the magazine of the american astronautical society · 2011. 12. 27. · the recent successful...

SPACE TIMES • November/December 2011 1

THE MAGAZINE OF THE AMERICANASTRONAUTICAL SOCIETY

ISSUE 6 VOLUME 50

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2011

2 SPACE TIMES • November/December 2011

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

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2011

ISSUE 6–VOLUME 50

AAS OFFICERSPRESIDENT

Frank A. Slazer, Aerospace Industries AssociationEXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Lyn D. Wigbels, RWI International Consulting ServicesVICE PRESIDENT–TECHNICAL

David B. Spencer, Pennsylvania State UniversityVICE PRESIDENT–PROGRAMS

J. Walter Faulconer, Strategic Space Solutions, LLCVICE PRESIDENT–PUBLICATIONS

Richard BurnsVICE PRESIDENT–STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONSAND OUTREACH

Ken Davidian, Federal Aviation AdministrationVICE PRESIDENT–MEMBERSHIP

Randall Correll, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.VICE PRESIDENT–EDUCATION

Dustin Doud, SpaceXVICE PRESIDENT–FINANCE

Carol S. Lane, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.VICE PRESIDENT–INTERNATIONAL

Lance Bush, Paragon Space Development CorporationVICE PRESIDENT–PUBLIC POLICY

Marcia Smith, Space and Technology Policy Group, LLCLEGAL COUNSEL

Franceska O. Schroeder, Fish & Richardson P.C.EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

James R. Kirkpatrick, AAS

AAS BOARD OF DIRECTORSTERM EXPIRES 2012A. William Beckman, The Boeing CompanySteven Brody, International Space UniversityJuergen Drescher, German Aerospace CenterPaul EckertSteven D. Harrison, National Reconnaissance OfficeFelix Hoots, The Aerospace CorporationNicole JordanKim Luu, Air Force Research LaboratoryClayton Mowry, Arianespace, Inc.

TERM EXPIRES 2013Ronald J. Birk, Northrop GrummanVince DeFrancisci, USRAPeggy Finarelli, George Mason University/CAPRRebecca L. Griffin, Rebecca Griffin SpaceHal E. Hagemeier, Invertix CorporationSusan J. Irwin, Euroconsult USA, Inc.Molly Kenna Macauley, Resources for the FutureKathy J. NadoLesa B. RoeWoodrow Whitlow, Jr.

TERM EXPIRES 2014Peter M. Bainum, Howard UniversityRobert H. Bishop, Marquette UniversityMark K. Craig, SAICJ.R. Edwards, Lockheed MartinPatrick McKenzie, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.Neil Milburn, Armadillo AerospaceSuneel Sheikh, ASTER Labs, Inc.Patricia Grace Smith, Patti Grace Smith ConsultingGregg Vane, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

SPACE TIMES EDITORIAL STAFFEDITOR, Jeffrey P. Elbel, Earth Resources Technology, Inc.PHOTO & GRAPHICS EDITOR, Allison B. Craddock,

University of MichiganPRODUCTION MANAGER, Diane L. Thompson, AAS

SPACE TIMES is published bimonthly by the American AstronauticalSociety, a professional non-profit society. SPACE TIMES is free tomembers of the AAS. Individual subscriptions may be ordered fromthe AAS Business Office. © Copyright 2011 by the AmericanAstronautical Society, Inc. Printed in the United States of America.ISSN 1933-2793.

PERIODICALSSPACE TIMES, magazine of the AAS, bimonthly, volume 50,2011—$80 domestic, $95 foreignThe Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, quarterly, volume 58,2011—$180 domestic, $200 foreignTo order these publications, contact the AAS Business Office.

REPRINTSReprints are available for all articles in SPACE TIMES and all pa-pers published in The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGENo time to feel complacent 3

FEATURESRadio Aurora Explorer (RAX-2) and Michigan MultipurposeMinisatellite (M-Cubed): Two CubeSats from the MichiganNanosatellite Pipeline Launch Together 4On October 28th, the University of Michigan sent two CubeSats whichhad shared laboratory space into outer space.by Allison Craddock and James Cutler

Space Hogwarts: Summer at the International Space University 8Through a joint award by the American Astronautical Society and theInternational Space University, Jake Gamsky participated in the ISU’sSpace Studies Program in Graz, Austria, during the summer of 2011.by Jake Gamsky

50th ROBERT H. GODDARD MEMORIAL SYMPOSIUM 10

2ND USA SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FESTIVAL 12

TECHNICAL CONFERENCE1st International Academy of Astronautics Conference on Dynamicsand Control of Space Systems, Porto, Portugal 13

UPCOMING EVENTS 14

AAS ANNUAL AWARDS 16

AAS BOARD OF DIRECTORS 17

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE VON BRAUN SYMPOSIUM 18

NOTES ON NEW BOOKSJohn F. Kennedy and the Race to the Moon 222010 AAS Eugene M. Emme Astronautical Literature Award WinnerReviewed by Donald C. Elder III

The Red Rockets’ Glare: Spaceflight and the Soviet Imagination,1857-1957 232010 AAS Eugene M. Emme Astronautical Literature Award WinnerReviewed by Rick W. Sturdevant

6352 Rolling Mill Place, Suite 102Springfield, VA 22152-2370 USATel: 703-866-0020 Fax: [email protected] www.astronautical.org

ON THE COVER

FRONT: The Delta II rocket lifts off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, on October 28,2011. (Source: Ben Cooper/LaunchPhotography.com)BACK: The Delta II rocket on its way to orbit, carrying the NPP climate and weather observatoryalong with six CubeSats from universities across the United States. This long-exposure image showsthe launch sequence from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. ( Source: Ben Cooper/LaunchPhotography.com)

creo


PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

AAS – Advancing All Space

Frank A. [email protected]

No time to feel complacentThe recent successful launch of the Mars Science Lab (MSL), Curiosity, stands in

sharp contrast to the bold but unsuccessful Phobos-Grunt mission which became trappedin low Earth orbit. Curiosity’s success is not yet assured. It has a very challengingdescent to the Martian surface ahead of it since it is the largest soft landing missionever attempted. But NASA’s track record and, more specifically, the Jet PropulsionLaboratory’s (JPL) record with Mars missions have been excellent for over a decade,and so the mission’s prospects are bright as this is written in the waning weeks of 2011.Yet MSL’s success is no reason to be complacent that all is well with America’s planetaryscience program.

I regret that the Phobos-Grunt mission failed, and I wish Russia’s space programwell in its next planetary effort. But while JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California, has beenthe lead organization for six Mars missions in the past 12 years, Phobos-Grunt was the first Mars mission by Russia in fifteen years.As in music, sports, or anything else humans attempt to do, repetition brings success. So far, only the U.S. has successfully landedspacecraft on Mars. The experienced knowledge base of our scientists, workforce, and contractors that enabled these successes arenational treasures that we should not give up lightly. Sadly, the next logical step that NASA/JPL has been trying to take, a 2016 jointmission with the European Space Agency (ESA), the first of two Mars missions under the Mars Exploration Joint Initiative agreementsigned in 2009, is on hold because NASA has been unable to get White House approval to commit the required funds.

For the 2016 mission, NASA would supply a launch vehicle, four science instruments, and a communications system. ESA wouldprovide the cruise stage/orbiter and an EDL demonstrator. The following 2018 JointRover Mission, involving roving, drilling, and in situ science, would advance U.S.surface rover capabilities beyond MSL and prepare for a future Mars sample returnmission.

