Opinion Piece
As The World Turns
The space industry was pioneered out of ingenuity, the need for discovery and competition in the American people. In JFK's now famous "Address at Rice University on the Nation's Space Effort" or as most would know it "We choose to go to the Moon…" this was a way to unite the people of America in a struggling time in America Racially, Culturally, Politically, and Internationally.
>We choose to go to the Moon! We choose to go to the Moon…We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others, too.
These simple words are inspired a nation to rally behind an IDEA, a Concept, a Vision of Grandeur yet unfathomed. This opened a world of possibilities not only to the minds of people but also to their hearts. Space has always been a source of inspiration for mankind and now we are finally returning to space after a almost 10 year break of space dominance.
In the year 2011 on July 8th Then President Obama said "Today's launch may mark the final flight of the Space Shuttle, but it propels us into the next era of our never-ending adventure to push the very frontiers of exploration and discovery in space,…". Sadly Obarna was unable to live up to the words he spoke, and defunded large portions of NASA's budget, resulting in thousands of NASA and shuttle contractor workers are losing their jobs once the program is no more.
The funds NASA lost due to the cuts had terrible impacts on the public sectors ability to fund the final launch (STS-135) that happened under the "Atlantis" banner on July 8th 2011. After this date America began to lose the space supremacy we had to countries like Russia and China which is a major security risk per my standards.
Today, March 5, 2020, the "SpX-DM2" mission was the first launch of American astronauts from an American spacecraft on American soil to the ISS since STS-135, and was the first privately owned manned rocket launched into space. This is achievement is a milestones on its own, but the best of all is "AMERICA IS GOING BACK TO SPACE." This doesnt include the actions being taken by the DOJ and creating Space Force (see other articles).
Between 2011 and Today, the private sector has made huge leaps in technology regarding rocket propulsion as well as satellite and communication technologies. Space X with Elon Musk seem to be leading the innovation between working directly with NASA and other US defense companies on many technologies Space X holds their own without the assistance of the US.
Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, Dragon, Starship and their capabilities completely surpass the ability even NASA was showing in 2011. Elon has shown the world that rockets can be reusable. Find out more about Space X and innovations by them: https://www.spacex.com/
Even today if you have the funds you can charter a space flight into low earth orbit, to experience zero gravity, if you can pay the price. There is also now commercial access to to ISS via companies like Reaction Engines Limited or NanoRacks LLC. The private sector has really changed the space game.
With the Dragon Demo 2 being launched this now marks a new public / private partnership which will be a giant boost for the Space Industry as a whole. Together NASA and SpaceX have plans to not only go back to the Moon but also committed to achieving the goal of sending humans to Mars. This generation will even see the first woman on the Moon.
The future of space exploration is strong with the youth of today and the generations to come. It was a beautiful to see all the bright faces on the children as the rocket launched. It reminded me of my own childhood seeing the "Spaceships" launch from the Cape, as our family would go to the beach to watch the launches. I remember aspiring to be an Astronaut as a small boy.
Public / Private partnerships for future space endeavors will allow the best of both sectors to collaborate and create the very best future for us on Earth and in Space. The technologies created to help us dominate space will also greatly benefit the betterment of all Humans on Earth.
>"The Best Is Yet To Come!"
~ Donald John Trump
The Future of Space is very bright. There are very smart people at NASA who are already figuring out how WE can grow food on Mars, and support a colony of about 1 million people. But, count me out until they fine a protein that is not bugs that WE could live on.
The Next frontier will be Space, the possiblities are endless and ever growing (no pun intended). Our children and Our children's children will be the ones who push our species into a whole new World and a whole new way of Living. It will usher in a "Brand New World."
But before we to far ahead of ourselves do not forget the tourism of low earth orbit this will create. And if we can get a "Base" on the Moon maybe we can vacation on the Moon before I die…
>"You can't be #1 on Earth if you are #2 in Space"
~Donald John Trump
As great as all this sounds there are some more serious reasons why Donald Trump has revived NASA and is pushing Space Force as a powerhouse. As the US took time off Space under Obarna; China and Russia both increased their space capabilities which put the US at a slight disadvantage, Trump did not find that acceptable and neither do I.
