Armstrong uses updated video mapping technology from Google in a detailed walk-through of his manual landing.

Where did those famous words come from? Armstrong explains.

The video has been moved at: http://thebottomline.cpaaustralia.com.au/ 

Where did those famous words come from? Armstrong explains that he didn’t come up with his famous declaration until after he landed. Mission control “had no confidence in our ability to get down safely,” he jokes.

  

Source: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/05/24/neil-armstrong-gives-a-rare-interview-to-discuss-the-apollo-program-and-the-moon-landing.html

Quo vadis?

For the coming two decades, the US space program should focus more on finding the best methods to detect and deflect possible hazardous NEOs, as well as making progress in the actual exploration of the solar system by using robotic missions rather than human space flight. Top six missions should be:

• Perfecting the method of tracking and deflecting hazardous NEOs;
• Finalizing the James Webb telescope to replace Hubble;
• Intensive robotic search for life on Mars.
• Further exploring Europa, Enceladus, and Titan.
• Developing launch systems with better performance for deep space travel.
• Remain involved in an international venture to keep an ongoing orbiting facility.

It seems at the very least strange if not worrisome that in 2012 there is not yet a system to fully track and deflect asteroids that could impact Earth. Since this danger is a certainty, and the time of such an event is never known, being ready for anything possible seems to be the only right attitude. The US space program should dedicate an entire program to accomplish this task. It is more important to stay alive than flying humans in space. This should be a Number 1.

Having the James Webb telescope launched into orbit is also of crucial importance. The mission of the HST will soon come to an end, and we not only need a replacement, but a high performance tool to continue the outstanding discoveries brought by Hubble.

I believe that at least for now the US should focus on robotic exploration rather than human space flight. So far humans cannot go any further than LEO, maybe the moon, while Mars is still science fiction. Robotic missions have brought fantastic results in the last decades. The three main candidates for life in the solar system, Mars, Europa, and Titan were visited by robots only, and we should be thankful they were able to go in those places where humans would not make it even for a second, let alone the long trip to reach those worlds. Spirit, Opportunity, Galileo and Cassini-Huygens sent back a wealth of data leading to conclusions that life could exist elsewhere in the solar system. At this point, if life is out there, it will be a robot that will find it. On top of their excellent results, robots are cheaper and human lives are not at stake.

Another important aspect of the space program for the next 20 years is developing a better performance launch vehicle. Sad enough, we should start by making one such vehicle to reach the LEO, since no such tool exists yet. And of course, research and the development for a deep space travel is a necessity if we ever want to consider a trip to Mars with humans on board. Finally, a permanent presence in space has proved itself to be of crucial importance for humanity, and with the end of the ISS mission coming soon, a new such mission must be developed.

There is a strong trend in the field of space exploration supporting a human space flight, advocating an eventual return to the Moon and prepare for a Mars visit. President Obama proposed a first deep space trip by 2025, but there are many variables to consider into the equation for such mission to become reality. I believe that the US space program will focus primarily on the above mentioned missions as it is.

Benefits of Space Exploration

Space exploration brings a global perspective. Nothing humanity has ever done changed the world more than the space-related activities. Space exploration generated significant improvement in people’s life. Today, none of us would use a cell phone or a computer, watch satellite TV or go to an online school like APU without space exploration. It all started with expensive space flights that demanded the development of computer science for supplying the necessary equipment. Space flight required highly developed computers and miniaturization. When more equipment was added, more fuel was needed, and the research for miniaturization went even further. Today, the existence of many gadgets contributing to life improvement is actually owned to space-related activities.

Public benefits that flow from space-related activities include scientific advances that have an impact on people’s life at various levels, including intellectual stimulation, access to a manifold spectrum of applications, from commercial and economic, to personal applications, but also national defense and national security. [1] Leaving Earth offers a better, clearer view of the universe, without atmospheric obscurations. Scientific advances may seem to benefit a small niche, specific fields such as astronomy, geophysics and geology, but also life sciences – biology and chemistry, which in turn have an impact on the science medicine and pharmaceutics. The progress made in medical technology is also a byproduct of space activities. Since every single person’s life is impacted by the field of medicine, there is no doubt that scientific advances brought by space exploration had tremendous benefits for everyone. [2]