The Joint Mars Exploration Program is consistent with the National Academy ofScience decadal plan for planetary science. It is the type of innovative approachthat is essential if NASA is to continue to maintain its capabilities and do greatscience while our nation works to reduce the federal budget deficit. In the monthsahead, as NASA’s FY2013 budget proposal is unveiled and debated, I hope thiswill be revisited and that NASA will be allowed to proceed. Those who wouldblame other programs or NASA’s overall priorities miss the point. NASA is aninfinitesimal part of the federal budget and has barely grown in the past decadewhile federal expenditures and deficits have increased greatly. It is not the cause ofbudget problems, but if we do not find the resources to allow NASA to proceed withthis next step in Mars exploration, we may find to our regret that MSL was our highwater mark in robotic exploration.

Unfortunately, this is but one example of how our nation risks making short term budget choices that will have long term deleteriousimpacts on our prior investments and future capabilities. At JPL, while a half dozen or so missions, including MSL, are beinglaunched this year, the future beyond these is very uncertain and contingent on winning some of the few Discovery class missionsbeing competed annually with a great deal of competition. Similar hard choices likely are facing other NASA centers and the spacestakeholders associated with them. As our nation grapples with our current fiscal challenges, we need to keep a perspective on theneed for sensible investments. The Joint Mars Exploration Program is exactly the kind of smart, cost effective approach that weshould support.

Source: NASA JPL Mars Program Office


At 2:48 a.m. on October 28th, twoCubeSats that often shared laboratoryspace during development shared a rocketride into orbit. The Michigan MultipurposeMinisatellite (M-Cubed) and the secondRadio Aurora Explorer CubeSat (RAX-2),both assembled at the University ofMichigan’s College of Engineering, werelaunched from Vandenberg Air Force Basein southern California. RAX-2 and M-Cubed are both products of the MichiganNanosatellite Pipeline, which wasestablished to create a support networkacross individual small satellite projectswithin the University of Michigan. ThePipeline is a point of intersection wherestudents, faculty, and industry customerscome together to propose, design, developand build novel small satellite missions. Itorganizes technical knowledge with facilitysupport, resources, and personnel withinthe university and its industry partners.

The Radio Aurora Explorer mission isthe first of several nanosatellite missions

Radio Aurora Explorer (RAX-2) and MichiganMultipurpose Minisatellite (M-Cubed):Two CubeSats from the Michigan NanosatellitePipeline Launch Togetherby Allison Craddock and James Cutler

The M-Cubed CubeSat, with antennas stowed.(Source: Michigan Exploration Laboratory) The Radio Aurora Explorer 2 (RAX-2) CubeSat, fully integrated. (Source: Michigan Exploration Laboratory)


The Delta II rocket, ready to carry the NPP Earth observing satellite along with RAX-2, M-Cubed, and fourother university CubeSats. (Source: Ben Cooper/LaunchPhotography.com)

sponsored by the National ScienceFoundation (NSF) to study space weather.The RAX mission is a joint effort betweenSRI International in Menlo Park,California and the University of Michiganin Ann Arbor. The chief scientist, Dr. HasanBahcivan, led his team at SRI to developthe payload while the chief engineer, Dr.James Cutler, led a team of students todevelop the satellite bus in the MichiganExploration Laboratory (MXL). There arecurrently two satellites in the RAXmission.

RAX’s primary mission objective is tostudy large plasma formations in theionosphere, the highest region of ouratmosphere. These plasma instabilities cancreate magnetic field-aligned irregularities(FAI), which are dense plasma cloudsknown to disrupt communication betweenEarth and orbiting spacecraft. To studyFAI, the RAX satellites utilize a largeincoherent scatter radar located in PokerFlat, Alaska (known as PFISR). PFISRtransmits powerful radio signals into theplasma instabilities. The signals scatter inthe FAI and are received by the orbitingRAX spacecraft. The signals are thenprocessed by RAX’s onboard computerand transmitted back to Earth for scientificanalysis.

The goal of this RAX mission is toenhance understanding of FAI formationso that short-term forecast models can begenerated. This will aid spacecraftoperators with the planning of their missionoperations around periods of expectedcommunication disruption. The RAX-1mission made great strides in CubeSatdesign, and was able to execute bistaticradar measurements never beforeperformed with such a spacecraft. RAXteam members applied the lessons learnedfrom RAX-1 to the design of a second flightunit, RAX-2, which will perform the samemission concept of the first RAX thatlaunched in November of 2010, withimproved bus performance and additionaloperational modes. Science measurementswill be enhanced through interactiveexperiments with high-poweredionospheric heaters. FAI will be generatedon demand during the experiments.

The Michigan MultipurposeMinisatellite (M-Cubed) is the firstspacecraft developed by the University ofMichigan’s Student Space Fabrication Lab(S3FL), and was accomplished inpartnership with MXL. The satellite busis predominantly student-designed, andcontains an electrical power systemdeveloped in-house. The M-Cubed projectalso acts as a bridge for students betweenclassroom knowledge and space systems

development. This knowledge will be usedfor future satellite missions at theUniversity, and empower students tobecome future industry leaders.

M-Cubed partnered with NASA’s JetPropulsion Lab (JPL) and Earth ScienceTechnology Office (ESTO) to demonstrateCOVE (CubeSat On-board processingValidation Experiment), an on-boardprocessing system to optimize the dataprocessing and instrument design of a

A student prepares the solar panels of M-Cubed for post-integration testing to analyze current and voltage. AnHMI light was then set up to simulate the intensity and spectrum of sunlight in orbit, minus harmful UV rays.(Source: Michigan Exploration Laboratory)

A student attaches the solar panels to RAX-2. (Source:Michigan Exploration Laboratory)


multi-angle SpectroPolarimetric Imager(MSPI) for the ACE Decadal SurveyMission. The system will achieve a two-orders-of-magnitude improvement in datarate.

M-Cubed’s primary objective is thespaceborne technology validation of aXilinx Virtex-5 FX130T RHBD FieldProgrammable Gate Array (FPGA) andMSPI on-board processing polarimetryalgorithm to advance the technologyreadiness level (TRL) for MSPI payloaddevelopment and the ACE mission. A twomegapixel CMOS camera will provideimages to the processing system. Thecamera will take an image from low-earthorbit with a resolution better than 200meters per pixel.

Through this mission, NASA and M-Cubed aim to increase collaborationsamong NASA and university partners toengage students and faculty in spacebornetechnology validation by flying sciencepayloads on small satellites. Because ofthis partnership, dozens of aerospace,computer, electrical, mechanical and spacesystems engineering students have had theopportunity to participate in the design,

building, testing, and ultimately the flightof a satellite.

As part of the Michigan NanosatellitePipeline, M-Cubed seeks to establishheritage designs that may be applied tofuture missions at the university. Thebaseline system design of M-Cubed isconstrained to a 1-kg bus with dimensionsof 10 x 10 x 10 cm. Solar panels andbatteries provide power generation andstorage while a microcontroller processesimage data and health status for thetelemetry system, which relays the datathrough the amateur radio bands. Throughthe successful completion of a first-generation bus, S3FL seeks to establish amultidisciplinary, design-build-test-flyspace flight learning environment fortraining future space systems engineers.

