The Future of Space Exploration

Curiosity has always been the basic trait of humans. We humans have always loved to explore and have tried to answer the greatest mysteries of universe. These mysteries have fascinated millions of minds around the planet. But out of all these, space exploration is on my top priority. I believe that space exploration is not just a fancy program for nurturing human curiosity and inspiring future generations; but is a need for us. Space exploration and the permanent settlement of humans in other locations in universe will diversify the risk and lower the chances of extinction in case of a calamity. Moreover, the rate at which the resources are being consumed and the environment is being polluted, in order to survive we need to mine other planetary bodies.

In spite the importance of space exploration for us, the current efforts being put in it are very less. After a spike in the last half of the century, the innovation in space seems to be at a decline. The simplest example of this is that despite sending multiple crews to moon in the last century, USA the world's only superpower is now struggling to even send their astronauts to LEO. United States is now relying on the Russian Soyuz to send and bring back their crews from ISS. Currently only a few nations are having active space programs - USA, Russia, EU(few nations only), Japan, China and India. Out of these only Russia, China and US have the capability to send astronauts in space.

The future of space exploration also seems not so bright. After the cancellation of Constellation program, Obama launched a new space policy that is without a single goal and intends to develop a heavy lift launch rocket - SLS (Space Launch System) which will be then used to go to asteroids and Mars around 2035. The Russian Space Agency RosCosmos is developing a next generation rocket known as Angara which will be the mainstay of Russia for next decade. Other than this, they are only launching few probes on Moon and a probe on Mars. Indian Space Research Organisation is also sending a small probe 'Mangalyaan' to Mars Orbit this year. But all these efforts are small and don't achieve any ambitious goals that re required in this area. Many other space agencies have future plans, but none is having a plan that we can hope to revolutionize the future. CNSA(China National Space Administration) is a taking few steps in the correct direction. CNSA has launched multiple manned missions in space and has started an ambitious project called Project 921 to build a space station in earth orbit

Other than these public efforts to explore space, the last few years have seen private sector entering space sector. Most of these companies are located in US and are a result of NASA's programs like COTS, CRS and CCDev which fund private companies to develop capabilities in space. The main aim of NASA with this is to build a competition in private sector for LEO launches. This will lower the cost of launches,  build new capabilities in space, bring forth new innovative ideas and let NASA focus beyond LEO. I believe this is a master stroke by NASA. These programs have brought forward companies like SpaceX and Orbital Sciences which have developed some really innovative and powerful rockets. SpaceX has demonstrated its Falcon 9 rocket capabilities by flying multiple missions to space with its spacecraft Dragon berthing with ISS. On September 18, Orbital Sciences flew their Antares rocket which launched its Cygnus spacecraft in space which then docked with International Space Station. SpaceX has also won contracts for future satellite launches due to its low cost launches.

The private efforts are still in the nascent stages, but hold the potential to shine in the future. But to carry on this momentum to the future, government needs to think ambitiously and plan a space policy which will revolutionize the industry like the Apollo missions. I am not an aerospace engineer, but a enthusiast who 

wants a great revolution in this field. So, I have thought a lot about these and finally I have planned a policy which I will start if I have the power to do so for NASA.

• First of all funding, like all other things exploring space needs money. The current budget of NASA is very less than what is required for such feats as we expect them to do. First of all the budget of NASA should be increased from the current 16 Billion dollars to 19 Billion dollars till 2020. Moreover, a frugal approach should be implemented to reduce the costs. Space agencies like ISRO and CNSA are a perfect example of what can be done even with low costs. We cannot reduce the costs at the level of these agencies, but we should learn where we can. Moreover, rather than becoming totally dependent of federal budget, NASA should focus to find some new avenues for money like funding drives and licensing some older technology etc.

• Second, the decision of Obama to continue the usage of International Space Station is a good move. US has spent billions of dollars to build the space station. Now, when the time has come to reap the benefits of the investment it should not be discontinued. In my opinion, the ISS should be continued till 2025 at least. These space stations are a first step for human settlement in the space in future. The International Space Station should be used to its fullest extent and a variety of new research experiments should be started. After this space station is retired, NASA should collaborate with private companies like Bigelow Aerospace to create private space stations.

• Meanwhile, learning from the success of ISS, NASA should give private contracts to start building a small space station in lunar orbit around 2020 which should be completed by 2027. This will create a new era and will allow the continuous monitoring of moon. Once such a space station is created, it will be very easy to conduct missions on Moon. The space station will allow crewed visits and is a pre-requisite for temporary settlement in Space. Private companies like SpaceX are already planning to build Falcon 9 Heavy rocket which can take huge payloads to the space. Morever, by this time the SLS will also be in its initial stages.

• The other logical step after/before building the space station in lunar orbit will be to create a propellant depot in the Lagrange point L1 around 2028. This will increase the reach of humans into space exponentially, the spacecrafts then can carry huge payloads into orbit and less fuel, which they can then refill at the depot. This depot should be an international effort and should take place as a collaboration between all the major space agencies of the world. The  embers can use this facility at a much cheaper rate than the non-member states.

• After this, the crewed landing on the moon can be much more frequent and much bigger experiments like moon mining can be performed.The lure of mining in space and federal incentives for that can pull the private companies from Earth easily. This can be followed up by a temporary moon colony by 2050.

The above points represent my view on the space policy which should be followed. The greater participation of private organisations will hep in further reduction in launch costs and these structures will further act as boosters for exploratory missions in deep space. Maybe, by 2100, we will have a permanent settlement on Mars and crewed mission on Europa and Titan take place. 

Lagrange Points

What I really want is to experience the moment, when one of my friend says that I cannot come for party next weekend, my uncle living on Moon are coming to attend the marriage of my relative's daughter with a guy working on Mars.  WOW !!