Andrew Yee
October 18th 05, 11:33 PM
Royal Astronomical Society Press Notice
London, U.K.
Issued by:
Peter Bond
RAS Communications Officer
10 Harrier Close, Cranleigh
Surrey GU6 7BS
United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 (0)1483-268672 Fax: +44 (0)1483-274047
CONTACTS:
Professor Frank Close
Exeter College, Oxford
Tel: +44 (0)1865-273368 or +44 (0)1235-523302
Dr. John R Dudeney
Deputy Director, British Antarctic Survey
Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET
Tel: +44 (0)1223-221523
Professor Ken Pounds
University of Leicester
Tel: +44 (0)116-252-3509
Tuesday, 18 October 2005
PN05/45
Human Space Exploration
The Royal Astronomical Society Commission assigned to investigate "The
Scientific Case for Human Space Flight" has recommended that the British
Government re-evaluates its long-standing opposition to involvement in
human space exploration.
Written by David Elliott
After 9 months of expert consultation and gathering of evidence from many
sources, the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) Commission assigned to
investigate "The Scientific Case for Human Space Flight" has presented its
final report to the Society's Council.
The three independent Commissioners conclude by recommending that the
British Government re-evaluates its long-standing opposition to
involvement in human space exploration.
In summarising their findings, the Commissioners state: "We find that
profound scientific questions relating to the history of the solar system
and the existence of life beyond Earth can best -- perhaps only -- be
achieved by human exploration on the Moon or Mars, supported by
appropriate automated systems.
"The wider commercial educational, social and political benefits help
justify the substantial expenditure that full UK participation in a future
international programme of HSE will require.
"It is hard to conceive that the UK, one of the world's leading economies,
would stand aside from such a global scientific and technological
endeavour. We, therefore, regard it as timely for Her Majesty's Government
to re-evaluate its long-standing opposition to British involvement in
human space exploration."
Professor Frank Close, Chair of the Commission, said, "We commenced this
study without preconceived views and with no formal connection to
planetary exploration. Our personal backgrounds made us lean towards an
initial scepticism on the scientific value of human involvement in such
research.
"However, while fully recognising the technical challenge and the need for
substantial investment, we have, nevertheless, been persuaded by the
evidence presented to us that the direct involvement of humans in situ is
essential if we are to pursue science of profound interest to humankind
that can only be undertaken on the Moon and Mars. Autonomous robots alone
will be unable to realise those scientific goals in the foreseeable
future."
Another Commissioner, Dr. John Dudeney, commented, "The wider commercial,
educational, social and political benefits add justification to the
substantial expenditure that full UK participation in an international
programme of Human Space Exploration will require. A recent BBC opinion
poll suggests that there would be strong public support for such
involvement."
The third Commissioner, Professor Ken Pounds, added, "Recent developments
across the world strongly suggest that, after a 30-year lull, space-faring
nations are gearing up for a return to the Moon and then to Mars. It is
hard to imagine that the UK, one of the world's leading economies, would
not be fully involved in a global scientific and technology endeavour with
such strong potential to inspire. We therefore recommend that the
government re-evaluates its long-standing opposition to British
involvement in human space exploration."
MAJOR CONCLUSIONS
The main conclusions of the RAS report are as follows:
* The essential scientific case for Human Space Exploration is based on
investigations on the Moon and Mars. There are three key scientific
challenges where direct human involvement will be necessary for a timely
and successful outcome:
-- Mapping the history of the solar system (including the young Earth) and
the evolution of our Sun by studying the unique signatures left on and
beneath the lunar surface;
-- The search for life on Mars;
-- Detailed, planet-wide exploration of Mars.
* Scientific missions to the Moon and Mars will address questions of
profound interest to the human race. These include: the origins and
history of the solar system; whether life is unique to Earth; and how life
on Earth began. If our close neighbour, Mars, is found to be devoid of
life, important lessons may be learned regarding the future of our own
planet.