RAX-2 and M-Cubed shared theirOctober 28, 2011 launch as a part ofNASA’s third Educational Launch ofNanosatellites (ELaNa). According toNASA, “Small satellite missions provideNASA with valuable opportunities to testemerging technologies and economicalcommercial off-the-shelf components thatmay be useful in future space missions.NASA nanosatellites are designed for awide spectrum of space missions, including

biology experiments, testing advancedpropulsion and communicationstechnologies.” ELaNa is managed byNASA’s Launch Services Program at theKennedy Space Center, where engineersare adapting a deployment system designedspecifically for the launch of CubeSats, thePoly Picosatellite Orbital Deployer(PPOD), which has flown both oncommercial and Department of Defenselaunch vehicles.

After CubeSat separation (ninety-eightminutes after launch) both RAX-2 and M-Cubed team members in Michigan andSouthern California waited to hear the firstbeacons from the little satellites. A day afterlaunch, the RAX-2 team receivedconfirmation that the satellite had survivedlaunch and was beaconing successfullyfrom an amateur radio operator. Thanks toHAMs worldwide, the team has collectedthousands of beacons from RAX-2,verifying that it is in good health andallowing the mission to proceed.

Upon release from the PPOD, M-Cubedwas difficult to find among the otherCubeSats. However, as the satellites beganto separate, M-Cubed’s signal grew instrength. It is now being tracked aroundthe world. One week after launch, the M-

Allison Craddock is the engineeringsupport manager of the MichiganExploration Laboratory. Her interestsinclude the promotion of spaceexploration efforts through graphiccommunications, technical writing, andpublic relations. She has a Bachelor ofScience in Engineering from PurdueUniversity and two graduate degrees fromthe University of Michigan.

James Cutler is an assistant professor inthe Aerospace Engineering Departmentat the University of Michigan. Hisresearch interests center on space systems– a multidisciplinary approach toenabling future space capability withparticular emphasis on novel nanosatellitemissions. He is the Co-PI of the RAXmissions and director of the MichiganExploration Laboratory.


AAS Corporate and InstitutionalMembership Benefits

AAS Corporate and Institutional Memberships represent a smallinvestment for the benefits gained – a best value addition to yourcompany’s business portfolio.

AAS Corporate and Institutional Memberships can be obtained for aboutthe price of a single airline ticket (coach for companies under 1,000employees and business/first for larger organizations).

AAS Corporate and Institutional memberships give your people accessto complimentary individual memberships to the AAS (two for thesmallest companies and up to 88 for the largest). Corporate andinstitutional members get a significant reduction in AAS conferenceregistration fees for their designated individual members, and may postjob openings on the AAS web site.

AAS membership includes complimentary invitations to privatebreakfasts and events with top aerospace industry and governmentleaders. The exclusive nature of these events provides unprecedentednetworking opportunities.

AAS membership includes complimentary receipt of the AAS magazine,SPACE TIMES, noted for the richness of its content and for the timelinessof its articles, and to The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, a highlyrespected, peer-reviewed professional publication.

AAS has a long and proven track record for excellence in conferenceand workshop planning, content, and execution.

AAS members span the spectrum from large aerospace primes likeLockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman to private individualswith a keen interest in the aerospace industry. All are welcome andencouraged to get involved.

Annual AAS hosted events include such industry favorites as the GoddardMemorial Symposium and the Von Braun Memorial Symposium, aswell as many professionally recognized technical meetings. The AASalso collaborates frequently with other industry associations such asAIAA.

Summary: Low cost of membership + great access to industry leaders +outstanding networking opportunities + strong technical content = greatvalue! Opportunity to actively participate and network with leaders ofthe space community, both technical and non-technical.

Cubed team began their early missionoperations phase and reported strongbattery readings. The team expects to begintests of the telemetry system, camera, andthe COVE payload soon.

Further down the MichiganNanosatellite Pipeline is CADRE, theCubeSat investigating AtmosphericDensity Response to Extreme Driving(CADRE). This mission is a risk reducingprecursor of the future Armada mission,which endeavors to characterize thedynamics of the upper thermosphere usingthe Wind Ion Neutral Composition Suite(WINCS) instrument developed by NASAGoddard Space Flight Center and theNaval Research Laboratory. CADRE willoperate WINCS in low earth orbit andadvance capabilities of CubeSat classspacecraft as a test for Armada. In additionto deploying WINCS, CADRE’s missionobjectives include the flight testing of lowcost, dual-frequency GPS to measureatmospheric and ionospheric total electroncontent. CADRE is funded by the NationalScience Foundation and the U.S. AirForce’s University Nanosatellite Program.For the latest news about these missions,visit the MXL website, http://exploration.engin.umich.edu/


Students and professionals from all overthe world traveling to a distant land in orderto enhance their knowledge in a broadrange of exceptional subjects. Soundsfamiliar, right? Well, similar to J.K.Rowling’s characters in the Harry Potterseries, 121 other individuals and Iexperienced a truly magical summer at theInternational Space University (ISU).

Since its inception in 1987, ISU hasgraduated more than 3,000 students from100 countries. ISU’s flagship program isan intensive nine-week Space StudiesProgram (SSP) that is offered at differentlocations around the globe each summer.This summer, participants from 31countries convened in the beautiful city ofGraz, Austria, on the campus of the GrazUniversity of Technology.

I arrived in Graz as a fresh graduate ofthe University of Kentucky’s Departmentof Physics and Astronomy. I was excitedabout ISU’s interdisciplinary approach tospace studies and the unique structure ofSSP. The first four weeks of the summerwere mostly devoted to the Core Lectures:sixty-three lectures on topics that coveredthe seven discipline areas of ISU. Notableexperts in the fields of space business andmanagement, space life sciences, spacephysical sciences, space systemsengineering, space policy and law, satelliteapplications, and space and society heldus spellbound daily with compellingpresentations and personal stories fromtheir careers.

It was fascinating to meet and learn fromindividuals who had accomplished somuch. A number of astronauts, cosmonauts,scientists, engineers, architects, artists, lawexperts, and authors graciously gave uptheir time to teach and visit with us insideand outside the lecture hall. It was aremarkable experience to have dinner with

Space Hogwarts: Summer at the InternationalSpace Universityby Jake Gamsky

ISU SSP 2011 participants before the opening ceremony (Source: Jake Gamsky)

U.S. participants (Source: Jake Gamsky)

someone who had been in space or to talkabout a mission to Mars over coffee witha NASA or ESA engineer. The core lecturesculminated with a four hour exam over thematerial.

The second phase of the programdivided us into different department areasin order to gain more knowledge on a

specific subject matter. The entrepreneurialspace movement in the United Statesenticed me to participate in the spacebusiness and management department. Wewere exposed to and interacted with severalspace entrepreneurs and business men andwomen. We learned the basics of a businessplan and how to sell and fund a business


Jake Gamsky , a graduate of theUniversity of Kentucky, is currently aMaster’s student in the University ofColorado at Boulder’s AerospaceEngineering Sciences Department. Hewas the recipient of the 2011 AAS LadyMamie Ngan Scholarship to ISU.

ISU SSP 2011 participants before the annual students vs. alumni football match (Source: JakeGamsky)

ISU SSP 2011 participants and staff touringGraz’s most famous attraction, TheSchlossberg. (Source: Jake Gamsky)

idea. The department culminated with apresentation about a fictional project inresponse to a Request For Proposal (RFP).

The last module of the summer was fullydevoted to completing the group project(which we had been intermittently workingon throughout the program). I chose towork on the project team that came to beknown as team CHARM (Cooperation ofHumans And Robots for Mars). We wereasked to investigate mission scenarios anddetermine an ideal mix of human androbotic partnerships in the exploration ofMars. We met with NASA missiondesigners and German robot engineers, andeven took a visit to a local German carmanufacturing company to observe theautonomy of their robot fleet. In the end,we had developed a robust model which,when fed both goals and the relativeimportance of those goals, returned anoptimal mix of human and robotcooperation for a mission to Mars.

