| SPACE FRONTIER |
| Lehigh Valley Space Frontier May 11, 2020 The Public Voice on the Cutting Edge of the Future |
NATIONAL SPACE SOCIETY |
NSS Position Paper: The Artemis Moon Program by National Space Society The NASA Artemis Moon program aims to land the first woman and the next man on the Moon by 2024, a goal that the National Space Society (NSS) applauds. Due to on-going efforts to cancel or reduce some of the best aspects of Artemis, NSS has decided to specifically endorse the following: Human Lunar Lander Commercial Contracting NSS strongly endorses NASA contracting the service of landing on the Moon, rather than building, owning, and operating a lunar landing system itself. NSS endorses NASA’s recent selection of three technologically dissimilar vendors, Dynetics, SpaceX, and the Blue Origin “National Team” for the initial contracts to provide human class lunar landers. Although only one vendor can be selected to support the initial return of humans to the lunar surface, NSS urges the development of preferably all three, and definitely at least two of the vendors’ proposals to operational status to ensure that NASA can reliably reach the lunar surface in a sustainable fashion. NSS endorses the use of commercially procured launch vehicles to send lunar lander components to the Moon. While it may in the short term seem burdensome to U.S. taxpayers to fund three human landers versus a single government owned vehicle, longer term such a strategy will lead to more diverse capabilities, higher total resiliency, and lower program risk and indeed cost to taxpayers. Instead of funding a government-owned vehicle like the Shuttle that has a finite program life and no market checks on cost, this procurement strategy will create a new sustainable commercial space sector that will over time compete and innovate to bring new capabilities to the market at ever lower price points. Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) NSS strongly endorses NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program with its emphasis on multiple commercially procured lunar landers and a willingness on the part of NASA to assume greater risk than is normally the case with NASA programs. CLPS is literally NASA done right and provides a shining example for other NASA programs to follow. NSS is pleased to note the selection of Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines in the smaller class of CLPS lunar landers and looks forward to their initial lunar landings in 2021. NSS applauds the recent additions of Blue Origin, Ceres Robotics, Sierra Nevada Corporation, SpaceX, and Tyvak to the pool of vendors eligible to bid on proposals to provide deliveries to the surface of the Moon through NASA’s CLPS initiative. These additions increase the list of CLPS participants on contract to 14. NSS supports the addition of the Masten medium-class XL-1 lander to the CLPS program and looks forward to many successful landings in the area of the lunar south pole. Role of the Gateway NSS endorses the flexibility NASA has shown in not requiring that a lunar lander dock with the Gateway. NSS supports the use of commercially procured launch vehicles to resupply the Gateway and is pleased to note that NASA has selected SpaceX’s Dragon XL as the initial logistics vehicle to supply the Gateway. NSS urges that a second technologically dissimilar commercial provider be selected to help ensure reliable service to the Gateway. Sustainable Lunar Economy NSS supports the efforts of NASA to create an economically sustainable lunar landing program and cautions against any approach to Artemis that is not targeted toward future commercial operations on and around the Moon. It is essential the ISRU (In-Situ Resource Utilization) be a core part of Artemis. NSS endorses the focus on exploring the potential water resources of the lunar poles. NSS strongly endorses NASA’s Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER), a mobile robot that will roam around the Moon’s south pole looking for water ice. The VIPER mission will provide surface-level detail of where the water is and how much is available for use. Tipping Point Grants NSS also endorses “Tipping Point” grants[i] in general and calls attention to the following Moon-related actions by NASA: An unfunded Space Act Agreement with SpaceX to study the impact of landing large vehicles on the Moon. An additional Space Act Agreement with SpaceX calls for the study of on-orbit Starship-based fuel transfer. Three unfunded Space Act Agreements with Blue Origin related to the development of lunar lander technologies. A $3M Tipping Point grant to SpaceX to study methods of on-orbit ship-to-ship fuel transfer A $10M Tipping Point grant going to Blue Origin to conduct a ground-based demonstration of hydrogen and oxygen liquification and storage. NSS looks forward to these and other Tipping Point grants becoming the core of a program of lunar exploration and development that leads eventually to lunar bases and finally settlements, rather than another unsustainable “flags-and-footprints” Apollo-like program. NSS believes that the costs of establishing and maintaining a lunar base will be paid back many-fold in lowering the amount of new technology needed to be developed to go to Mars. [i] The public-private partnerships established through Tipping Point selections combine NASA resources with an industry contribution of at least 25% of the program costs, shepherding the development of critical space technologies while also saving the agency, and American taxpayers, money. See https://www.nasa. gov/directorates/spacetech/solicitations/tipping_points. Artist's concept of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule prepared for launch. Credits: NASA |