* While the exploration of the Moon and Mars can and is being addressed by
unmanned missions, the capabilities of robotic spacecraft will fall well
short of those of human explorers for the foreseeable future.
* Assuming a human presence, the Moon offers an excellent site for
astronomy, with the far-side and polar regions of the Moon being shielded
from the pollution' from Earth.
* Medical science will benefit from studying the human physiological
response to low and zero gravity, to the effects of radiation and in the
psychological challenge posed by a long-duration mission to Mars.
* There appear to be no fundamental technological barriers to sending
humans to the Moon or Mars.
* A major international human space exploration programme involving a
return to the Moon and the longer term aim of sending humans to Mars is
likely to involve the US, Europe, Russia and Japan. There are also growing
ambitions in China and India. Under present government policy the UK would
not be involved and would look increasingly isolated.
* The cost of the UK playing a full role in an international human space
exploration programme to explore the Moon and Mars could be of the order
£150M per year, sustained over 20-25 years. It is not realistic for the
bulk of this to be taken from the existing Government-funded science
budget. Rather, a decision to be involved should be taken on the basis of
broader strategic reasoning that would include commercial, educational,
social, and political arguments as well as the scientific returns that
would follow.
* There is compelling evidence that the outreach potential for human space
exploration can be a strong positive influence on the interests and
educational choices of children.
* Involvement in technologically advanced exploration of the solar system
will provide a high profile challenge for UK industry, with consequent
benefits in recruitment of new engineers and scientists. Evidence from
NASA and ESA surveys have shown a significant economic multiplier from
investment in space projects, with an additional overall gain in
competitiveness.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
The full report can be downloaded in pdf form from the RAS web site here,
http://www.ras.org.uk/images/stories/ras_pdfs/Final%20Report%20October%202005.pdf
(393.50 KB)
The members of the RAS Commission reported their findings on 18 October
2005 during a media briefing at the Science Media Centre in London.
The formation of the Commission was formally announced at the Royal
Astronomical Society on 10 December 2004 and the Commissioners'
deliberations were completed in September 2005.
The Commission was asked to review the scientific case for Human Space
Exploration, focusing on astronomy and geophysics, so that its findings
could be taken into account by the British government before the ESA
Ministerial Meeting in December 2005, which will decide the next stage of
the agency's "Aurora" programme of future space exploration.
In addressing the basic question, "Will having people in space materially
advance our knowledge, especially of astronomy and geophysics?", the
Commission was allowed full freedom by the RAS to devise the parameters of
the study and, where appropriate, to draw on the insights of other
disciplines.
Evidence was taken from a wide range of experts, and the views of
scientists and the general public were polled. In addition a wide range of
written sources was consulted.
The decision of the RAS to commission an independent review of the
scientific case, focusing on astronomy and geophysics, for human space
exploration should be seen in the context of the European Space Agency's
"Aurora/Inspiration" programme, and recent changes in US space policy.
Important decisions will shortly have to be made as to whether, and to
what extent, the UK should participate in the next phase of Aurora --
whose longer term objective is to send humans to Mars -- and how ESA
should respond to the US President's "Vision for Space Exploration"
initiative.
Support for a manned component of "Aurora" does not currently match UK
government plans for space.
In inviting three eminent scientists, none of whom had previously adopted
a position on Human Space Exploration, to constitute a commission to
review the scientific issues, the RAS hoped to put the debate on a more
objective footing which, depending on the outcome of the review, could
conclude by asking the government to review its position.
The Chair of the Commission is Professor Frank Close OBE, Professor of
Physics and Fellow at Exeter College, Oxford, where his research interests
are in the quark structure of matter. He was formerly the head of the
Theoretical Physics Division at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in
Oxfordshire.
Dr. John Dudeney OBE is Deputy Director of the British Antarctic Survey.
He has served on or been involved with a number of international
committees and bodies, both scientific and non-scientific, and has made
around 20 trips to Antarctica.
Professor Ken Pounds CBE FRS is Emeritus Professor of Space Physics at the
University of Leicester. He was President of the RAS 1990-1992 and Chief
Executive of the UK Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council
(PPARC) 1994-8.
