Better Paths to a New Frontier

Photo by Johan J.Ingles-Le Nobel

Whats Next?

Space is limitless in the number of destinations we can pursue. From moons, and planets, to solar systems, and galaxies, we are only at the beginning of what space can offer us. Although we can agree that certain destinations are much more favorable than others, we cannot always agree on the path we will take to get to these destinations, and in what order we wish to pursue them. As we enter this post-shuttle era, many intelligent engineers/scientists/space-enthusiasts have offered plans for how we should pursue our future in space, many of which which are both practical and affordable. Unfortunately, our Congress (in their finite wisdom) has decided to ignore them and pursue their own plan for NASA, which involves a rocket known as the Space Launch System (SLS), and spacecraft known as the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle. Sadly, when you take a look at this plan and it's details, it becomes apparent that this plan is not about pushing NASA forward. The current NASA plan has much more to do with party politics, preserving a lavish NASA workforce, and maintaining old contracts with out of touch aerospace firms. At the same time, certain members of Congress have also used this plan as an excuse to try and gut NASA funding for commercial rocket companies which, if given the chance, could provide much greater capabilities in space at a fraction of the SLS and MPCV cost. 

In this post, I will introduce (or re-introduce in some cases) you to some of the better plans we should pursue on our path towards greater space exploration. I will also address the current plan being developed regarding the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and Space Launch System in some detail.

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