoplewereexcitedaboutspaceagain.

Myscreenhadlessofabubbleshapetoitthandidmyfather’sduringtheApolloProgramera,butIbetthefeelingsweresimilar.IwatchedthegroundcrewatSpaceXasDragoncompleteditsmission.YoucouldseewhatTysonhaddescribedinhisvideo.Iwasinspired.Theinternalizedgoals,desire,andfaithinthedreamtheirprojectcreatedwaswrittenalloverthefacesoftheyoungtalentatSpaceX.Theseengineers,scientists,technologists,andmathematicianswereburstingwithgenuineexcitement.Theyhadacauseandadream.

SpaceX Dragon leaving HQ (Source: SpaceX)

Justlikethem,Ifeltarushofexcitement.Itwasexcitementfortechnology,exploration;formovingthegoalpostfurther.NASAintendstogobacktotheMoon.Marsseemsalittlelessimpossible.OpportunityRovercompletedamarathon.Itwasexcitementforthefuture.

The Future of Space Exploration

HowwillwemovebeyondthescopeoftheApolloProgrammissions?SpaceXisdoingaterrificjobasacompany,buttothegeneralpublic,they’relittlemorethanagoodstransportservice.Arocket-poweredtractor-trailer.OnewhichisprimarilypaidbyapubliclyfundedNASA.

Therewillundoubtedlybemore:atractor-trailerthatcansupporthumans,onewhichcantravelfurtherintothesolarsystem,asystembywhichtodeliverapayloadtoMars.Ultimately,privatecompanieswillrelyuponpublicfundingtoreachunchartedter-ritorybecausethere’slittlereasonforotherprivatemoneytoparticipate.Aspublicinterestandfundingfades,sogoestherevenuesourceofdependentprivatecompanies.



Operator: ____________________________

PageMark-Color-Comp


Signed: ___________________ Date: ______


Ifwehaven’tmadeextendinghumanitybeyondEarthapriority,oneday,we’llbeforcedoffit.AsmuchofagiftasEarthis,itwillnotlastforever.Ifwecanraisedesiretogooutandexplore — tostretchourboundaries — wemaybereadyforwhichevereventforcesusoffbeforeithappens.Ifwecanfindthataweinspaceexplorationagain,wemayavoidsittingontheearthlyTitanic,scramblingforalifeboat.

Wecanhelpbyraisingawarenessinthebenefitsofspaceexploration.TherearenumerousNASA-supportedinventionsandadvancesalreadythisyear.Wecanhelpbytellingourrepresentativesspaceexplorationdeservesatleastapennyonthedollar.Wecanhelpbybeingoutwardlyinterestedinspaceexplorationwithfriendsandthroughsocialmedia:theexcitementspreads.

Itwasn’tanApolloProgramorShuttlelaunch,butIwon’tforgetwatchingtheDragoncapsule’sfirstsuccess.Humanitystarteddownanotherpossibleavenuetoexpandamongthestars.Notunlikemyfatherdecadesbefore,Isatbythescreenwatchingandwonderinginawe.AllIneededwasacowboyhatandaredwagon.

Christopher R. Cooper is a web technology expert in Richmond, Virginia. He is founder and creative director of Daymuse Studios and an adjunct professor at The George Washington University. He writes for industry publications but also moon-lights as an eponymous blogger on topics such as technology, travel, and business.

This essay is a continuation of a post from 2009 detailing the Apollo space program cost. All SpaceX photos courtesy of their public domain gallery.

Originally published by @chrisrcooper on April 27, 2015

© 2015 Christopher R. Cooper

Opportunity’s Marathon Journey (Source: NASA/JPL http://tinyurl.com/nb8flxj)



Operator: ____________________________

PageMark-Color-Comp


Signed: ___________________ Date: ______


A Roadmap for an Interstellar WorldshipbyFergusRussell-Conway,MicahKlettke,KaranGujarati,JamesBevington,AbigailSherriff,AndersonWilder,MansoorShar,KyleAcierno,BrianRamos,Jean-FrancoisRococo,Chaitra,andFlorin-CristianLazar

Formillennia,humanshavelookedatthestarswithdreamsofwhatmaylayinthatdistantbeyond.Thetimetogoforwardandexploretheunknownisnow,butmanychallengesmustfirstbeovercome.TheexplorationofEarth’sgalacticneighborhoodwillrequiredecadesofplanning,research,anddevelopment.

Thisyear,AstraPlaneta,ateamof22graduatestudentsattheInternationalSpaceUniversityMastersProgram,cametogethertocre-ateaconceptualdesignforaworldshipandproducearoadmapleadingtoitslaunch.Theworldshipinthisstudywasdesignedtocarry100,000passengersoverajourneylastingupto1,000yearswhiletravellingslower-than-light.Thestudycoveredmanydisciplinessuchasengineering,science,economy,law,projectplanning,humanities,andspaceapplications,todeterminewhatstepswerenecessarytofundaprojectofthismagnitude,developandbuildtheworldship,andprepareEarthforsuchaglobalendeavor.