As one of the few native Englishspeakers on the team, I learned very earlythe importance of good communication andteam working skills in such a diverse groupof intelligent people. Throughout theproject process, we discovered the abilitiesof space robotics and rationalized the needfor humans in space, but we also developedan understanding of different leadership

and management styles and projectorganization techniques. At the conclusionof the project, we had constructed a 100page report, a final presentation, and anexecutive summary report and video.

In addition to the three main phases ofSSP there were several other activitiesscattered throughout the program. Weparticipated in a number of extraworkshops, professional site visits anddistinguished lectures. The workshops gaveus the opportunity to gain hands-on

experience or have thorough provokingdiscussions on a smaller scale. Thehighlights for me were winning the roboticscompetition workshop and visiting theUnited Nations in Vienna, Austria, wherewe met with the United Nations Committeeon the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space(COPUOS).

Among the more culturally-enrichingevents for me were the scheduled culturenight activities throughout the summer.These included fifteen minute presentationsby the participants highlighting aspects oftheir particular country. The Canadians andAmericans performed humorous skits, theAustrians and Russians taught us somenative dance moves, and the Estonianparticipant wowed us with his musicalskills. The presentations were followed bythe participants’ preparation of native foodand drink. The French students created acrepe bar and the Italian representativesspoiled us with tiramisu. As a whiteAmerican male from the middle of theUnited States, I was delighted to learnabout (and taste) all the things othercountries had to offer.

However, the most lasting andinfluential part of ISU’s SSP are thecontacts and friendships I made over thecourse of the summer. I was surroundedby a wealth of knowledge and experiencethat had been accumulated acrossSpaceship Earth for many years. Fifty-three percent of the students were morethan three years into their professionalcareers. I cannot think of a more valuableexperience for an up-and-coming spaceprofessional. The entire program was anamazing experience, and I am very gratefulfor the support from the AmericanAstronautical Society, The University ofKentucky, and ISU who facilitated myefforts to fund and attend SSP.


TUESDAY, MARCH 27

6:00 Evening Symposium Warm-up / Meet & Greet Mixer

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28

7:00 Registration Opens / Continental Breakfast8:30 Welcome and Announcements

- Frank Slazer, Aerospace Industries Association; AAS President- Harley Thronson, Associate Director for Advanced Concepts in Astrophysics, NASA GSFC; Chair, Symposium Planning Committee

8:40 Introduction of Keynote SpeakersRob Strain, Director, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Symposium Honorary Chair

8:45 KeynoteCharles F. Bolden, Jr., NASA Administrator invited

9:30 KeynoteJohn Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology; Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) invited

10:30 Human Exploration StrategyExtend and sustain human activities across the Solar SystemModerator: Frank Morring, Senior Editor, Aviation Week & Space TechnologyInvited Panelists:

· Bill Gerstenmaier, Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations, NASA HQ· Jeff Davis, Director of Life Sciences, NASA Johnson Space Center· Representative from the International Space Exploration Coordination Group· Philip McAlister, Director, Commercial Spaceflight Development, NASA HQ

12:15 LuncheonInvited Guest Speaker: Representative Ralph Hall (R-TX), Chairman, House Committee on Science,

Space, and Technology2:15 Science Strategy

Expand scientific understanding of the Earth and the Universe in which we liveInvited Moderator: Steve Squyres, Chair, NASA Advisory Council and Goldwin Smith Professor

of Astronomy, Cornell UniversityInvited Panelists:

· John Grunsfeld· Waleed Abdalati, NASA Chief Scientist· Matt Mountain, Director, Space Telescope Science Institute· Barbara Giles, NASA SMD Heliophysics Division Director

Draft Program(as of December 9, 2011)


4:00 Technology StrategyCreate the innovative new space technologies for our exploration, science, and economic futureInvited Moderator: Mason Peck, NASA Chief TechnologistInvited Panelists:

· Ray Colladay, Chairman, Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board, National Academies· George Komar, Director, Earth Science Technology Office, NASA GSFC· Mark Lewis, Professor and Chair, Aerospace Engineering Department, University of Maryland· David Neyland, Director Tactical Technology Office, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

(DARPA)5:30 Closing Remarks5:45 Industry, Government, and Student Networking Reception

THURSDAY. MARCH 29

7:30 Registration Opens / Continental Breakfast9:00 Introduction of Keynote Speaker

Rob Strain, Director, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Symposium Honorary Chair9:05 Keynote

Kathryn Sullivan, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction, NOAA invited

9:45 Public Outreach and Education StrategyShare NASA with the public, educators, and students to provide opportunities to participate in our mission,foster innovation and contribute to strong national economyInvited Moderator: Freeman A. Hrabowski, President, University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC)Invited Panelists:

· Louisa Koch, Director; Chair, NOAA Education Council· Ira Flatow, Science Correspondent, National Public Radio and TV Journalist· James Stofan, Deputy Associate Administrator for Education, NASA HQ· Alan Ladwig, Deputy Associate Administrator for Public Outreach, NASA HQ

11:30 LuncheonInvited Guest Speaker: Neil deGrasse Tyson

1:30 Future Infrastructure: Communications, Launch, and AeronauticsAdvance research for societal benefit and enable program and institutional capabilities to conductNASA’s aeronautics and space activitiesInvited Moderator: Jaiwon Shin, Associate Administrator for Aeronautics Research, NASA HQInvited Panelists:

· Susan Kinney, Director, Logistics Management Division, NASA HQ· Marion Blakey, President/CEO AIA and Chair for the NASA Advisory Council’s Committee on

Aeronautics· Robert Cabana, Director, NASA Kennedy Space Center· NASA - Communications

3:30 Space and Terrestrial Weather: Climate Change and MoreModerator: Nancy Colleton, President, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies; Executive Director, Alliance for Earth ObservationsInvited Panelists:

· Space Weather - Michael Hesse, Chief, Space Weather Laboratory, NASA GSFC· Global Climate Change - Jim Hansen, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies; Adjunct Professor

of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Columbia University’s Earth Institute· Oceans - Robert Gagosian, President and CEO, Consortium for Ocean Leadership

5:15 Wrap-up and Final Thoughts5:30 Closing Reception


Join the 2nd USA Science & Engineering Festival – Get Involved Now!

Building on the success of the inaugural Festival in 2010, the 2nd USA Science & Engineering Festival will inspire the nextgeneration of scientists and engineers with school programs and nationwide contests throughout the 2011/2012 school year andculminate with the finale Expo in Washington DC on April 27-29, 2012. The Finale Expo will take place at the Walter E. WashingtonConvention Center in Washington, DC.

With nearly one million participants, the inaugural USA Science & Engineering Festival was the country’s first national sciencefestival - the ultimate multi-cultural, multi-generational and multi-disciplinary celebration of science and engineering in the United

States. The month-long Festival, which brought over 100 leading scientists and 25 NobelLaureates into underserved schools, culminated in a two day Expo on the National Mall thatgave over 550 of the nation’s leading science & engineering organizations the opportunity topresent themselves with over 1,500 hands-on, fun science activities and 75 stage shows toinspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. The Expo featured science celebritiessuch as Bill Nye the Science Guy, Kari Byron, Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage from theMythbusters, the Meteorite Men, Erno Rubik, the Biggest Loser, Sid the Science Kid, castmembers of NCIS and CSI, and others. In addition, there were 82 Satellite Events that tookplace simultaneously in 30 States.

