2014 Key Issues Review:Ensuring a Robust U.S. Human Spaceflight Program

Congressional Visits Day Preparatory Briefing TeleconferencesFebruary 12, 19, 26 and March 5, 2014

Tim Dominick, Space Policy Subcommittee Vice-Chair

The Issue

• U.S. has led the world in human spaceflight for the last five decades

• The current Administration and Congress are in agreement that the ultimate destination for humans in space within the next 20–30 years is Mars Current human exploration limited to travel to and from the

International Space Station (ISS)• Strong agreement between policymakers and technical

community for a stepping stone approach to human space exploration Necessary to demonstrate the human-rated spacecraft and

critical technologies necessary to transport humans safely to and from Mars

• Changes in mission objectives and goals, cancelled human spaceflight initiatives, and unstable budget have driven numerous programmatic direction modifications and setbacks

NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) will evolve to enable

progressively more ambitious missions

The Orion Vehicle will support resumed human operations beyond Earth orbit

Pictures Courtesy NASA

The long-term goal is to add footprints to the rover tracks already on Mars

AIAA Recommendations

• Congress should adopt a NASA-endorsed roadmap of missions and milestones that leads to a human mission to Mars in the early 2030s

• Congress should enable stable long-term funding for NASA Complete development of the SLS and Orion Develop other systems necessary to execute a sustainable exploration roadmap, in

conjunction with international partners• Congress and the Administration should provide for the uninterrupted

development of NASA-defined technologies that are necessary to execute the exploration roadmap

• Congress and the Administration should state clear priorities for linking NASA Human Spaceflight activity to national goals related to foreign relations, economic growth, education, and technological achievement

2014 Key Issues Review:Addressing the Growing Threat of Orbital Debris

Congressional Visits Day Preparatory Briefing TeleconferencesFebruary 12, 19, 26 and March 5, 2014

Tim Dominick, Space Policy Subcommittee Vice-Chair

The Issue

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Figure 1: Post-Chinese ASAT Test Orbital Debris Projections

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Figure 2: (a) Erosion, (b) Penetration, and (c) Catastrophic Effects from Impacts with Debris

[Courtesy of NASA]

• Orbital debris refers to all pieces of leftover space hardware, including remnants of satellites destroyed in collisions or explosions

• Orbital debris larger than 0.1 cm can damage or destroy spacecraft There are now 500,000 objects between 1cm and 10cm

and 135,000,000 objects between 1mm and 1cm

• Past practices increased debris by allowing spacecraft material to shed and spent boosters to explode

• Current tracking only detects objects bigger than 10 cm• A recent anti-satellite test and accidental collisions have

further increased debris • The orbital debris environment, if left unchecked, will force

a change in the design and operation of our national commercial and military satellite systems

AIAA Recommendations

• Sponsor development of space situational awareness (SSA) methods on a global cooperative basis to identify, track, and maintain a catalog of LEO debris objects down to 1 cm

• Develop a clearinghouse of “best practices” for satellite and launch vehicle upper stage designers that limit debris generation and minimize orbital loiter after booster and satellite end of life Provide international access with all space-faring nations to share these best practices

• Continue to work through UN Committee on Peaceful Use of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) to develop international agreements to limit orbital debris, including transparency and confidence-building measures

• Develop and demonstrate cost-effective technologies for debris remediation, and promote the resolution of legal issues of liability and other legal hurdles related to debris removal