Figure 1 - Artist’s Worldship Concept (Source: Fergus Russell-Conway)

Figure 2 - Astra Planeta Logo (Source: Abigail Sherriff)



Operator: ____________________________

PageMark-Color-Comp


Signed: ___________________ Date: ______


Theteamreportitselfoutlinesthedifferentchoicesineachdisciplinethatcouldbetaken,identifiesthemissiondrivers,thechallengeswhichmaybefaced,andthecriticalpathoftheroadmap.Theroadmapdoesnotassumethatcertainchoicesaremade;rather,itoutlinestherequiredpointsatwhichthedecisionsanddevelopmentsshouldbemade.

Thefirstconceptofgenerationshipswasproposedin1928byKonstantinTsiolkovsky.Formally,aworldshipisaself-sustainingstarshipthattravelsatslower-than-lightspeedsoverhundredsofyearsandisintendedforlarge-scalehumantransportationforextra-solarvoyages.

AstraPlanetaapproachedthechallengesfromaninterdisciplinaryperspective,consideringscientific,technical,societal,political,legal,ethical,andeconomicaspects.Thisincludedconsideringpublicoutreachandeducation,whichisacrucialaspectinsuchamomentousundertaking.Thefinalresultisaconceptandarchitectureforaworldshipmissionandaroadmaptoachieveit.

MethodologyAnominalhundred-yeartimeframeconstrainedthetechnologytocurrentornear-futuredevelopments.Identifyingapreferredconcept

ledtoalistofrequirementsfortheworldship.Fromthis,alogicalprogressionoftasksleadingfromcurrenttechnologiestothepreferredconceptwasdevelopedandthedurationforeachtaskwasestimated.Wherepossible,analogueswereusedandextrapolationwasdevel-oped.AstraPlanetadidnotsetouttoforcethenecessarytechnologicalandsocietaldevelopmentsintoahundred-yeartimeframe.Instead,arealisticestimateforthedurationofcriticaldevelopmentswaspursued,resultinginaroadmapthatrepresentsa160-yeartimeframe.

Interstellar Mission Concept and ChallengesAninterstellarmissionisacomplexandmulti-facetedundertakingwithmanychallenges.Itisimportanttohaveagoodunderstanding

ofthescientificimplicationsandbackgroundofsuchamission.Thisaidsintheidentificationofthekeymissionchallengeswhichinformsthemissiondesignandnarrowsthemissionscope.Themissionconceptwasdevelopedbytheteamtothefollowing5points:1)Multi-generationalWorldship;2)Singlevoyagetoonedestination;3)Self-sustainingoverathousandyears;4)Capableofsustainingapopulationof100,000people;and5)Destinationwithin25lightyears.

Todeveloptherequiredtechnologiesforsuchanendeavorrequireshavingadetailedknowledgeaboutthespacewherethecraftwillbetravelling,aswellasdetailsaboutpotentialhazardsthatwillrequiredevelopingandpre-testingprotectionmethodsfortheworldship.Therefore,theinterstellarmedium(ISM)andourgalacticneighborhoodmustbeexploredbeforeembarkingonaninterstellarjourney.Anunderstandingofgalacticcosmicradiation,hazardousionsandparticles,interstellardust,andnearbystellarsystemsmaybegainedusingthefollowingmethods:

•SendingprecursorprobesbeyondtheSolarSystem•DirectmeasurementoftheISMphysicalenvironment•Developingnewmethodologiestosurveycloseststarsandtheirplanets

Wefoundthatourmissionconceptpresentedanon-exhaustivelistofchallenges,butthosethatwebelievedtobethemostpertinentregardingtechnical,geopolitical,economic,societal,andphysiologicalchallengeswerethefollowing:

Technical:•Developmentoftechnology•Interstellarcommunication•Radiationandparticleshielding•Closed-looplifesupportsystem

GeopoliticalandEconomic:•Politicalandfinancialsupport•Maintainingfunding•Controllingonboardeconomy•Governanceonboard

Societal:•Culturalandethical•Language•Isolation•‘Earthout-of-sight’phenomenon

Physiological:•Radiation•Healthandillness



Operator: ____________________________

PageMark-Color-Comp


Signed: ___________________ Date: ______


•Recreationandphysicalactivities•Producingpharmaceuticals

Theteamalsolookedintodestinations;however,wefoundthatcurrentlythereisinsufficientinformationtoselectatargetdestinationsystem.Continuedobservationsanddevelopmentofastronomicalobservationtechniquesisrequiredtodefinethehabitabilitycriteriaforastellarsystem.Selectionofadestinationisakeydecisionpoint.

Thecomplexityofaninterstellarmissionplacesextrarequirementsonthedesignofaworldshipascomparedtoaconventionalspacecraft.Theteaminvestigatedsomeofthemorechallengingaspectsofthedesign,andidentifiedthesubsystemswhichrequirethemostresearchanddevelopmentfromexistingtechnologiesandwherenecessaryfeasiblenewtechnologieswhichwouldneedtobedevelopedfortheworldship.

Nuclearfusionisthemostsuitableandcapabletechnologyforpropulsionandpowerthatislikelytobedevelopedinthenearfuture.Energyfromthefusionoftwolighterelementsintoheavierones(e.g.,deuteriumintohelium)wouldbeusedtopropeltheworldshipandprovidepower.Otherpromisingtechnologiessuchasantimatterandinterstellarramjetsshouldalsobeconsidered.

