The Creation and Contents of the U.S. Department of Space

U.S. Department of Space

“the proposed cabinet-level U.S. Department of Space (DOS) ... should manage and take charge of the government functions of supporting and incubating space-based industrial capability and transportation infrastructure development.”“NASA is not the rightful institution to lead or manage the nation’s business in Space Development projects” -Buzz Aldrin and ATWG in response to Bush’s VSE

U.S. Departments

Mission Statement

The proposed mission of the Department of Space is to serve the United States and the globe of nations by fostering the space-based industrial capabilities and the transportation infrastructure necessary to put space in America’s economic sphere of influence, now and in the future.

Why Department of Space

• Create and sustain Unified Space Vision• Redefine NASA’s charter• Economic(for profit) development

– Commercial launch systems– In-Orbit fuel depot– Space Based Solar Power– Tap vast Solar System Resources

• Reinvigorate interest in space– Nationally, globally– International Space Station Consortium– Visionary Space Projects

NASA Budget ($ in millions)

Space Oper-ations 4349

Aeronautics 688Science; 5018

Inspector General; 38Cross Agency

Support; 3182

Construction & Environ. Com-

pliance,450

Space Tech-nology1024

Exploration3849

Education; 138

Space Operations; 1349Aeronautics;

1188

Science; 5018

Inspector General; 38Cross Agency Support; 3769

Construction & Environ. Com-pliance; 450

Space Tech-nology, 2024

Exploration; 400

Education; 1500

High Risk Exper-imental Projects;

3000

Current

Redefined

DoS Budget ($ in billions)

ISS Institute, 5

Commercial Spaceflight, 12

SBSP; 4Fuel

Depot, 6

Visionary Space Projects, 3

Global Space In-frastructure De-velopment, 12

Orbital Debris& Planetary De-

fense, 6

Cross Agency Support, 1.5

U.S. Department Budget ($ in billions)

Defense 664

Health and Human Services

79

Transportation 73

Veterans Affairs 53

State 52

Housing and Urban Development

48

Education 47

Homeland Security 43

Energy 26

Agriculture 26

Justice 24

Commerce 14

Labor 13

Treasury 13

Interior 12

Space 50

The DoS 5-year Plan

• Establish organizational structure and leadership– Round table and global, flat world design– Secretary of DoS (cabinet level)

• Redefine NASA’s charter• Foster commercial launch vehicle

development• International Space Station Consortium– Intelsat Model

Mission Goals

• Mission goals (short term)– Space based solar power (SBSP)– Global climate change monitoring – Fuel Depot– Orbital debris management

• Mission goals (long term-manned)– Return to moon indefinitely– NEO encounter– Mars