Promoting The Flexible Path

Given his background and credentials its not a surprising perspective.

The primary focus of our unmanned space program should be the exploration of the solar system and the universe (space telescopes).

However, the primary focus of our-- manned space program-- should be on settling and commercializing the rest of the solar system and learning and developing the techniques in order to do that.

The Flexible path appears to be the last gasp of the Mars first groups who still don't seem to understand that if we finally set up permanent bases on the Moon then we end the Moon vs. Mars debate, forever, with Mars clearly being the next logical destination for permanent human settlements.

Marcel F. Williams

I'm going to put in a plug for LEO. I think we're on the cusp of commercial HSF getting itself established. I would like to see NASA concentrate on maximizing the use of the ISS for research, working to nurture commercial HSF, and researching enabling technologies like on-orbit refuelling, aerocapture, propulsion technologies, etc, and technologies that reduce costs to LEO.

The moon is looking more interesting, given the recent findings concerning polar water. However, a lot of research still needs to be done in terms of mapping the water deposits, and utilizing them. There is still a lot of work that unmanned missions can do to advance this research. I would also like to see robust unmanned exploration of the rest of the solar system. I'd like to learn more about Titan's lakes!

I'm concerned that if the focus shifts away from LEO too soon, that commercial HSF might not have enough time to get established. Once private HSF capabilities are established, and we start seeing private space tourism and private space stations that are making a profit, then it makes more sense for NASA to go beyond LEO. Getting too far ahead of the private sector risks having what little can be accomplished on limited government budgets being abandoned for lack of funding, as happened with Apollo. While we were technologically ready to go the moon, economically and socially we weren't, and I think we still aren't, though we're getting very close.

If human activities in LEO or beyond are going to be truly expansive, then it's going to be because the private sector is out there making a profit. Dreams that rely on massive government funding are going to remain dreams.

"With all due respect, the President should defer this decision to a qualified panel who know the subject area, the economics, the projections, benefits, costs, etc."

And the panel should be an evenly balanced set of multidisciplinary non-partisan scientists, educators and statesmen. Congress and the President can each have a representative. The President and Congress each get a veto. We need some serious discussion about the direction in which to proceed.

Kennel appears to be lining up earth observation people against human space flight, which is a concern. The earth observation program can be done for a lot less than what human space flight requires.

With all due respect, leadership does not require a committee, nor another study.

Apollo taught us a lot about flying in deep space. It also taught us about the difficulties of landing and carrying out surface operations. We're going to use that knowledge to follow through on a flexible path plan.

...So the question is, what does flexible path teach us in return that we would not otherwise learn by going to the moon or mars in a dedicated effort to make them permanent outposts?

Neither option does much to affect growth in commercial space. But developing the moon opens up the list of possibilities in the outer solar system.
With NASA further afield setting new boundaries, low orbit is left for business to fill the gap.

"Colonization and permanent settlement address needs that are not at all obvious, at least right now, and Congress is smart enough to understand that."

If congress was smart, then they would have allowed NASA to set up permanent facilities on the Moon right after the end of the Apollo program.

A permanent lunar base would be the first major step towards expanding human civilization beyond the Earth and the first step towards enhancing the survival of our species. Continuing to confine human civilization solely to our planet of evolutionary origin would be extremely foolish and could eventually lead to our extinction either from extraterrestrial impacts or from thermonuclear war on a planet where several nations could have the power of life and death over the entire planet before the end of the century.

But if all you want NASA to do is simply to explore the solar system then robots are far cheaper and safer than using humans.

Marcel F. Williams