The United States was the first — and still the only — nation to put a man on the moon. Nobody will forget that. But China has been preparing to go to the Moon and beyond. The US cannot be caught with it's pants down. Kenneth P. Rapuano, the assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and global security, "let senators know the U.S. has got to step up its game or risk losing its edge to the Chinese or Russians, …" as well as stating "China and Russia are developing military capabilities, doctrine and organizations intended to place U.S. space systems at risk, including anti-satellite weapons, ground-launch missiles and directed energy weapons. Additionally, he said, they continue to launch experimental satellites that conduct sophisticated on-orbit activities to advance counter-space capabilities." Which both place the US and its Allies at a major disadvantage that is not acceptable.
In an answer to his own questions when speaking with the DOJ, Rapuano stated "The department must do more to accelerate its response to the changing dynamics of space by adapting our organizations, policies, doctrine, capabilities and joint force employment to more effectively deter aggression, protect our interests and enhance our lethality," Kenneth Rapuano is not alone in these opinions for space the DIA seem to agree. The DIA seem to think that in the future there is a real possiblity of space wars in the future of humans. Not as in star wars space wars but attacks (Cyber attacks, Physical attacks, Interception, Interference) on space devices such as satellite and other space hardwares. I am just please that other are thinking about these types of things and keeping US the American people safe!
Quotes from DIA "CHALLENGES TO SECURITY IN SPACE"
>China has a robust network of space surveillance sensors capable of searching, tracking, and characterizing satellites in all Earth orbits. This network includes a variety of telescopes, radars, and other sensors that allow China to support missions including intelligence collection, counterspace targeting, ballistic missile early warning, spaceflight safety, satellite anomaly resolution, and space debris monitoring.
>In 2015, Moscow reorganized its military and civilian space programs. Russia created the Aerospace Forces by merging the former Air Force and Aerospace Defense Troops. This new force includes Russia’s space forces, who have the mission to conduct space launches and maintain the ballistic missile early warning system, the satellite control network, and the space surveillance network.
>Globally, the space industry will continue to expand as technological and cost barriers fall and international partnerships for joint production grow. State, non-state, and commercial actors increasingly will have access to information from space. The number of satellites and debris on orbit will grow concurrently, making tracking satellites, discriminating threats from non-threats, and predicting and preventing collisions a greater challenge.
I am just please we have a President Strong Enough to do the right thing. Bless Space Force, DJT, All the Armed Forces and All Americans and especially all the brave men and women who will pioneer the brave new frontier.
by: PatchFag
1.Obama stop funding for nasa.
[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_policy_of_the_Barack_Obama_administration
[2]https://www.space.com/12229-obama-nasa-final-space-shuttle-launch.html
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Have not launched person to space in ~9 years from USA.
[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS-135
[2]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Space_Shuttle_missions
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Private Sector Space Developments (Space X, Virgin, Lockheed, )
[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_spaceflight
[]https://www.spacex.com/
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Private / Public Space Cooperation
[1]https://www.geekwire.com/2020/spacex-nasa-reset-countdown-second-try-launch-first-crewed-dragon/
[2]https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-awards-artemis-contract-for-gateway-logistics-services
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Space Dominance
[1]https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/1800891/dod-official-maintaining-space-dominance-pivotal-for-us-warfighters/
[2]https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/06/outer-space-war-defense-russia-china-463067
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Possible Futures of Space for Citizens
[1]https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/18/21142137/spacex-tourism-orbit-earth-private-citizens-dragon-space-flight
[2]https://www.space.com/how-feed-one-million-mars-colonists.html
[3]http://www.mars-one.com/
[4]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonization_of_Mars
[5]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_tourism
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USA need to Remain World Dominance
[1]https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/1800891/dod-official-maintaining-space-dominance-pivotal-for-us-warfighters/
[2]https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/1754509/dia-report-details-threats-to-americas-space-based-world/
[1]https://media.defense.gov/2019/Feb/11/2002088710/-1/-1/1/SPACE-SECURITY-CHALLENGES.PDF
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Realistic Potential of Space Wars
[1]https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/1754509/dia-report-details-threats-to-americas-space-based-world/
[1]https://media.defense.gov/2019/Feb/11/2002088710/-1/-1/1/SPACE-SECURITY-CHALLENGES.PDF
[2]https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/08/22/america-is-losing-the-second-space-race-to-china/
Other Sources:
[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_choose_to_go_to_the_Moon