Pulsarbasednavigationseemsthemostfeasiblenavigationmethodforinterstellartravel.Pulsarsemittremendouspulsesofenergyinpreciseperiodsthatcanbemeasuredoverinterstellardistances.Usingthesepulses,positioningcanbeachievedbytriangulationinasimilarmannertothewayglobalnavigationsatellitesystemssuchasGPSwork.

Figure 3 - Nuclear Fusion Process (Source: eteknix.com)

Figure 4 - Artist’s Concept of a Pulsar (Source: wallpaperswide.com)

Tofueltheworldship,assumingthepowerand/orpropulsionsystemsarefusion-based,alargevolumeofdeuteriumwouldbeneeded.ThesourceofthisfuelcouldbeJupiter,buttocollectfuelfromJupiter,aminingsystemmustbedeveloped.Asdepictedinthefigureoftheworldship,thisfuelwouldbestoredexternallyasafrozenball.

Figure 5 - Artist’s Concept of Frozen Ball of Deuterium (Source: Fergus Russell-Conway)

TheunitstructureisatorusinspiredbytheStanfordspacecolonydesign,but,theworldshipismuchlarger;therefore,atotalof10ringsareneeded.Eachringcanhold10,000peopleandhasamajordiameterofapproximately1700mandminordiameterofabout140m.The



Operator: ____________________________

PageMark-Color-Comp


Signed: ___________________ Date: ______


Figure 6 - Artist’s Concept of a Single Torus Structure (Source: Fergus Russell-Conway)

Figure 7 - Life Support System Cycle (Source: Fergus Russell-Conway)

worldshipcanbespunat1.2rpmtoprovideartificialgravityintherangeof1g.

TheLifeSupportSystem(LSS)fortheworldshipwouldhavetobeaself-sustainingclosed-loopsystem,thereforetheprimarywork-horseofthelifesupportsystemisanecologicalsystem.Thesystemwillcyclenutrientsandorganicmaterialsandprovidefood.Traditionalphysical/chemicalLSStechnologiescanbeusedtosupplementtheecosystem.Inorganicmaterialscanberecycledbymoretraditionalrecyclingmethods.

Bothpassiveandactiveshieldingmethodswereresearchedfortheworldship;however,mostoftheexistingtechnologiesaredesignedforusewithinoursolarsystemandnotforwithstandinggalacticcosmicrays(GCR)orheavyionizedparticles(HZE).Onesuggestionwastouseacombinationofmaterialsinapassiveshieldingskin,i.e.,theworldshipskinwouldhaveanouterandinnershellofaluminumwiththeinsidecavityfilledwithwater,whichwouldhavetheaddedadvantageofself-sealingafterapunctureevent.MuchfurtherresearchwouldbeneededonthistopictoseewhatmightbeadequateintheISM.

Theteamhadanumberofpeoplewholookedintosocietalissuesandwhatdevelopmentsmaybeneededtoensureacohesivesocietyonboardtheworldship.Thepopulationoftheworldshipwillneedtobeselectedbasedonspecificcriteria,andtheymusthaveacompleteunderstandingofthemissionaims,objectives,andrisks.Thiswillimpactthetrainingpriortolaunchandtheinteractionsonboardtheship.

Thecultureofthepopulationonboardwillbegreatly,ifnotentirelydifferentfromthatoftypicalEarthculturebecauseoftheworldshipenvironment.WhereasEarthcultureisaveryfluidsystem,cultureonboardwillbeplanned,tosomedegree,accordingtothelogisticsofthevoyage.Physicalaswellasmentaloutletswillneedtobeconsideredaccordingtotheconfinesoftheship.

Medicalaspectsfortheworldshipwerealsoresearchedbecause,aswecanexpect,humansincreasecomplexityforanyspacemission.Advancementsmustbemadeintechnologyandknowledgetoaidhumansurvivalinthenewanddangerousenvironmentofinterstellartravel.Properplanningfor“outdoor”spaceandvirtualrealityenvironmentswillbeessential.Dependingonthesocietalenvironment,anestablishedeconomywillbeasimportantonboardtheworldshipasitisonEarth,andwillplayaprominentroleintheonboardgovernancestructure.Rangingfromchild-rearingtoproperdisposalofdeadbodies,anagreeduponsetofethicswillplayapivotalroleinthecohesionofthepopulation.