What is Artemis? NASA is committed to landing American astronauts, including the first woman and the next man, on the Moon by 2024. Through the agency’s Artemis lunar exploration program, we will use innovative new technologies and systems to explore more of the Moon than ever before. We will collaborate with our commercial and international partners to establish sustainable missions by 2028. And then we will use what we learn on and around the Moon to take the next giant leap – sending astronauts to Mars. Why Go to the Moon? With the Artemis program we will: Demonstrate new technologies, capabilities, and business approaches needed for future exploration including Mars Establish American leadership and a strategic presence on the Moon while expanding our U.S. global economic impact Broaden our commercial and international partnerships Inspire a new generation and encourage careers in STEM How Do We Get There? NASA’s powerful new rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), will send astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft nearly a quarter million miles from Earth to lunar orbit. Astronauts will dock Orion at the Gateway and transfer to a human landing system for expeditions to the surface of the Moon. They will return to the orbital outpost to board Orion again before returning safely to Earth. When Will We Get There? Ahead of the human return, we will send a suite of science instruments and technology demonstrations to the lunar surface through commercial Moon deliveries beginning in 2021. The agency will fly two missions around the Moon to test its deep space exploration systems. NASA is working toward launching Artemis I, an uncrewed flight to test the SLS and Orion spacecraft together, followed by the Artemis II mission, the first SLS and Orion test flight with crew. NASA will land astronauts on the Moon by 2024 on the Artemis III mission and about once a year thereafter. Download the Artemis Fact Sheet What Will We Do There? While Mars remains our horizon goal, we have set our sights first on exploring the entire surface of the Moon with human and robotic explorers. We will send astronauts to new locations, starting with the lunar South Pole. At the Moon, we will: Find and use water and other critical resources needed for long-term exploration Investigate the Moon’s mysteries and learn more about our home planet and the universe Learn how to live and operate on the surface of another celestial body where astronauts are just three days from home Prove the technologies we need before sending astronauts on missions to Mars, which can take up to three years roundtrip Going forward to the Moon will be the shining moment of our generation. This moment will belong to you – the Artemis Generation. Are you ready?vcccNASA is committed to landing American astronauts, including the first woman and the next man, on the Moon by 2024. Through the agency’s Artemis lunar exploration program, we will use innovative new technologies and systems to explore more of the Moon than ever before. We will collaborate with our commercial and international partners to establish sustainable missions by 2028. And then we will use what we learn on and around the Moon to take the next giant leap – sending astronauts to Mars. Why Go to the Moon? With the Artemis program we will: Demonstrate new technologies, capabilities, and business approaches needed for future exploration including Mars Establish American leadership and a strategic presence on the Moon while expanding our U.S. global economic impact Broaden our commercial and international partnerships Inspire a new generation and encourage careers in STEM How Do We Get There? NASA’s powerful new rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), will send astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft nearly a quarter million miles from Earth to lunar orbit. Astronauts will dock Orion at the Gateway and transfer to a human landing system for expeditions to the surface of the Moon. They will return to the orbital outpost to board Orion again before returning safely to Earth. When Will We Get There? Ahead of the human return, we will send a suite of science instruments and technology demonstrations to the lunar surface through commercial Moon deliveries beginning in 2021. The agency will fly two missions around the Moon to test its deep space exploration systems. NASA is working toward launching Artemis I, an uncrewed flight to test the SLS and Orion spacecraft together, followed by the Artemis II mission, the first SLS and Orion test flight with crew. NASA will land astronauts on the Moon by 2024 on the Artemis III mission and about once a year thereafter. |