Apply to Host an Exhibit or Perform at the Finale Expo, Participate in the New STEM Career Pavilion or NewFestival Book Fair!

We are looking for exhibitors and performers who can present valid science and engineering principles in a novel, fun, educational,engaging, captivating and hands-on interactive format. While people of all ages will attend the Finale Expo, the activity or performanceshould be geared towards a 12th grade science understanding or below. We’re also seeking scientists, engineers, companies, STEMorganizations, universities, colleges and other organizations to be part of the first STEM Career Pavilion at the Festival’s ExpoFinale. The Pavilion will give students a chance to explore tomorrow’s hot careers in renewable energy, robotics,space tourism, nanotechnology, virtual reality, clean technology, genetics and education.

Science and engineering authors, publishers, independent booksellers - apply to host a book exhibit at thepremiere USA Science and Engineering Festival Book Fair. Or submit your book and become a featured speaker!Green Technology, Physics Discoveries, Novel Number Theories, Science Fiction - we are looking for bookswhich make scientific principles interesting and relevant to everyday life, and make science fun and accessibleto the general public.

Apply to Host a Pre-Expo Festival Event or Apply to Host a Satellite Event

We are now accepting proposals for events to be held during April 2012 in the one month period leading up to the finale Expo. Theideal Festival Event is fun and engaging, with the science or engineering component incorporated in a clever or unusual way.Whether you are planning a workshop, family activity, scavenger hunt, open house, panel discussion, reading, movie screening,performance, or whatever else you want to do, pre-Expo Festival Events are a great opportunity to show people of all ages andbackgrounds how fascinating science and engineering can be.

Not in the Greater Washington, DC area? Host a Satellite Event and get on our National Map! Our goal is to have hundreds ofSatellite Events throughout the country, anchored to the 2nd USA Science & Engineering Festival Finale Expo on April 27-29, 2012.You can make it as small or as big as you want. It can be a single activity put on by your student club, a small celebration at yourschool or company, a larger event that involves organizations from your community, or a full-fledged Festival modeled after the USAScience & Engineering Festival. It’s a great way to get your community excited about science, and to put your organization on thenational map.

To learn more about the Festival, please visit our website at www.usasciencefestival.org


TECHNICAL CONFERENCE

1st International Academy of Astronautics (IAA)Conference on Dynamics and Control of Space SystemsPorto, PortugalMarch 19-21, 2012

The first in the series of events organized by the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) with the cooperation of theAmerican Astronautical Society (AAS) aiming to join specialists in dynamics and control of space systems will be held inPorto, Portugal, in the Hotel HF Ipanema Porto on March 19-21, 2012.

It will be followed by a satellite event, 7th International Workshop and Advanced School “Spaceflight Dynamics and Control,”organized at the Engineering School of the Porto University on March 22-23, 2012.

Manuscripts were accepted based on the quality of the extended abstract, the originality of the work and/or ideas, and theanticipated interest in the proposed subject.

Manuscripts were solicited on topics related to analysis of space systems, including but not limited to:

• Attitude dynamics and control• Attitude sensors and actuators• Dynamics and control of large space structures and tethers• Mission design and optimization• Optimal control in space flight dynamics• Orbital dynamics and determination• Satellite constellations and formation flying• Space structures development and verification• Spacecraft guidance, navigation and control

The conference proceedings will be published by Univelt Incorporated in AAS Advances in the Astronautical Sciences series.

The working language for the conference is English.

IMPORTANT DATESExtended deadline for submission of abstracts: December 5, 2011Author notifications: December 9, 2011Full papers: March 12, 2012

REGISTRATION FEESEarly Bird (registered and paid before January 20, 2012): 300•Regular (registered and paid from January 21, 2012, to March 5, 2012): 350•On-site Registration (only in cash and in euros): 400•

The registration fee includes:

• Access to conference sessions• CD with Conference Proceedings (published by Univelt Incorporated)• Coffee breaks as scheduled in the conference program


UPCOMING EVENTS

AAS Corporate MembersAAS Events ScheduleJanuary 29-February 2, 2012*AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Winter MeetingFrancis Marion HotelCharleston, South Carolinawww.space-flight.org

February 3-8, 2012AAS Guidance and Control ConferenceBeaver Run ResortBreckenridge, Coloradowww.aas-rocky-mountain-section.org

March 19-21, 2012IAA Conference on Dynamics and Control of SpaceSystemsPorto, Portugalwww.astrodynamics.org.pt

March 27-29, 201250th Robert H. Goddard Memorial SymposiumGreenbelt MarriottGreenbelt, Marylandwww.astronautical.org

April 28-29, 2012USA Science & Engineering ExpoWashington, DCwww.usasciencefestival.org

May 15-18, 201213th International Space Conference of Pacific-basinSocieties (ISCOPS)Kyoto International Community HouseKyoto, Japanwww.astronautical.org

June 8-10, 2012Student CanSat CompetitionCross Plains, Texaswww.cansatcompetition.com

June 26-28, 20121st Annual International Space Station (ISS) Researchand Development ConferenceDenver Marriott City CenterDenver, ColoradoABSTRACT DEADLINE: January 15, 2012

August 13-16, 2012AIAA/AAS Astrodynamics Specialist ConferenceHyatt Regency MinneapolisMinneapolis, Minnesotawww.aiaa.org

*AAS Co-sponsored Meetings

UPCOMING EVENTS

AerojetThe Aerospace CorporationAir Force Institute of Technologya.i. solutions, inc.Analytical Graphics, Inc.Applied Defense Solutions, Inc.ArianespaceAuburn UniversityBall Aerospace & Technologies Corp.The Boeing CompanyCSCEdge Space Systems, Inc.Embry-Riddle Aeronautical UniversityEuroconsult USA, Inc.Honeywell Technology Solutions, Inc.International Space UniversityJet Propulsion LaboratoryJHU / Applied Physics LaboratoryKinetX, Inc.Lockheed Martin CorporationNational Institute of AerospaceNoblisNorthrop GrummanOrbital Sciences CorporationParagon Space Development CorporationThe Pennsylvania State UniversityPhillips & CompanyResearch Support InstrumentsRWI International Consulting ServicesSAICSpace and Technology Policy Group, LLCSpace Dynamics Lab / Utah State UniversitySpaceXThe Tauri GroupTechnica, Inc.Texas A&M UniversityUnited Launch AllianceUnivelt, Inc.Universal Space NetworkUniversities Space Research AssociationUniversity of Alabama in HuntsvilleUniversity of FloridaUniversity of Texas at AustinVirginia Commercial Space Flight Authority/ Mid-Atlantic Regional SpaceportWomen in Aerospace

Thank you for your continued support!


Membership Type! Regular .................................. $100! Affiliate ............................. $100! Senior ................................. $115! Fellow (renewal only) .... $115! Retired .................................. $50! Teacher (K-12) ................... $45! Student (full-time) ............ $45

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Membership Benefits Include: Subscriptions to the quarterly The Journal ofthe Astronautical Sciences and the bi-monthly Space Times magazine, as wellas reduced rates at all AAS conferences. Visit the AAS website for additionalinformation about benefits.

