Channel: ADVEXON TV

Category: Science & Technology

Tags: trendingare we alonespace travel transportationspacexelon muskadvexonplanet marsspacelife beyond earthspace mission 2020multiplanetary transportationorbital travelthe earthspace missionuniversejourney to another planetspacetravelspace traveldocumentary

Description: NASA's third pillar for success in aeronautics and space transportation technology addresses access to space and recognizes that low-cost access is the key to exploiting the commercial potential of space, as well as the key to expanding space research and exploration. Two technology goals are listed under Pillar Three that would extend the spacefaring capability of the United States and enable activities in space that are only talked about today. The two goals are as follows: Goal 9: Reduce the payload cost to low-Earth orbit by an order of magnitude, from $10,000 to $1,000 per pound, within 10 years. Goal 10: Reduce the payload cost to low-Earth orbit by an additional order of magnitude, from $1,000's to $100's per pound by 2020. While attempting to identify potential breakthrough technologies that could achieve these NASA goals, the committee noted that both goals focus only on achieving low-Earth orbit (LEO). However, this is only one aspect of the space transportation problem. Most satellites that are launched into Earth orbit, even if it is LEO, require some form of upper stage propulsion or orbital transfer vehicle to boost the satellite into an operational orbit.1 In addition, space vehicles used for scientific exploration must often travel beyond Earth's orbit into deep space. Providing this additional transport will be expensive and will add considerably to the costs of space missions. Thus, the committee suggests that NASA consider modifying the existing goals or adding additional goals to provide "stretch challenges" for: reducing the overall cost of space transportation, including the launch stage and the final propulsive stage used in an orbital transfer minimizing the cost of developing far-reaching space transportation technologies that enable new deep-space missions 1 From January 1, 1988, to January 1, 1998, launched operational payloads (not including rocket stages or debris) reached the following operational orbits: low-Earth orbit (less than 2,000 km): 793 satellites; high-Earth orbit (more than 2,000 km): 422 satellites; deep-space probes beyond Earth orbit: 16; military satellites with no unclassified orbital data: 65; total operational spacecraft launched: 1,296. (Devere, 1998) Thanks for watching Make sure to subscribe and leave a comment below.