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What is The Space Review?The Space Review is a new online publication devoted to in-depth articles, commentary, and reviews regarding all aspects of space exploration: science, technology, policy, business, and more. more info Write for us!Interested in contributing an article to The Space Review? Please read our submission guidelines. |
This week in The Space Review... X-15 and today’s spaceplanesSpaceplanes have come a long way from the X-15 to today. Sam Dinkin interviews Burt Rutan, Dan Delong, and Mitchell Burnside Clapp to get their impressions on the difference between the X-15 program and the suborbital rocketplanes they’re developing commercially. Suborbital spaceflight: tourism vs. barnstormingRecent developments suggest that the era of suborbital space tourism is right around the corner. However, Jeff Foust reports that the designers of some suborbital vehicles believe that a new generation of larger vehicles is needed for suborbital tourism to be commercially viable. US space launch policy: security versus expenseThe Air Force is reevaluating its policy of maintaining two separate EELV programs. Taylor Dinerman argues that the cost of going down to a single vehicle could be far greater than supporting two companies. Review: The Depths of SpaceThe Pioneer missions to the outer solar system and Venus are often lost in the shadow of other missions. Jeff Foust reviews The Depths of Space, a book that reminds us of these missions’ accomplishments. Space and subject classificationSpace is classified under science or technology, and this influences people’s views on space. Michael Huang suggests that classifying space as a region is more appropriate for the present and future uses of space. Previous articles:Soyuz to the Moon?Sending humans back to the Moon will have to wait for at least a decade while the CEV is developed, according to current thinking. However, Jeff Foust reports, one company has proposed an innovative way to turn Soyuz missions to the ISS into circumlunar spacecraft. Review: New Moon RisingOne of the most widely-anticipated space policy books in recent memory is New Moon Rising, the inside account of the development of the new space exploration policy. The Space Review checks out the book and finds there is a lot more to it than the behind-the-scenes details about the exploration vision. The veto threatLast month the head of the Office of Management and Budget threatened to recommend that the President veto an appropriations bill unless full funding for NASA is restored. Taylor Dinerman sees this as a sign that the administration is committed to the plan for reasons beyond just exploration. Human spaceflight is inevitableIn a recent essay James Van Allen argued that there is little role for humans in space. Sam Dinkin counters that there are plenty of reasons other than science for humans to visit and settle space. The vision and national survivalMany of the arguments attempting to justify the exploration vision have focused on space itself. Anthony Young argues that the exploration vision is not so much about space as it as about the American economy and national security. Is the vision losing focus?In the six months since President Bush announced the Vision for Space Exploration, the plan has suffered from indifference or criticism by the media, public, and Congress. However, Jeff Foust reports, some believe the biggest obstacle to implementing the vision could come from NASA itself. Space privatization: road to freedomA recent commentary argues that space privatization will worsen conditions on Earth and space and benefit only large corporations. Sam Dinkin responds that space privatization offers a chance for new freedom for space settlers and a great return for society and government on Earth. Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?The world, particularly the space community, still mourns the death of Carl Sagan in 1996. Dwayne Day says that now, more than ever, we need someone with Sagan’s rhetorical skills to make space exploration relevant to the general public. Intelligence failure at the networksCommercial satellite imagery is misused and underused by television news networks. Taylor Dinerman argues that proper use of such images can allow journalists to cover stories that would otherwise be inaccessible. US public land policy and applications for the Moon and MarsThe US has a long history of policies designed to transfer land to settlers. Sam Dinkin describes how those policies can apply to the development and colonization of the Moon and Mars. Review: Musgrave’s space storyStory Musgrave has never fit into the stereotype of the steely-eyed astronaut. The Space Review reviews A Space Story, a DVD recording of a dynamic, even poetic lecture about space exploration by the former astronaut. Webb’s GiantThroughout the Apollo effort NASA administrator James Webb warned that the Soviet Union was developing its own giant booster to compete with the Americans, a warning that was often dismissed. Dwayne Day describes what Webb knew and how that knowledge became an insurance policy for Apollo. Inflatable POOFsBigelow Aerospace has made major advances in the development of inflatable modules. Taylor Dinerman says that such modules could play a role in both space commercialization and the exploration vision. Scenario planning for suborbitalThe rise of a new suborbital industry has raised questions about both the size of the industry and the roles for its companies. Sam Dinkin analyzes how the market structure of the suborbital industry will differ depending on how many customers there are. The great launch debateSpace exploration advocates are split on the question of whether NASA should develop a new heavy-lift launch vehicle. Jeff Foust reports on a debate among various leading space activists on the issue. We never went to the Moon (No, really.)In the 35 years since Apollo 11 there have been many rumors and claims that the landing was faked. Dwayne Day decides it’s time to put all the pieces together. Not quite exactly déjà vu all over again: The Vision for Space Exploration and learning from historyThe rollout of the new Vision for Space Exploration has drawn comparisons to the ill-fated Space Exploration Initiative. Dwayne Day finds that while NASA and the Bush Administration have learned some of the lessons of SEI, they have still made some major early stumbles. A new movement or a new industry?Last month’s flight of SpaceShipOne has been hailed as a major milestone for the “alternative space” movement. Taylor Dinerman notes that advocates need to focus less on movements and more on industries. Moon, Mars, baseball, and footballNASA appears to be basing its lunar exploration program on its successful Mars exploration effort. Jeff Foust suggests that lunar exploration is a very different ballgame. “Permission to believe” in a Moore’s Law for space launch?Many space advocates believe that space access is poised for a revolutionary advance along the lines of microprocessors. Michael Turner believes that a Moore’s Law for spaceflight is by no means inevitable. Don’t wait for property rightsA number of people, as well as the Aldridge Commission, have made the case for reforming property rights in space. Sam Dinkin argues that there’s no reason to wait for space property rights to invest in space. A new space service?The concept of a new branch of the US military devoted to space operations has been discussed from time to time. Taylor Dinerman discusses a recent article in a Navy publication that makes a strong case for an independent Space Force. Oklahoma is OK for suborbitalThe state of Oklahoma has made a concerted effort to attract entrepreneurial space companies. Jeff Foust reports on two suborbital RLV developers that have moved to the state in the last year. Patents are not pat handsShould an RLV startup devote resources to getting and defending patents for its technology? Sam Dinkin argues that such an approach may not give that company a winning hand. Giant bombs on giant rockets: Project IcarusIf you think you witnessed a good fireworks display on the Fourth of July, imagine a Saturn V launching a 100-megaton bomb. Dwayne Day recounts the Project Icarus study from the 1960s to deflect an incoming asteroid. The Aldridge Report: it’s all about executionThe Aldridge Commission laid out one of the boldest calls to date for change within NASA and its relationship with private industry. Thomas Olson warns, though, that how the commission’s recommendations are implemented will make all the difference. Visit the Archive for additional articles. |
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