Presentations fromthe Von Braun Symposium andthe AAS National Conference

are posted atwww.astronautical.org

Deadline for the AAS Lady Mamie Ngan$10,000 Scholarship application is

January 6, 2012

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Space Flight Award to Space Shuttle Program - AAS’ highest honor - for outstanding efforts and achieve-ments that have contributed most significantly to the advancement of spaceflight and space exploration

Special Achievement Award to Space Shuttle Development Team - for developing a revolutionary systemthat for 30 years was integral to many of the most significant space achievements in history

Flight Achievement Award to the STS-135 Crew - Christopher Ferguson, Sandra Magnus, Rex Walheim,and Douglas Hurley - for outstanding achievements as a flight crew or flight crew member

Victor A. Prather Award to Joseph Kosmo - for outstanding contributions in the field of extravehicularprotection or activity in space

Lloyd V. Berkner Award to Jeffrey Manber - in recognition of outstanding contributions to the commercialutilization of space technology

Melbourne W. Boynton Award to Carolyn Huntoon - to a physician who has made a significant contributionto the biomedical aspects of spaceflight

Military Astronautics Award to Tod Wolters - for outstanding leadership in the application of astronautics tothe development of space systems for national defense

W. Randolph Lovelace II Award to Nancy Grace Roman - for significant contributions to space science andtechnology

Dirk Brouwer Award to F. Kenneth Chan - for significant technical contributions to a space flight mechanicsand astrodynamics

John F. Kennedy Astronautics Award to Congressman Ralph Hall - for outstanding contributions in publicservice by promoting the Nation's space programs

Industrial Leadership Award to Brewster Shaw - for outstanding contributions through leadership in thedevelopment and acquisition of space systems

Eugene M. Emme Astronautical Literature Award for 2010 to John Logsdon - for John F. Kennedy and theRace to the Moon

Eugene M. Emme Astronautical Literature Award for 2010 to Asif Siddiqi - for The Red Rockets' Glare:Spaceflight and the Soviet Imagination, 1857-1957

Eugene M. Emme Astronautical Literature (Children) Award for 2010 to Laura Purdie Salas - for EightGreat Planets!

Eugene M. Emme Astronautical Literature (Young Adult) Award for 2010 to Gloria Skurzynski - for Thisis Rocket Science: True Stories of the Risk-taking Scientists who Figure Out Ways to Explore Beyond Earth

Carl Sagan Memorial Award to Riccardo Giacconi - for demonstrated leadership in research or policiesadvancing the exploration of the Cosmos

AAS 2011 Fellows William J. Emery and David B. Spencer - in recognition of their outstanding contributionsto astronautics

AAS Annual Awards Recipients

AAS ANNUAL AWARDS


Term Expires 2014

Peter M. Bainum Professor Emeritus, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Howard UniversityRobert H. Bishop Opus Dean of the College of Engineering, Marquette UniversityMark K. Craig Vice President/NASA Account Manager, Science Applications International CorporationJ. R. Edwards Manager, Human Space Flight Program, Lockheed Martin CorporationPatrick McKenzie Director, Exploration Business Development, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.Neil Milburn

Vice President, Federal Liaison and Program Manager, Armadillo AerospaceSuneel Sheikh

CEO & Chief Research Scientist, ASTER Labs, Inc.Patricia Grace Smith

Principal, Patti Grace Smith ConsultingGregg Vane

Manager, Solar System Mission Formulation, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

AAS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Introducing the Elected Directors

1st Annual International Space StationResearch and Development Conference

Organized by the American AstronauticalSociety in conjunction with NASA and the

Center for the Advancement of Sciencein Space Inc. (CASIS)

Denver Marriott City CenterDenver, ColoradoJune 26-28, 2012


Observations from the Von Braun Symposium

The 4th Wernher von Braun MemorialSymposium drew more than 350 people tothe University of Alabama at Huntsville.Attendees heard presentations on spaceachievement and discussed current topicsof interest in space exploration. This year’stheme, Launching the Future in Space Ex-ploration, set the tone for presentations bytop NASA officials on the status of spaceexploration, as well as panel discussionsthat ran the gamut from how the U.S. candevelop a sustainable exploration programto the military uses of space.

Organized by the American Astronau-tical Society (AAS) with the support ofUAHuntsville, the October 25-26 eventboasted a large number of co-sponsorswhich included Boeing, NorthropGrumman, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne,Lockheed Martin, John Hopkins UniversityApplied Physics Laboratory, TeledyneBrown Engineering, and NASA Marshall

by Mike Kelley

Space Flight Center. Space News was themedia sponsor.

Despite a U.S. space program wrackedby disagreement over objectives andhobbled by economic constraints, present-ers and panelists agreed that space explo-ration is still a priority at the highest lev-els of government. The growing role ofprivate space was also very much in evi-dence, following recent announcements ofNASA contracts to SpaceX and OrbitalScience for cargo missions to the Interna-tional Space Station.

Following welcoming remarks by Uni-versity of Alabama Chancellor Dr.Malcolm Portera and American Astronau-tical Society President Frank Slazer,Marshall Space Flight Center DirectorRobert Lightfoot gave a brief update onactivities at the Center, where the big newsthis year was the announcement of NASA’sgo-ahead on the Space Launch System.

Chris Scolese, NASA Associate Admin-istrator, offered encouragement on the Ad-ministration’s and Congress’s support ofspace exploration efforts. NASA, he said,enjoys bipartisan support, adding that “fewthings excite young people and encouragethem into science and technical fields morethan the space program.” Enthusiasm forspace exploration also extends internation-ally, and leads to a high level of coopera-tion. As he put it, “there are no borders inspace.”

He offered a new term for NASA’s plansto level-fund the heavy lift rocket programfor the next five years. “Flat is the newincrease,” Scolese said.

NASA’s 2011 approvals of the SpaceLaunch System and Orion Multi-Purposecrew vehicle programs heated up the firstmorning presentation. Dan Dumbacher,NASA Associate Administrator for HumanExploration Capabilities, acknowledged

Tuesday luncheon attendees; speaker William Gerstenmaier (Source: Jennifer Brost/UAH)


that while NASA’s top officials have nocrystal ball to view future funding, they areconfident the program will ultimately befunded to conclusion.

Dumbacher later queried top space in-dustry leaders about their plans to helpachieve a sustainable exploration program.Mark Geyer, Orion Program Manager, saidthe agency understands the realities of thenation’s financial situation. John Elbon,Boeing’s Vice President for space explo-ration, echoed those views. “There mustbe a sense of urgency and commitment forcost savings,” he said, adding that futurecongressional support for space explora-tion will depend largely on how well NASAcan produce, given the funds allotted. “IfNASA doesn’t pull this off, its allies inCongress may not be able to save it again,”he said.

Tuesday luncheon speaker WilliamGerstenmaier offered his praises of the In-ternational Space Station, rolling off a listof areas in which the ISS has advancedknowledge. NASA, he said, has “onlyscratched the surface” of the many possi-bilities for the ISS. He said the time hascome to “push boundaries, and not just seekthe safe solution” when it comes to spaceresearch. The ISS, he said, is primarilya research platform with eight or nine sci-entific experiments going on at atime. Private industry, in particular thepharmaceutical industry, should take ad-vantage of the ISS’ near zero-gravity en-vironment that allows testing of many con-cepts and research problems that affect General Chilton and Lisa Tunstill (Source: Jennifer Brost/UAH)

Tuesday morning Panel; Dan Dumbacher moderator (Source: Jennifer Brost/UAH)

space travel.Commercial space advocates had their

say in the first of two afternoon panel dis-cussions, Energizing Commercial Space.Tim Pickens, former CEO of Orion Pro-pulsion and now Commercial Space Advi-sor to Dynetics in Huntsville, posed thequestion “what can government do to pro-mote more commercial participation inspace?” Panelists offered a number of sug-

gestions, ranging from more consistentpolicy to more consistent funding thatdoesn’t vary from administration to admin-istration. Panelists argued that governmentcould assist the private space industry inmarketing efforts to domestic and interna-tional customers.

