Space Updates

End of the Shuttle Program

• Was the shuttle program a huge mistake?– 135 flights in 30 years– Simpler designs bypassed– $209 billion in costs– 2600% more expensive per flight than initially projected

• What's next?– Private Efforts

• SpaceX • Bigelow

– Space Nuclear Power badly needed

Zubrin Trashes Vasimir

• Main objection is claiming Vasimir is required to go to Mars– Saying it is puts off many other program aspects

• As elecric thrust tech it is not that impressive– Existing ones are 70% efficient and Vasimir is barely at 50%

• Requires high temperature superconductors for major missions– We simply don’t have them

• Requires (Mars) a nuclear power system 20x more powerful and 100x better power/weight

Vasimr Rocket

Russian Nuclear Space Projects

• Space-based nuclear power station– 150 to 500 KW– Lasts 10-15 years– For moon or Mars

• Associated projects– Large space platform replacing many satellite (2018)– Energia – nuclear powered space tug– Spaceship with nuclear engine

• $16.7 million to this this year• Design due next year• Funding of $580 million to be built over 9 years.

MHD nuclear power

China’s Space Program

• Lunar orbiters – second on June 9• Moon program– Orbiters– Moon rover scheduled for 2012– Lander scheduled and material return

• Space station– The 8.5-tonne Tiangong-1 will be put into preset orbit in

2011– Two other ships will be launched to dock with in 2012-2013

• China-Russia Mars mission