Communicationisthebasisforinteractionamongpeople.Languageisamainform,anditwilldevelopdifferentlywithisolationfromEarth.ThelanguagethatisspokenontheworldshipwhenitleavestheEarthmaynotbethesamelanguagethatisspokenafteritarrivesatitsdestination,andtheremaynotbeanequivalentlanguageonEarth.Religionisalsoaconsiderationthatmustbeaddressed.Religionisapersonaltopictoeveryindividual,sotheprosandconsofthevariousoptionsmustbeconsidered.Theshipmayallowallreligions,onlyonereligion,ornoreligion;thiswilldirectlyimpactthemake-upandselectionofthepopulation.Educationofallageswillbeaparamountissueforthesurvivalofthemissionandthecontinuedsuccessofknowledgetransfer.Maintainingpriorknowledgeandgainingnewwill



Operator: ____________________________

PageMark-Color-Comp


Signed: ___________________ Date: ______


Figure 8 - International Interstellar Fund Concept Logo (Source: Abigail Sherriff)

beoftheutmostimportanceforthepeopleonboard.Thehumanmindisboundlessinitscomplexity,andmanagingalargepopulationtravelingtotheinterstellarreachescomeswithinnumerableconsiderations,manyofwhichareunimaginabletotheEarth-boundhumansoftoday.Thesmallandlargechangesofthehumanbrainandpsychewillbeacentralfocusofthemission,andcognitivebehaviormustbestudiedpriortolaunchandmonitoredthroughoutthemission.

Agrowingtrendtowardslargersystemsofsystemsmeansthatprojectplanningisoftheutmostimportance.Giventhesizeoftheworld-shipandthelevelofinternationalcollaborationneeded,properplanningisnecessarytoensurethatrisk,financing,governance,andlegalissuesareresolvedinadvanceinthecontextofinternationalcollaboration.

Onenationcannotundertakeaninterstellarmissionbasedsolelyonitsownfinancialresources.TheInternationalInterstellarFundwillservethisfunctionandestablishitselfastheprimarybodyforcoordinatingfinancingeffortsforthedurationoftheproject.Initially,thefundwillconsistoftwentyfoundingmembers,whichincludetheleadingandemergingspacenations.Afterinitialfounding,thesecountrieswillformacommitteetoestablishagovernancestructuresimilartotheInternationalMonetaryFund.

Risksareaninevitablepartofthismission,includinggovernmentalandpoliticalfactors,alackoffunds,scheduleoverruns,andtechni-calfailures.Riskmitigationstrategiesareexploredanddevelopedfurtherinthefinalreport.

Figure 9 - Risk Matrix Concept (Source: Fergus Russell-Conway)

Theteambelievedthatacentralcitydedicatedtotheendeavorwouldbethebestandsimplestlocationtocarryouttheplanning,educa-tion,outreach,logistics,research,development,andothersuchactivities.Theycoinedthiscityasthe“InterstellarCity.”IntheInterstellarCity,individualsfromaroundtheworldwillcometogethertopushforwardthecollectivethinkingandprogressoftheworldship.Besidesincludingalltheinfrastructure,testing,andresearchfacilitiesneededforaninterstellarworldship,thiscitywillhaveitsownacademies,institutions,factories,andotherfacilitiesfoundinnormalcities.

Strongoutreachandeducationalprogramswillbenecessarytosupportfundingandtobuildasocietythatiswillingandabletocreatetheworldship.Theseprogramsarekeytoensuringthatthepopulation,societyingeneral,andfuturegenerationsareinformedabouttheprogressoftheworldshipanditsmission,andalsotoensurethatsupportcontinuesthroughouttheprogramofdevelopment,construction,andaftertheworldshipdeparts.

Crowdsourcedproblem-solvingplatformsmayprovideoutreachthatwouldalloweveryonetoparticipateinworldshipcreation;virtualrealityandgamingwouldallowyouthtoexperiencelifeonboardtheworldship;biospheresandoldtechnologydemonstrationprojectscouldbecomeclassroomsfortheyouthandpotentialpopulationmembers;creativeviralmediacompetitionswouldgenerateoutreachad-vocates;futureworldshipcitizenscouldmeetwithstudentstodiscusslifeonboard;andsocialmediamonitoringwouldbeusedtogatherpublicsupportstatistics.

Increasinglyconnectedgenerationsrequireflexibleandeasilyadaptableoutreachtoolstoallowuserstobeactivelyinvolved,andthat



Operator: ____________________________

PageMark-Color-Comp


Signed: ___________________ Date: ______


takeadvantageoftheindividual’spersonalabilitytodooutreach.Technologiesdevelopedovertime,aswellasoldertechnologiesdevelopedfortheworldship,willbefullyutilizedforthispurpose.

Interstellarsubjectsshouldbeintegratedintoschoolcurriculumswithintheeducationsystemintheinterstellarcity;vocationalschoolsshouldbecreatedwithfocusonspaceflightskills;worldshipmentalitieswillbeintroducedthroughrecyclingprojectandprogramswithafocusoninterdependencies;andfreeonlineeducationcourseswillensurethatpeopleofallagescanlearnaboutinterstellartravel.

Educationmustbothinformabouttheinterstellarmissionaswellasproducelearnersthatarereadyandwillingtopartakeinmakingitareality.Thiseducationalinfrastructuremuststretchfromearlychildhoodtoadulthood,andshouldincludeadvanceddegreeoptions.