NASA’s increasing reliance on robotsto assist human space exploration effortswas the subject of a second afternoon panel


discussion. Daniel Schumacher, Managerof Marshall Space Flight Center’s Scienceand Technology Office, asked “can wehave both robotics and human explorationof space?” Panel members agreed that thequestion should be rephrased in terms of“and” rather than “or.”

Dr. Suzy Young of UA-Tuscaloosa’sResearch Office said the use of roboticshas become a “pervasive technology acrossboth military and space.” She called forsustainment of robotics research in the faceof tightening military R&D budgets, andcited sources claiming that robotic intelli-gence could advance to a level approach-ing human intelligence by the year 2040.

The primary focus of the discussion in-volved NASA’s use of robots to supportspace exploration. John Baker, Manager ofJet Propulsion Laboratory’s Human/Ro-botic Mission Systems Engineering Office,and Corky Clinton, Deputy Manager ofMarshall Space Flight Center’s Scienceand Technology office, showed how agencyrobotic programs are aiding explorationmissions.

Clinton said robots could be useful inthe exploration of asteroids, where of

roughly 7600 asteroids currently mapped,fewer than a dozen have been deemed suit-able for human habitation. Robots for as-teroid exploration, he said, would use on-board cameras to give NASA a close lookat physical features of asteroid surfaces.“There is no arguing that robotic missionswill pave the way and be necessary forfuture missions to asteroids.”

UAH students took top honors in thestudent poster displays. Emma Fry and LisaTunstill took first prize as individuals, andteam awards were presented to AmandaOwens, Kyle Donohoo, Tiffany Webb,Sam Ayers, and Tara Martin.

The second day, October 26, marked afirst in the symposium’s four-year historyas the morning kicked off with a discus-sion of military space initiatives. The U.S.military has long recognized how smallsatellites aid tactical warfare, playing amajor role in surveillance, intelligencegathering, and communications. Theselightweight, low cost, and expendable sat-ellites owe their existence to recent ad-vances in nanotechnology and microcir-cuitry. What Mark Swinson, Director ofSMDC’s Space and Cyberspace Technol-

ogy Directorate, termed “the third revolu-tion: microelectronics,” has led to the de-velopment of small and inexpensive satel-lites ranging in size from the SMDC One– the size of a loaf of bread – to the newly-developed FAST-SAT weighing about fourhundred pounds.

“This is really a time of renaissance inthe space business that is providing impor-tant benefits for the military,” saidSwinson. Panelist John London, also ofSMDC’s Space and Cyberspace Technol-ogy Directorate, agreed. “There is anemerging seriousness in DoD that thesesatellites would be very beneficial to thewarfighter. They allow the Army to get in-formation down to the Brigade CombatTeam level.”

While the Army gets more bang for thebuck with its low-cost satellites, it is stillburdened with high launch costs, saidSMDC’s London. “Getting launch vehiclesto be affordable has been a 50 year chal-lenge,” he said, “and the results are mixedat best. We absolutely need a lower-costmeans to put satellites in space.” Thus far,the Army has tackled the problem bylaunching its satellites as secondary pay-

University of Alabama in Huntsville (Source: Jennifer Brost/UAH)


Mike Kelley is a professional writerliving in Huntsville, Alabama. He haswritten extensively about NASA, spaceexploration, and the space industry forthe Huntsville Times, Business AlabamaMonthly, and other publications. In2002, he researched and wrote a historyof the Marshall Space Flight Center for50 Years of Rockets and Space in theRocket City, a history of Huntsville’s rolein U.S. space exploration.

Student poster competition winners (Source: Jennifer Brost/UAH)

loads on other launches. It’s not the idealsolution, he added, but the Army has set agoal of getting launch costs down to $1million or less.

Dynetics’ Tim Pickens echoed thattheme. “These large architectures are notvery responsive,” he said, and presented asolution based on a company of rocketsusing common, virtually “off the shelf”boosters that could be configured to launchpayloads of up to several tons, with thelaunch vehicle able to be transported on aflatbed truck. These vehicles, he added,would have the added benefit of low rangecosts. “We’d like to see a situation whererange costs equal vehicle costs.”

At Wednesday’s lunch, Retired AirForce General Kevin Chilton called forgreater cooperation between the militarybranches, the defense industry, andAmerica’s research universities if the na-tion is to maintain and improve its spacecapabilities. Chilton lauded the criticalsatellite infrastructure the U.S. has put intoplace over the past 50 years, but said thenation is challenged “just to maintain ourspace capabilities.”

America’s space assets, he said, “helppreserve the lives of our greatest nationaltreasure, our young men and women inuniform,” adding that “it’s important, if asoldier is under fire, that he be able to givehis position with pinpoint accuracy.” Manyof those satellites are aging, but he offeredthe good news that all of America’s defen-sive satellites are being upgraded. He saidthese often costly upgrades, occurring at atime of cutbacks in defense spending,present tough choices for policymakers.“The military has become dependent onthese capabilities, and they have a desirefor more space investment,” he noted.

The U.S. has spent billions on spacecapabilities. But echoing a theme from themorning session on military space initia-tives, Chilton said a balance must foundbetween the costs of upgrades and the needto preserve U.S. military leadership. “Moreexpensive solutions are not the answer intoday’s environment.”

He offered several solutions. Militarysatellites can be put into orbit as second-ary payloads on other launches, but ac-

knowledged that scheduling issues andother problems can arise.

Wednesday’s panel discussions con-cluded with a no-holds barred discussionon space policy. Dr. Joan Johnson-Freese,National Security Affairs professor at theNaval War College, said moving forwardon SLS is no less than “a matter of cred-ibility” for the United States. Several pan-elists agreed that, despite the lack of anytechnological breakthrough with the mam-moth new rocket, its development was im-portant to NASA and the U.S.

Panelist Jeff Bingham, a Senate advi-sor on space policy, pointed out that spacepolicy is being driven by the tighteningFederal budget. He said a policy-drivenapproach would first establish NASA’sneeds, then find the funding. “It’s not aquestion of money. It’s a question of pri-orities,” he said.

Though policy panelists were united inagreement on the importance of support-ing commercial space companies with tax

dollars, they also saw a growing role forprivate space. “Going forward, private in-dustry will play a key role,” said GeorgeNield, the FAA’s Associate Administratorfor Commercial Space Transportation.Nield foresees several space markets forindustry that include cargo and crew de-liveries to the space station, satellitelaunches, suborbital research, and spacetourism.


NOTES ON NEW BOOKS

2010 AAS Eugene M. Emme Astronautical Literature Award: Winner

Reviewed by Donald C. Elder III

John F. Kennedy and the Race to the Moon

John F. Kennedy and the Race to theMoon, by John M. Logsdon. New York:Palgrave McMillan, 2010. 291 pages.ISBN 978-0-230-11010-6 (hardcover).

On December 14, 1953, Secretary ofState John Foster Dulles informed theNorth Atlantic Council that developmentsin the Cold War might call for an“agonizing reappraisal” of United Statespolicy. This comment seems applicable tothe process undertaken by author JohnLogsdon. In 1970, Logsdon published TheDecision to Go to the Moon: ProjectApollo and the National Interest , a well-received monograph on the origins of theApollo program. For four decades, his bookwas regarded as the definitive work onPresident Kennedy’s 1961 decision tocommit to landing a person on the Moonwithin the decade.

