NASA's new focus plan revealed

"Pat Flannery" wrote in message
dakotatelephone...
Lots of advanced demonstrator projects including a very high thrust new
kerosene/LOX engine: http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1002/22technology/
New enabling technologies for General Bolden and the heroic men and women
of Star Command's engineering division!

I'd like to see this R&D go forward. Mostly because it would surely replace
ATK's large segmented solid rocket boosters (those things are evil).

Other technologies that were mentioned (and I support):

1. "in-orbit propellant transfer and storage, especially for cryogenic
liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen", in other words, fuel depots :-)

2. "Inflatable modules could be launched to the International Space Station
to test lightweight alternatives for space habitation and transportation."
In other words, something like Transhab would be back as a NASA R&D project.
:-)

3. "Automated rendezvous and docking is also a likely mission for the
flagship demonstration program." Considering the Russians have been doing
this routinely since the 70's, it's inexcusable that the US hasn't developed
the same technology.

4. "NASA may also test closed-loop life support systems aboard the space
station." Developing better life support systems on ISS is a must. As
we're seeing with the first generation of US built ISS hardware, making
these sorts of systems function reliably in zero gravity isn't as easy as it
seems.

5. "autonomous precision landing"

6. "advanced in-space propulsion"

I see this as a good thing. The POR was to go back to the moon using 1960's
and 1970's technologies. This never made sense to me, especially the large
segmented SRB part.

Jeff
--
"Take heart amid the deepening gloom
that your dog is finally getting enough cheese" - Deteriorata - National
Lampoon