TeamAstraPlanetacameupwithanumberofrecommendationswhichwebelievearenecessaryforthecreationoftheinterstellarworldship.Werecommendthatcontinuedmissionstoexoplanets,interstellarmediumstudies,andmicrogravityeffectresearchshouldbepursued.Thestructureshouldconsistofasingleworldshipconstructedusingmultipletoroidalrings.Researchanddevelopmentshouldbepursuedinnuclearfusiontechnology,alternativepowerandpropulsionmethods,activeshieldingmethods,gravitationallensing,pulsar-basednavigation,biological3Dprinting,andclosedloopecologicalsystems.Allcomponentsmusthaveanextremelyhighlevelofreusabilityandrecyclabilitywithinthedesignandshouldbemanufacturedtohighstandardsofreliability.Thismeansthatmoreresearchshouldbeperformedconcerningmaterialrecyclabilityinaclosedloopsystemovermanygenerations.Acultureofrecyclingneedstobeinstilledintheworldshipinhabitants,andshouldbefosteredintheselectedpopulationaspartofthetrainingleadinguptothelaunch.

Beforethelaunchoftheworldship,longerspaceflightanalogsimulationsandpsychologicalresearchmustbeconducted.Theeducationsystemsshouldincorporatesomeinterstellarcurriculumintothestandardschooleducation.WerecommendthattheinitialeconomicsystemshouldbeahybridbetweenplannedandmarketeconomiesandthattheInterstellarCityshouldbecreatedwithacentralizedcommunityandeconomicsystem,actingasahubforworldshipexperimentation,research,manufacturing,andgoverning.

AnInternationalInterstellarFundisneededtofundandfacilitatethedevelopmentofsubsequentinvestments.Werecommendthatin-situresourceutilizationontheMoonshouldbepursued,andthatthefivemainspacetreatiesshouldbeamendedtoincludeandengagetheprivatesector.Itisalsoextremelynecessarythatpublicoutreachandeducationalchangesshouldbeginimmediatelywithincreaseduseandmonitoringofsocialmedia.

Overview of the RoadmapNote:Thisroadmapisnotmeanttobeacomprehensiveanddetailedscheduleofeventsleadingtothelaunchofaworldship.Instead,it

outlinesthekeyinterdisciplinarydevelopmentsrequiredandidentifiesthecriticalpath.AstraPlanetaintendsthatitwillserveasaguideinidentifyingthewayforwardtomakinginterstellartravelareality.

Successfullaunchofaworldshiprequiresmanytaskstobecompleted.Someofthesearequitetechnicalinnaturewhileothersfocusonsocialandorganizationalaspectsoftheproject.Aswithmostprojects,fundingavailabilityisimperativefortaskstobeundertakenandcompletedinatimelymanner;thus,theestablishmentofamonetaryfundisthefirsttasktowardconstructingaworldship.Alongthecriti-calpathliethetasksofestablishingalunarbaseanddevelopinglunarmines,alongwiththetechnologyneededtooperatethem.TheMoonwouldprovidemostofthematerialsforconstructionoftheworldship.Oncethematerialsandconstructiontechnologiesaredeveloped,constructionofasingleringengineeringmodelwouldbeundertaken,followedbytestingandexpansionintoconstructionoftherestoftheworldship.Forthemostpart,currentlyprovenphysicsandtechnologiesaretheoreticallyfeasibleforaninterstellarworldship.However,thecapabilityofthesetechnologiesiscrudeandwouldneedtobeimprovedandrefined.Itisestimatedthataninterstellarworldshipcouldbeconstructedandlaunchedinapproximately160years.

ConclusionThedesign,constructionandlaunchofamulti-generational,slower-than-lightworldshipisamonumentalundertaking.Enablingthismis-

sionrequiresadvancementsinspacetechnologies,aswellasashiftinfocustomoresustainableones.Itwillnecessitatehumansdevelopingadepthofknowledgeabouttheinterstellarenvironmentinadditiontoanunderstandingofthemselves,bothpsychologicallyandsocially.Thisdictateschallengingthedefinitionofwhoweare,understandinganddefiningourplaceintheuniverseandonEarth,andrevisitingourethics.Internationalcollaborationisvital,makingeconomicandpoliticalchallengesequallypivotaltotechnicalones.Mechanismstoraiseinternationalfundsmustbeputinplace,politicalcollaborationmustbeproperlygoverned,andspacelawandtreatiesmustevolve.

AstraPlaneta’sroadmapdeterminedthat160yearsistheminimumtimebeforeaworldshipcouldbelaunched.However,regardlessoftimeframe,thelaunchofaworldshipwillbeconductedbyamuchdifferentsocietythanourown.Thissocietywouldbeonethatvaluesthepresenceofhumanlifeoutsideofourownsolarsystemandcooperatesonaglobalscale.Thesereasonsalonemaketheworldshipprojectaworthwhileendeavor.

NoteTheInternationalSpaceUniversity’s2014MastersinSpaceStudiesisanintense,multidisciplinaryone-yearcourseforpostgraduate

studentsandprofessionalsheldinStrasbourg,France.Thecurriculumcoverstheprincipalspace-relatedfields,bothnon-technicalandtechnical,andrangesfrompolicyandlaw,businessandmanagement,andhumanitiestolifesciences,engineering,physicalsciencesandspaceapplications.ThefullreportandexecutivesummarycanbedownloadedfromtheInternationalSpaceUniversityLibrary.Hardcopiesoftheexecutivesummaryarealsoavailableuponrequest.



