NASA is No Longer Getting to Outer Space
Alan W. Dowd | Policy Review | September 2009
According to American experts, the United States will have a hard time engaging in future conflicts in space. The 2003 Columbia disaster and increasing security concerns are set to force NASA to retire its Space Shuttle fleet in 2010, instead of prolonging its mission until 2022 as initially planned. The U.S. will have to make do without the shuttles for at least five years, until the replacement Orion spacecraft's are ready for deployment. U.S. astronauts will have to hitch rides with the Russians in the meantime. Just a few years ago, that appeared not to present a problem. But the situation changed dramatically as a result of the Russian-Georgian War. The then head of NASA, Michael Griffin, blamed the resulting dilemma on the "apathy and ignorance" of politicians from both sides of the aisle. By constantly insisting on cost-saving measures, they undermined America's ability to compete in space. Indeed, space-related spending as a percentage of GDP has dropped by half since the 1960s.
More than one third of technology-related degrees in the United States today are awarded to foreign students. Upon graduation many of these return to their countries of origin. Whereas following the Second World War the U.S. tended to import scientists, the country today unwittingly exports strategic knowledge. Many countries worldwide are eager to fill the void left by American disinterest. China is advancing very aggressively in this sphere. A large portion of its military budget is dedicated to space-related research. The Chinese have developed microsatellites capable of shadowing their targets inconspicuously for years before striking. Beijing realizes that rocket technology will be crucial to victory in the wars of the future.
The "post-shuttle gap" is not just about the Americans being left to look for a ride. The United States risks losing its leadership position in space. This will endanger its freedom of action in the conflicts of the future. What is at stake moreover is America's prestige abroad, where it is increasingly seen as a country on the decline. The United States has to recall how crucial space flight was to national security in the days of President Kennedy, and act accordingly. America would also do well to cooperate more closely with the Europeans, whose Automated Transfer Vehicles do offer an alternative - albeit an expensive one - to the Russians.
This summary was prepared by the Atlantic Community editorial team from "Surrendering Outer Space" published here by Policy Review.
Sun, Oct 11th 2009, 14:25
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The space is quite independent as the "inner-space" is: acid rains, storms, tornadoes, etc. of such human ambitions. Even if one leaves eathquakes and volcanic eruptions out.
But the idea of a wobbling earth is as real as an earth out of its alignment. The possibilities of a future conflict that involves the outer-space (star-wars) perhaps shares an equal possibility since it is difficult to envisage a situation where any nuclear power would not use its long-range nuclear missiles after its telephone/fax/mobile/telex and television/cable television services have been knocked out - in the manner of a war.
But if undetected and as a guerilla war-fare - the 'outer space' sure provides an interesting area for the war of attrition between states. A dangerous area indeed. The so-called star-wars by humanoids!