London, U.K.
Issued by:
Peter Bond
RAS Communications Officer
10 Harrier Close, Cranleigh
Surrey GU6 7BS
United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 (0)1483-268672 Fax: +44 (0)1483-274047
CONTACTS:
Professor Frank Close
Exeter College, Oxford
Tel: +44 (0)1865-273368 or +44 (0)1235-523302
Dr. John R Dudeney
Deputy Director, British Antarctic Survey
Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET
Tel: +44 (0)1223-221523
Professor Ken Pounds
University of Leicester
Tel: +44 (0)116-252-3509
Tuesday, 18 October 2005
PN05/45
Human Space Exploration
The Royal Astronomical Society Commission assigned to investigate "The
Scientific Case for Human Space Flight" has recommended that the British
Government re-evaluates its long-standing opposition to involvement in
human space exploration.
Written by David Elliott
After 9 months of expert consultation and gathering of evidence from many
sources, the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) Commission assigned to
investigate "The Scientific Case for Human Space Flight" has presented its
final report to the Society's Council.
The three independent Commissioners conclude by recommending that the
British Government re-evaluates its long-standing opposition to
involvement in human space exploration.
In summarising their findings, the Commissioners state: "We find that
profound scientific questions relating to the history of the solar system
and the existence of life beyond Earth can best -- perhaps only -- be
achieved by human exploration on the Moon or Mars, supported by
appropriate automated systems.
"The wider commercial educational, social and political benefits help
justify the substantial expenditure that full UK participation in a future
international programme of HSE will require.
"It is hard to conceive that the UK, one of the world's leading economies,
would stand aside from such a global scientific and technological
endeavour. We, therefore, regard it as timely for Her Majesty's Government
to re-evaluate its long-standing opposition to British involvement in
human space exploration."
Professor Frank Close, Chair of the Commission, said, "We commenced this
study without preconceived views and with no formal connection to
planetary exploration. Our personal backgrounds made us lean towards an
initial scepticism on the scientific value of human involvement in such
research.
"However, while fully recognising the technical challenge and the need for
substantial investment, we have, nevertheless, been persuaded by the
evidence presented to us that the direct involvement of humans in situ is
essential if we are to pursue science of profound interest to humankind
that can only be undertaken on the Moon and Mars. Autonomous robots alone
will be unable to realise those scientific goals in the foreseeable
future."
Another Commissioner, Dr. John Dudeney, commented, "The wider commercial,
educational, social and political benefits add justification to the
substantial expenditure that full UK participation in an international
programme of Human Space Exploration will require. A recent BBC opinion
poll suggests that there would be strong public support for such
involvement."
The third Commissioner, Professor Ken Pounds, added, "Recent developments
across the world strongly suggest that, after a 30-year lull, space-faring
nations are gearing up for a return to the Moon and then to Mars. It is
hard to imagine that the UK, one of the world's leading economies, would
not be fully involved in a global scientific and technology endeavour with
such strong potential to inspire. We therefore recommend that the
government re-evaluates its long-standing opposition to British
involvement in human space exploration."
MAJOR CONCLUSIONS
The main conclusions of the RAS report are as follows:
* The essential scientific case for Human Space Exploration is based on
investigations on the Moon and Mars. There are three key scientific
challenges where direct human involvement will be necessary for a timely
and successful outcome:
-- Mapping the history of the solar system (including the young Earth) and
the evolution of our Sun by studying the unique signatures left on and
beneath the lunar surface;
-- The search for life on Mars;
-- Detailed, planet-wide exploration of Mars.
* Scientific missions to the Moon and Mars will address questions of
profound interest to the human race. These include: the origins and
history of the solar system; whether life is unique to Earth; and how life
on Earth began. If our close neighbour, Mars, is found to be devoid of
life, important lessons may be learned regarding the future of our own
planet.
* While the exploration of the Moon and Mars can and is being addressed by
unmanned missions, the capabilities of robotic spacecraft will fall well
short of those of human explorers for the foreseeable future.