Operator: ____________________________

PageMark-Color-Comp


Signed: ___________________ Date: ______

15

Figure 10 - Roadmap for Interstellar Travel(Source: Background Image - Fergus Russell-Conway and Abigail Sherriff; Roadmap Outline - Florin-Cristian Lazar, Chaitra, and Jean-Francois Rococo)




Operator: ____________________________

PageMark-Color-Comp


Signed: ___________________ Date: ______


AWARDS NOMINATIONS DEADLINE – OCTOBER 31AASpresents awards to recognize the excellenceandprofessional service of our ownmembership andmembersofthespacecommunity.AASmembers(andnon-members)areinvitedandstronglyencouragedtonominateworthwhilecandidatesforthisyear’sawards.Awarddescriptions,previousrecipients,andnominationprocedurescanbeviewedontheAASwebsite.TheAwardsCommitteewillreviewsubmissionsandforwardnamesofrecommendedcandidatestotheofficersanddirectorsforapproval.

www.astronautical.org/awards

FELLOWS NOMINATIONS DEADLINE – SEPTEMBER 30MembersoftheSocietyarenominatedtobecomeFellowsinrecognitionoftheiroutstandingcontributionstoastronautics.AlistofcurrentFellowsandnominationprocedurescanbeviewedontheAASwebsite.TheFel-lowsCommitteewillreviewthesubmissionsandforwardnamesofrecommendedcandidatestotheofficersanddirectorsforapproval.

www.astronautical.org/members/fellows

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

8th Wernher von Braun Memorial SymposiumThe University of Alabama in Huntsville ♦ Chan Auditorium

“Space Exploration and Discovery: Expanding Human Knowledge”

October 27-29, 2015

www.astronautical.org



Operator: ____________________________

PageMark-Color-Comp


Signed: ___________________ Date: ______

17



Operator: ____________________________

PageMark-Color-Comp


Signed: ___________________ Date: ______


TECHNICAL CONFERENCE

39th Annual AAS Guidance and Control ConferenceBeaver Run Resort ♦ Breckenridge, ColoradoFriday, February 5 - Wednesday, February 10, 2016TheRockyMountain Section of theAAS is excited to invite you to the 39thAn-nualAASGuidance,NavigationandControlConferencefromFebruary5toFebruary10,2016.TheconferencewillhosttopicscoveringtheentirelifecycleofGN&Cforspacecraftandsensorswhilereflectingsomeofthemostrelevantandcurrenttopicsintheindustry.Inkeepingwiththedesiretobuildthenextgenerationofengineers,theconferencewillagainhostSTEMscape–anoutreachtoover100localhighschoolstudentsandeducators.

Asalways,AdvancesinGN&Cwillcontinueasananchorsessionandwillexaminethecurrentstate-of-the-artandthefutureofGN&C.Newfor2016,wewillincludetu-torialsessionsbetweensessionsledbyindustryleaderscoveringavarietyof“beyondthetextbook”topics.

Severalupcomingmissionsrequirealowthrustandahightotaldelta-Vcapability.Consequently,onekeyfocusareaforthisyear’sconferencewillcoverthehardwareandmissionplanningaspectsofemergingpropulsiontechnologyandwillincludeadedicatedsessiononInSpacePropulsionInnovations.Thecommunityhasalsoseenagrowthinmissionsthatrequiretheabilitytonavigaterelativetoanotherbody.Therefore,wewillhavesessionsfocusingonopticalnavigation,servicing,andencountersbeyondearth.

Asgreaternavigationaccuracyissoughtacrossavarietyofterrestrialandorbitalapplications,ourGNSSPrecisionPositionNavi-gationandTimingsessionwilllookatthestridesbeingmadetorefineprecisionandincreaseavailabilityacrossadiversesetofassets.

Theconferencewillhavesessionsaddressingourcommunity’sgrowinginterestinreducinglaunchcoststhroughbothhostedpay-loadsandinnovativeapproachestoalternatelaunchvehicles.Asourcommunityhasalsoseenpressuretoreducetotalcostsinpartbyreducingspacecraftandcomponentmasses,aforwardlookingsessionwillcovertheminiaturizationofGN&Ccomponents.

Continuingourtraditionofwelcomingthosenewtotheindustryandbasedonthestellarpresentationsoverthelastthreeyears,StudentInnovationsinGN&Cwillfeatureastudentcompetitionwithscholarshipprizes.Afterlookingforwardtothegreatemerg-ingworkofthestudents,wewilldoaretrospectiveofthechallengesfacedbyourpioneersinGN&C.Wrappinguptheconfer-encewillbeRecentExperiences,atraditionalsessionwithcandidrevelationsofthesuccessesandfailures,trials,andtribulationsencounteredbyyourcolleaguesinthespaceindustry.

TheconferencewillagainhavetwoClassifiedSessionsonAdvancesinGN&CandRecentExperiencesatthebeginningoftheconferenceforparticipantswhohaveproperclearances.ThissessionoffersauniqueopportunitytoshareandnetworkatalevelnotusuallyavailabletomanyinourGN&Ccommunity.Mondayeveningtheconferencewillhostanetworkingopportunity.FamilyeventsincludetheperennialfavoriteTechnicalExhibitsandbuffetonSaturdaynight.Thisisagreatopportunitytosocializewithfriendsandcolleagues.Ourdiverseattendanceandagendaoffersinteractionwithindustry,government,andacademiapersonnelandstate-of-the-arttechnology.