| Apollo is the god of archery and the invention of archery is credited to him and his sister Artemis. He has a golden bow and arrows. As the god of Mousike (art of Muses), Apollo presides over all music, songs, dance and poetry. He is the inventor of string-music, and the frequent companion of the Muse Artemis as indicated above was the twin sister of Apollo and goddess of the Moon in Greek mythology. Whereas Apollo signified our former path to the Moon. Now Artemis personifies our path to the Moon as the name of NASA's program to return astronauts to the lunar surface by 2024, including the first woman and the next man. When they land, our American astronauts will step foot where no human has ever been before: the Moon’s South Pole. |
| The Crew of Apollo 11 - the 1st Manned American and World landing mission to the Moon , (Left to Right) Neil A . Armstrong --- 1st man on the Moon and Commander of the mission Michael Collins - The Command Module Pilot ... While Armstrong and Aldren were on the Moon he remained behind in the Columbia Command Module and orbited the Moon.. At times he was out of touch with all human beings when his orbit took him to the dark side of the Moon ... Buzz Aldren -- 2nd Man on the Moon and the Lunar Module Pilot ... The LEM he flew was called the Eagle.... Landing occurred at Tranquility base in the Sea of Tranquility. With NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong uttereing these first words or thoughts when he set foot on the moon at 02.56 GMT on July 21 1969. 'That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,' Aldren saying as the 2nd man on the Moon saying: “Beautiful view. Magnificent desolation.” Then too as a Presbyterian, Aldrin decided to hold a religious ceremony on the Moon, and became the first man to do so. |
| The Crew of Apollo 17 - the last Manned American and World landing mission to the Moon ... Left Moon (Right to Left) Eugene A. Cernan - 11th Person on the Moon ans Commander of the Mission and last Earthling to walk on the Moon. Ronald Evans - The Command Module Pilot ... While Cernan and Schmidt were on the Moon he remained behind in the Command Module called America and orbited the Moon.. At times he was out of touch with all human beings when his orbit took him to the dark side of the Moon ... Harrison Schmidtt -- 12nd Man on the Moon and the Lunar Module Pilot ... The LEM he flew was called the Challenger.... Landing occurred at the Taurus-Littrow Valley , the astronauts during their stay on the Moon took 3 EVA's and ,took lunar samples, and deployed scientific instruments. Also with them was a biological experiment containing five mice. On December 14 at 5:54:37 p.m. EST, The Atlantic noted that humans left the moon for what would turn out to be the last time. But how did the three men who made that departure -- taking their last small steps, their last great leaps from the lunar surface -- mark that occasion? What parting words did they leave to the moon, and to their fellow humans, and to history? As reported by Miles O'Brien in his tribute to the bittersweet anniversary, the commander of the Apollo 17 mission, Gene Cernan, had prepared a speech to mark his crew's lunar departure. It was was appropriately lengthy and lofty. He delivered it like this: As I take man's last step from the surface, back home for some time to come (but we believe not too long into the future), I'd like to just say what I believe history will record: That America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow. And, as we leave the Moon at Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we came and, God willing, as we shall return: with peace and hope for all mankind. But The Atlantic notes that these words were not, technically, the last words ever spoken on the moon. Cernan and his crew, on the contrary, maintained a decidedly less-epic dialogue as they did the delicate work of lifting their little spaceship off the lunar surface -- dialogue that was mostly pragmatic and mission-moderated, but dialogue that was also, occasionally, the casual conversation of guys who are having an adventure together. So then. What were the last -- really the last -- words? According to Apollo 7 astronaut Walter Cunningham in his book The All-American Boys, Cernan's final words on the moon were: "Let's get this mother out of here." (Or as O'Brien spells it, awesomely, "let's get this mutha.") And there would be, indeed, something wonderfully poetic about "let's get this mother" -- excuse me, mutha -- "outta here" as our parting words to the moon: something very human and honest and inscribed in its time. |