* Assuming a human presence, the Moon offers an excellent site for
astronomy, with the far-side and polar regions of the Moon being shielded
from the pollution' from Earth.
* Medical science will benefit from studying the human physiological
response to low and zero gravity, to the effects of radiation and in the
psychological challenge posed by a long-duration mission to Mars.
* There appear to be no fundamental technological barriers to sending
humans to the Moon or Mars.
* A major international human space exploration programme involving a
return to the Moon and the longer term aim of sending humans to Mars is
likely to involve the US, Europe, Russia and Japan. There are also growing
ambitions in China and India. Under present government policy the UK would
not be involved and would look increasingly isolated.
* The cost of the UK playing a full role in an international human space
exploration programme to explore the Moon and Mars could be of the order
£150M per year, sustained over 20-25 years. It is not realistic for the
bulk of this to be taken from the existing Government-funded science
budget. Rather, a decision to be involved should be taken on the basis of
broader strategic reasoning that would include commercial, educational,
social, and political arguments as well as the scientific returns that
would follow.
* There is compelling evidence that the outreach potential for human space
exploration can be a strong positive influence on the interests and
educational choices of children.
* Involvement in technologically advanced exploration of the solar system
will provide a high profile challenge for UK industry, with consequent
benefits in recruitment of new engineers and scientists. Evidence from
NASA and ESA surveys have shown a significant economic multiplier from
investment in space projects, with an additional overall gain in
competitiveness.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
The full report can be downloaded in pdf form from the RAS web site here,
http://www.ras.org.uk/images/stories/ras_pdfs/Final%20Report%20October%202005.pdf
(393.50 KB)
The members of the RAS Commission reported their findings on 18 October
2005 during a media briefing at the Science Media Centre in London.
The formation of the Commission was formally announced at the Royal
Astronomical Society on 10 December 2004 and the Commissioners'
deliberations were completed in September 2005.
The Commission was asked to review the scientific case for Human Space
Exploration, focusing on astronomy and geophysics, so that its findings
could be taken into account by the British government before the ESA
Ministerial Meeting in December 2005, which will decide the next stage of
the agency's "Aurora" programme of future space exploration.
In addressing the basic question, "Will having people in space materially
advance our knowledge, especially of astronomy and geophysics?", the
Commission was allowed full freedom by the RAS to devise the parameters of
the study and, where appropriate, to draw on the insights of other
disciplines.
Evidence was taken from a wide range of experts, and the views of
scientists and the general public were polled. In addition a wide range of
written sources was consulted.
The decision of the RAS to commission an independent review of the
scientific case, focusing on astronomy and geophysics, for human space
exploration should be seen in the context of the European Space Agency's
"Aurora/Inspiration" programme, and recent changes in US space policy.
Important decisions will shortly have to be made as to whether, and to
what extent, the UK should participate in the next phase of Aurora --
whose longer term objective is to send humans to Mars -- and how ESA
should respond to the US President's "Vision for Space Exploration"
initiative.
Support for a manned component of "Aurora" does not currently match UK
government plans for space.
In inviting three eminent scientists, none of whom had previously adopted
a position on Human Space Exploration, to constitute a commission to
review the scientific issues, the RAS hoped to put the debate on a more
objective footing which, depending on the outcome of the review, could
conclude by asking the government to review its position.
The Chair of the Commission is Professor Frank Close OBE, Professor of
Physics and Fellow at Exeter College, Oxford, where his research interests
are in the quark structure of matter. He was formerly the head of the
Theoretical Physics Division at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in
Oxfordshire.
Dr. John Dudeney OBE is Deputy Director of the British Antarctic Survey.
He has served on or been involved with a number of international
committees and bodies, both scientific and non-scientific, and has made
around 20 trips to Antarctica.
Professor Ken Pounds CBE FRS is Emeritus Professor of Space Physics at the
University of Leicester. He was President of the RAS 1990-1992 and Chief
Executive of the UK Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council
(PPARC) 1994-8.