Bothnewandveteranconferenceattendeeswillappreciatetheexpandedtechnicalcontentfeaturedthisyear.Inadditiontothepaperpresentations,adailyPosterSessionwillbeintegratedwithandhighlightedduringtheconference.

Abstracts are due by September 2, 2015.PaperandposterabstractsmaybesubmittedontheGN&CConferencewebsiteathttp://www.aas-rocky-mountain-section.org/.Theconferencewebsitealsocontainsthefullconferencescheduleaswellasregis-trationandlodginginformation.



Operator: ____________________________

PageMark-Color-Comp


Signed: ___________________ Date: ______


NOTES ON A NEW BOOK

Explore the Cosmos like Neil deGrasse Tyson: A Space Science Journey byCAP Saucier. Amherst, New York:PrometheusBooks, 2015.178pages.ISBN 9781633880146. US $14.99(paperback, illustrations, notes,glossary,bibliographyindex).

Without a doubt, astrophysicistNeil deGrasse Tyson, director ofthe Hayden Planetarium, has filledthe void left by the passing in 1996of astronomer Carl Sagan. Notwo scientists have done more topopularize the study of outer space,andTysonhasexpandedhis audiencebyusingtechnologySagancouldonlyhaveimagined.Beyondcosmologicalbooks and television documentaries,Tyson is in his sixth year of hostinga radio show and podcast called“StarTalk,” communicates with3.5 million followers via Twitter,and recently began hosting a late-night talk showabout scienceon theNational Geographic Channel. Heunabashedly seeks to blend comedy,popular culture, and science to getaudiences to understandhow scienceis at work everywhere in their lives.AsonemeasureofTyson’sbeingthepreeminent science communicatorof the early twenty-first century,the National Academy of Sciencesbestowed on him its highest, annualaward – the 2015 Public WelfareMedal.Now,inabiographytitledExplore

the Cosmos like Neil deGrasse Tyson,author CAP Saucier engages readers

Explore the Cosmos like Neil deGrasse Tyson: A Space Science JourneyReviewedbyRickW.Sturdevant

ages8-12withthestoryofhowaboyinNewYorkCitybecame fascinatedby the heavens, which he viewedthrough a telescope from the rooftopof his family’s apartment building.As youngsters follow Tyson’seducational and career development,Saucierskillfullyinterlacesquotationsfrom Tyson, heavy doses of currentinformation about the universe, andexplanations of the space-relatedsciences. An ample sprinkling ofspectacularly colorful cosmic imagesand other photographs renders thebookwellsuitedtovisuallearners.Saucier’s emphasis on Neil’s

enjoyment of humanities coursesand athletics as an undergraduate atHarvardtemperswhatevertendenciessomereadersmighthave to label the

Dr. Rick W. Sturdevant is an AAS Fellow and deputy director of history for Air Force Space Command at Peterson AFB in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

budding scientist as a nerd. Tysoncomesacrossasatalented,fun-lovinghuman being, not someone fixatedon a blackboard full of equationsor cloistered in a sterile laboratory.Nonetheless, Saucier clearly deliversthe message that one cannot be anastrophysicist without a substantialimmersioninscienceandmathematics.At a time when the United States

desperately needs to attract morestudents toward science, technology,engineering, and mathematics(STEM)courses,Explore the Cosmosrepresents one small tool. Parentsand teachers alike might find thisbook just the ticket for encouragingtheir children to develop a passionfor learning more about all thingsscientific.SomeofthosereadersmightevenadoptNeildeGrasseTysonasarolemodel,perhapsaspiringtobecomescientists themselves. If members ofthe American Astronautical Societyreally want to succeed in promotingSTEMeducation,findingwaystoputSaucier’sbookinthehandsofeager-to-learnyoungstersseemsworthwhile.Inaddition,encouragingotherauthorsto write STEM-related books foryoungreadersmightbeagoodidea.



Operator: ____________________________

PageMark-Color-Comp


Signed: ___________________ Date: ______


2015 ISS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

Snapshots of the 4th ISS Research and Development Conference(Photos courtesy of CASIS/Austin Jordan)

We greatly appreciate the support of the following sponsors who

made this event possible.

PLATINUMTheBoeingCompany

GOLDOrbitalATK

SILVERFedEx®SpaceSolutionsSierraNevadaCorporationUnitedLaunchAlliance

MARKETPLACEAirbusDSSpaceServicesInc.

CSS-DynamacEclipticEnterprisesCorporation

Fish&RichardsonHNu-Photonics

KentuckySpace/SpaceTangoLockheedMartin

NanoRacksSpaceVirtualReality

Techshot,Inc.TeledyneBrownEngineering

ZINTechnologies

BioServeSpaceTechnologiesBoyScoutsofAmerica-ChicagoLandCouncil

EliLillyMassachusettsLifeSciencesCenter



Operator: ____________________________

PageMark-Color-Comp


Signed: ___________________ Date: ______


Save the Date!July 12-14, 2016

5th International Space StationResearch and Development

ConferenceSan Diego, California



Operator: ____________________________

PageMark-Color-Comp


Signed: ___________________ Date: ______


Join the American Astronautical Societyor renew or update your membership online at

www.astronautical.orgor use the form below.

