A New Paradigm for a New Vision of Space
- Paper number
IAC-08.A3.1.7
- Author
Mr. Louis Friedman, The Planetary Society, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Jacques Blamont, CNES, France
- Year
2008
- Abstract
New political and economic forces will be brought to bear on the U.S. plan for human space flight in the next year. Most notable will be the election of a new Administration with different political priorities and the increase of budget tensions cited in the recent Government Accounting Office report. No American President is likely to actually cut out human space flight – but he or she might try to reduce the costs. The easiest political path would be to save money by scaling back science and exploration. A more productive alternative would be to internationalize the Vision by working with other nations and private interests, helping them take their first steps beyond Earth orbit. The U.S has been to the Moon and going back is neither American leadership, nor produces any major new accomplishment. Internationalizing the effort will create a new paradigm of sharing, providing a greater political and public purpose for the space program and raising American prestige. It will also free up the U.S. space program to focus on exploration goals beyond the achievements of Apollo
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.A3.1.7.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.