Logsdon felt increasingly ill at ease withhis treatment of the subject, recognizingthat numerous important sources had beenunavailable when writing in the late 1960s.Logsdon’s latest work brims withreinvention and new interpretation. Boldlyconceived and brilliantly rendered, John F.Kennedy and the Race to the Moon hasclaimed the Eugene M. EmmeAstronautical Literature Award for 2010.

Logsdon begins by describing John F.Kennedy’s views on space policy prior tohis election to the presidency. Kennedy hadhardly been a true believer in the dream ofan American presence in space. This stanceremained consistent during his candidacy.A speech dealing exclusively with spacepolicy issues was prepared for him, butKennedy chose not to deliver it. What hedid say about space was couched in termsof the nation’s position in the Cold Warrather than any intrinsic value.

Kennedy, it seems, was electedpresident without having said anything

meaningful about the future of theAmerican space program. This aloofattitude would not immediately changeupon inauguration. Rather than serve as thehead of the National Aeronautics and SpaceCouncil himself, Kennedy tasked Vice-President Lyndon Johnson with theresponsibility. As further evidence ofKennedy’s indifference, the Space Councilwas not called into duty until April of 1961.

At that point, of course, everything hadchanged. On April 12, 1961, the SovietUnion successfully put Cosmonaut YuriGagarin into outer space, an event thatKennedy appears to have initially viewedbenignly. But, as Logsdon notes, Kennedywas rudely jolted by public outcry (DwightEisenhower had been similarly blindsidedby the furor over Sputnik). Two days later,Kennedy presided over a meeting to discussthe proper reaction to the Sovietaccomplishment. Here was broached theidea of establishing a goal of landing anAmerican on the Moon as a way to

reinforce American capabilities andresolve. Possibly influenced by the failureof the Bay of Pigs fiasco, Kennedy movedinexorably closer to making landing on theMoon a national priority. In a joint addressto Congress on May 25, 1961, Kennedyplaced the United States on a path thatwould lead Neil Armstrong to the Sea ofTranquility.

In his new book, Logsdon follows thestory to the president’s untimely death inNovember of 1963. A major finding is thatthe path from Kennedy’s promulgation ofthe Apollo program and his death was notlinear. Kennedy had suggested to SovietPremier Nikita Khrushchev shortly afterhis speech that the two nations shouldcooperate on a lunar program. Rebuffed byKhrushchev, Kennedy pushed forward withthe American program. Kennedy would,however, return to the concept of a jointmission. Kennedy called for reviews of thelunar program, asking whether theexpensive project was necessary to proveAmerican resolve. As the reportsconsistently affirmed the value of landingan American on the Moon, Kennedy stayedthe course.

One of Kennedy’s advisers states thatthe president “tried to master thesubstantive content of important issues byasking probing questions.” The same couldbe said of Logsdon. Not content to rest onhis laurels, Logsdon challenged his earlierwork. In the process, he gave us a moretextured appreciation of Kennedy’s fatefuldecision. This work will long inform usabout the president’s conversion fromreluctant supporter to champion of anachievement for the ages.

Donald C. Elder III is a professor ofhistory at Eastern New MexicoUniversity.


NOTES ON NEW BOOKS

The Red Rockets’ Glare: Spaceflight and theSoviet Imagination, 1857–1957Reviewed by Rick W. Sturdevant

2010 AAS Eugene M. Emme Astronautical Literature Award: Winner

The Red Rockets’ Glare: Spaceflight andthe Soviet Imagination, 1857–1957 , byAsif A. Siddiqi. Cambridge UniversityPress, 2010. 402 pages. ISBN: 978-0-521-89760-0. $85.00 (hardcover).

It might seem impossible that spacehistorian Asif Siddiqi could surpass theamazingly high quality of scholarshipexhibited in Challenge to Apollo: TheSoviet Union and the Space Race, 1945–1974, for which he received this society’sEugene M. Emme Astronautical LiteratureAward a decade ago. Yet, he has done it inThe Red Rockets’ Glare: Spaceflight andthe Soviet Imagination, 1857–1957 . Fora second outstanding contribution to thehistorical literature, he has received hissecond Emme.

As one might expect, the chronologicaloverlap of a dozen years in these twonarratives results in some factualrepetition, but Siddiqi’s recent volumedisplays a more nuanced analysis of Sovietspace activities between the end of WorldWar II and launch of the world’s firstartificial satellite. While Challenge toApollo concentrated on shattering the mythof a monolithic Soviet space program byexposing the complex internal politicsunderlying postwar Soviet spacetechnology innovation, The Red Rockets’Glare delves deeper into the SovietUnion’s Russian past to find spacetechnology development heavilyintertwined with the course of both socialand political history. Through exhaustiveresearch and skillful analysis, Siddiqihighlights how a fairly widespread,abiding popular scientific interest incosmic exploration; informal, local groupsof star-struck rocket enthusiasts; and a fewindependent individuals with scientificexpertise or engineering skills kept dreams

alive and, ultimately, did more than thecumbersome, secretive Soviet bureaucracyto produce the successes of the late 1950sand 1960s.

Another Emme award winner, HowardMcCurdy, showed in his 1997 book Spaceand the American Imagination howimportant key personalities generatedpublic enthusiasm to help strengthenpolitical support for an American spaceprogram. In The Red Rockets’ Glare, AsifSidiqi does the same for the Soviet spaceprogram making it clear the latter reallywas a Russian program. Particularlyinstructive in this regard is his thirdchapter, titled “Imagining the Cosmos,”where he elaborates on the extraordinarilybroad artistic scope and diversity of theSoviet “space fad” during the 1920s. Byexamining literature, films, and paintingsfrom this period, he concludes, “Like theirmore ‘scientifically’ minded spaceenthusiast colleagues, the artists producedtheir populist work largely isolated fromthe elite Soviet scientific and technicalintelligentsia” (p. 97). He probes theintellectual underpinnings of Russiantechnological utopianism and Cosmism toreveal a shared number of basic elementsfor societal transformation not in keepingwith Soviet doctrine. “Through thedecades after the 1930s,” he explains,“Soviet space advocates altered their

strategies to fit the needs of practicalscience and industrialization” (p. 113), buteven then, new popular science journalsand the resurgence of science fiction in the1950s fueled mass enthusiasm for spaceexploration.

While most students of Soviet spacehistory know the roles played by keyindividuals, Konstantin Tsiolkovskii andSergei Korolev being preeminent, The RedRockets’ Glare casts each under ahistorical light more intense thanpreviously used. Consequently, Siddiqi’snarrative imparts to each actor morecomplexity than in earlier histories. Thisresults, at least partially, from Siddiqi’saccess to formerly closed archives. Oneshould not discount, however, hisremarkable ability to dissect complicatedhistorical patterns, thereby magnifyingfundamental relationships amongindividuals or informal groups. His skillin this regard becomes quite apparent inChapter 6, which casts a revealingspotlight on how German rocket expertiseand hardware from World War IIinfluenced postwar Soviet rocketry.

After digging further than hispredecessors into primary sources, bothmanuscript and printed, Siddiqi concludes,“The accepted notion that Soviet sciencewas essentially state science meritsrethinking” (p. 369). In the realm of pre-Sputnik Soviet rocket science, The RedRockets’ Glare unquestionably dispels thatnotion. It replaces the image of a formalstate program with one of informalnetworks and influential foreign factors.

Rick W. Sturdevant is Deputy CommandHistorian, HQ Air Force SpaceCommand, and a member of the AASHistory Committee.


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