2014 Key Issues Review: Ensuring a Robust U.S. Human Spaceflight Program

1. 2014 Key Issues Review:Ensuring a Robust U.S. Human Spaceflight Program Congressional Visits Day Preparatory Briefing Teleconferences Tim Dominick, Space Policy Subcommittee Vice-Chair

2. The Issue • U.S. has led the world in human spaceflight for the last five decades • The current Administration and Congress are in agreement that the ultimate destination for humans in space within the next 20–30 years is Mars • Current human exploration limited to travel to and from the International Space Station (ISS) • Strong agreement between policymakers and technical community for a stepping stone approach to human space exploration • Necessary to demonstrate the human-rated spacecraft and critical technologies necessary to transport humans safely to and from Mars • Changes in mission objectives and goals, cancelled human spaceflight initiatives, and unstable budget have driven numerous programmatic direction modifications and setbacks The Orion Vehicle will support resumed human operations beyond Earth orbit NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) will evolve to enable progressively more ambitious missions The long-term goal is to add footprints to the rover tracks already on Mars Pictures Courtesy NASA

3. AIAA Recommendations • Congress should adopt a NASA-endorsed roadmap of missions and milestones that leads to a human mission to Mars in the early 2030s • Congress should enable stable long-term funding for NASA • Complete development of the SLS and Orion • Develop other systems necessary to execute a sustainable exploration roadmap, in conjunction with international partners • Congress and the Administration should provide for the uninterrupted development of NASA-defined technologies that are necessary to execute the exploration roadmap • Congress and the Administration should state clear priorities for linking NASA Human Spaceflight activity to national goals related to foreign relations, economic growth, education, and technological achievement

4. 2014 Key Issues Review:Addressing the Growing Threat of Orbital Debris Congressional Visits Day Preparatory Briefing Teleconferences Tim Dominick, Space Policy Subcommittee Vice-Chair

5. The Issue • Orbital debris refers to all pieces of leftover space hardware, including remnants of satellites destroyed in collisions or explosions • Orbital debris larger than 0.1 cm can damage or destroy spacecraft • There are now 500,000 objects between 1cm and 10cm and 135,000,000 objects between 1mm and 1cm • Past practices increased debris by allowing spacecraft material to shed and spent boosters to explode • Current tracking only detects objects bigger than 10 cm • A recent anti-satellite test and accidental collisions have further increased debris • The orbital debris environment, if left unchecked, will force a change in the design and operation of our national commercial and military satellite systems Figure 1: Post-Chinese ASAT Test Orbital Debris Projections (b) (a) (c) Figure 2: (a) Erosion, (b) Penetration, and (c) Catastrophic Effects from Impacts with Debris [Courtesy of NASA]

6. AIAA Recommendations • Sponsor development of space situational awareness (SSA) methods on a global cooperative basis to identify, track, and maintain a catalog of LEO debris objects down to 1 cm • Develop a clearinghouse of “best practices” for satellite and launch vehicle upper stage designers that limit debris generation and minimize orbital loiter after booster and satellite end of life • Provide international access with all space-faring nations to share these best practices • Continue to work through UN Committee on Peaceful Use of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) to develop international agreements to limit orbital debris, including transparency and confidence-building measures • Develop and demonstrate cost-effective technologies for debris remediation, and promote the resolution of legal issues of liability and other legal hurdles related to debris removal