Follow AAS on:

www.youtube.com/user/astrosociety

www.facebook.com/AmericanAstronauticalSociety www.twitter.com/astrosociety

http://www.slideshare.net/astrosociety

Membership Application Membership TypeMember ........................................$100

SeniorMember .................... $115 Fellow(renewalonly) .............. $115 Retired ................................ $50RetiredFellow(renewalonly) . $50 Teacher(K-12) ..................... $45 Student(full-time) ................ $45

___________________________________________________________________________________________Mr./Mrs./Ms./Dr./Rank Last Name First Name

___________________________________________________________________________________________Title Affiliation

___________________________________________________________________________________________Address

___________________________________________________________________________________________City State Zip Code

___________________________________________________________________________________________Phone Email

703-866-0020

Payment Method Check AMEX Discover MasterCard VISA___________________________________ Credit Card Number ___________________________________ Expiration Date ___________________________________ Code (on back of credit card) ___________________________________ Signature

Mail to: AmericanAstronauticalSociety 6352RollingMillPlace,Suite102 Springfield,VA22152-2370Fax to: 703-866-3526

Membership Benefits Include: Subscriptions toThe Journal of the Astronautical Sciences (quarterly)andSPACE TIMES magazine(bi-monthly),aswellasreducedratesatallAASevents.VisittheAASwebsiteatwww.astronautical.orgforadditionalinformationaboutbenefits.

www.astronautical.org www.twitter.com/astrosocietywww.facebook.com/AmericanAstronauticalSociety



Operator: ____________________________

PageMark-Color-Comp


Signed: ___________________ Date: ______


AAS CORPORATE AND INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERS

a.i. solutions, Inc. Aerojet Rocketdyne The Aerospace Corporation Aerospace Industries Association Analytical Graphics, Inc. Applied Defense Solutions, Inc. Arianespace Auburn University Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. The Boeing Company CASIS Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research (CCAR) Dynetics, Inc. Edge Space Systems, Inc. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Honeywell Technology Solutions, Inc. International Space University Jet Propulsion Laboratory JHU / Applied Physics Laboratory KinetX, Inc. Lockheed Martin Corporation Marquette University Northrop Grumman

AAS Corporate and Institutional Members Orbital ATK The Pennsylvania State University Phillips & Company Qwaltec RWI International Consulting Services SAIC SGT, Inc. Sierra Nevada Corporation Space and Technology Policy Group, LLC Space Dynamics Lab / Utah State University SpaceX The Tauri Group Texas A&M University United Launch Alliance Univelt, Inc. University of Alabama in Huntsville University of Florida University of South Florida University of Strathclyde, Glasgow University of Texas at Austin Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority /

Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Women in Aerospace

Thank you for your continued support!

AMEX Discover MasterCard VISA___________________________________ Credit Card Number ___________________________________ Expiration Date ___________________________________ Code (on back of credit card) ___________________________________ Signature

Welcome New AAS Institutional Member



Operator: ____________________________

PageMark-Color-Comp


Signed: ___________________ Date: ______

24 SPACE TIMES•Sep/Oct2014SPACE TIMES•July/August2013

NonProfitOrg.U.S.Postage

PAIDPermit#161Lancaster,PA

6352RollingMillPlace Suite102 Springfield,VA22152-2370

Address Service Requested

2015-2016 Schedule of EventsSeptember15-18,2015AMOS - Advanced Maui Optical & SpaceSurveillance Technologies ConferenceWaileaMarriottMaui,Hawaiiwww.amostech.com

September26,2015Explore@NASAGoddard Open HouseNASAGoddardSpaceFlightCenterGreenbelt,Marylandwww.nasa.gov/explorenasagoddard

October12-16,2015International Astronautical Congress (IAC)Jerusalem,Israelwww.iac2015.org

October27-29,2015Wernher von Braun Memorial SymposiumTheUniversityofAlabamainHuntsvilleChanAuditorium,BusinessAdministrationBuildingHuntsville,Alabamawww.astronautical.org

February5-10,2016AAS Guidance and Control ConferenceBeaverRunResortBreckenridge,Coloradowww.aas-rocky-mountain-section.org

February14-18,2016AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics MeetingEmbassySuitesNapaValleyNapa,Californiawww.space-flight.orgABSTRACT DEADLINE: October 19, 2015

March8-10,2016Robert H. Goddard Memorial SymposiumGreenbeltMarriottGreenbelt,Maryland

July12-14,2016International Space Station (ISS) Research and Development ConferenceTownandCountryResort&ConventionCenterSanDiego,California

www.facebook.com/AmericanAstronauticalSociety www.twitter.com/astrosociety www.youtube.com/user/astrosociety



Operator: ____________________________

PageMark-Color-Comp


Signed: ___________________ Date: ______

space times

Documents