| On the 50th anniversary of the launch of the Saturn 5 rocket taking the crew of Apollo 11 to the Moon - Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldren and Mike Collins to the Moon, I was interviewed by Boston's Channel 25 at the John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum concerning my thoughts concerning observing of the history making event that day and what are my thoughts concerning man's place in space. I replied by saying that I was caught up in the excitement of the original launch and its successful Moon Landing and was thrilled to observe that anniversary at Kennedy's Presidential Library ….Historically, Kennedy gave marching orders to NASA to develop a Space Program which would take us to the Moon and successfully come back within a decade … And as it happened, NASA the government agency created by Dwight Eisenhower successfully did this. Unfortunately, for many years America back stepped from going to the Moon in order to concentrate solely on Low Earth Orbit and other scientific missions … But now we have new orders to go back to the Moon within 5 years … And hopefully, this too would happen, even if via national election there is a change in the President with different political ideas. I have met Buzz Aldren, the 2nd Man on the Moon … I have met Eugene Cernan, the last Man on the Moon … One is still alive , the other is dead, but both of them want us to get back to the Moon safely as soon as possible. And Cernan, especially doesn't want to go down in history as the last American, yet alone the last earthling to go to the Moon. They went on a program that evolved from Mercury, to Gemini and then to Apollo … From information I received at a conference in Arlington, VA last June 2019, the next Program to the Moon may be nicknamed Artemis and if that nickname be verified since Artemis is the twin sister of Apollo that would indicate that woman will be included in the crew that will be part of our future Moon landings and maybe, a woman would be among the first crew members that will once again place human foot prints on the regolith of the Moon. In Apollo, NASA had help from the German rocket engineers that came to our soil as result of our victory in WW II, and also from the Canadians and other nations that provided us with needed engineers in the aerospace fields due to the shortage of American talent produced by the Universities …President Kennedy specifically asked Canadian Prime Minister to encourage his engineers to come to the States to help us … Prime Minister Pearson complied by ending his nation's costly commitment in developing a supersonic airplane; and this freed many highly skilled and experiences engineers to come. So as it will happen, when we go again, we will again ask the help of other nations and welcome their involvement. But hopefully, our universities have done their job in training the American talent needed to bring forth and carry on this awesome endeavor in advancing the spacefaring civilization that will spring forth from the fulfillment of mankind's past dreamss |
| Buzz Aldren in a picture taken by Dennis Pearson during NSS ISDC speech at San Diego in 2013 |
| Eugene Cernan and Dennis Pearson taken by former Astronaut Tom Stafford aduring free time at the NSS ISDC at Los Angeles in 2014 |
Space Shuttle Endeavour docked to the ISS for the last time. Endeavour flew its final mission, STS-134, to the International Space Station (ISS) in May 2011. After the conclusion of STS-134, Endeavour was formally decommissioned. |
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Arranged by Joe Bland of the
Sacremento L5 in April 2020 in his
capacity as Chair of the National Space
Society;s Chapter Assembly .. Lynn
Zeilinski of the NSS assisted him n
arranging for the Lowell interview
Sacremento L5 in April 2020 in his
capacity as Chair of the National Space
Society;s Chapter Assembly .. Lynn
Zeilinski of the NSS assisted him n
arranging for the Lowell interview
| Congratulation on Bennett Rutlege of the National Space Society's Denver Chapter on his election to the Chair of the National Soace Society's Chapter Assembly , He succeeds Joe Bland of the Sacremento L5 Society ... Joe did an excellent job using social media to address Chapter and Society issues and working within the new Assembly Charter and bylaws, ... His Breakfast on the Moon commemoration events for Apollo 11, Apollo 12 , Apollo 13 , Hubble , etc. were excellently done ... Joe Bland succeeded me as Chairperson of the Chapter Assembly a position I held for 4 years with an additional two year extension ... My administration transferred the Chapter Assembly from a mostly Conference gathering to a monthly gathering via social media and did much work to establish a new Charter for the group as well as leave a draft bylaws for further Chapter action ... I note that Chistine Nobbe of the St. Louis Space frontier also needs to credited for her work on working on a new Charter. It is said about my stewardship as Chair is that I kept the CA alive and set the groundwork for its revival.... Joe Bland was the proper man to make what we established work ... So, Let Rutlege be the man to make it flourish.... Please note - NSS Board Members David Sturat of NSS Seattle and Larry Ahearn of Chicago closely collaborated with the Chapter Assembly via the NSS Chapters Committee of the Board of Directors which they were assigned to run by the Board. |