Satellites, either meteorological, of navigation, or communication, have brought comfort in everybody’s life. Remote-sensing satellites improved the commercial and economic capabilities. Exploring space allows experimentation in a free fall environment, allowing testing and developing materials. Space exploration offers access to plentiful resources such as solar energy and materials that are not existent on Earth. [3] But space is also the final frontier of exploration and therefore it offers a new and unique challenge, stimulating the inherent human quality to explore. Space activities expand humanity’s knowledge and range of action. Finally, national defense has been greatly impacted by rocket science and various types of satellites in Earth’s orbit. However, exploring space not only brings security, but also propels a nation to a higher step in the world’s hierarchy. A nation capable of exploring space is a powerful nation.

Despite all these benefits, there are people complaining that the tax-payers have to pay for an expensive space program without having any immediate advantages. On top of the fact that any scientific research is conducted for the benefit of all humanity, much of people’s comfort comes from space exploration. Nobody would give up his cell phone, computer or TV. The space program is not only worth every penny, but it is probably the most profitable there is for the entire humanity.

NASA has released an application that demonstrates how space-related activities impact everyone's life on a daily basis. The application is called NASA @ Home and City and it is worth giving it a try. [4]
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Notes:
[1] Kay, W.D. Defining NASA: The Historical Debate over the Agency's Mission. State University of New York Press, Albany, 2005, 8.
[2] Ibid, 8.
[3] Sellers, Jerry Jon. Understanding Space: An Introduction to Astronautics, 3rd Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005, 3.
[4] NASA. NASA @ Home and City. http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/nasacity/index2.htm (accessed March 15, 2012).
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References

Kay, W.D. Defining NASA: The Historical Debate over the Agency's Mission. State University of New York Press, Albany, 2005.

NASA. NASA @ Home and City. http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/nasacity/index2.htm (accessed March 15, 2012).

Sellers, Jerry Jon. Understanding Space: An Introduction to Astronautics, 3rd Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005.

The importance of Gemini

While the Mercury project proved that man can fly in space, during the project Gemini, man learned how to fly to the Moon. This is the importance of Gemini: learning how to get to the Moon. Gemini was special because without it the Apollo program would not have been ready to fly its missions. Gemini had 10 missions planed, and with each new mission, risk was escalading. Every Gemini mission tested a critical procedure in the flight to the Moon. [1] Missions were flown just a few weeks apart in the rush to accomplish the required skills to fly to the Moon by the end of the decade. Gemini taught the astronauts how to become familiar with the rocket and capsule, walk in space, rendezvous with another vehicle, spending enough time in space to travel to the Moon and back, and docking and operating two spacecraft in space.

Launched in March 23, 1965 Gemini 3 tested the new rocket (a converted ballistic missile) and the capsule, trying to return to Earth alive. This was the first time two Americans flew together in space. They practiced changing altitude and orbit, critical maneuvers on the trip to the Moon. Reentry was faulty because the rotation of the Earth was not included in the calculations and the capsule of Gemini 3 splashed down off-target. [2] Next step was walking in space. The EVA (extravehicular activity) was a key element that had to be accomplished before going to the Moon, to learn how it is like to float and live in space. This mission had to test the efficiency of the flight suit in keeping astronauts alive. The first American space walk occurred on Gemini 4. [3]

Rendezvous with another vehicle was the next critical step. This was the mission of Gemini 6 and 7. Gemini 6 and 7 had to find each other in orbit and fly inches apart. Despite the difficulties encountered during this mission, Gemini 6 and 7 capsules were able to rendezvous and fly in tight formation for 270 minutes, three orbits of the Earth. Gemini 7 also completed a two weeks mission in space to prove that astronauts can survive a long trip to the Moon and back. [4] The last critical maneuver was docking two spacecrafts in space. This mission was accomplished by Gemini 8, despite the issues encountered during the mission that led to landing to the next closest landing area to the original landing site. [5]

Teaching astronauts how to work in the vacuum of space was next. Gemini 9 attempted the longest space walk ever, but failed, together with the following two Gemini missions. After modifying the spacesuit and training methods, the last Gemini mission, Gemini 12 tried again and succeeded three EVAs (five hours). [6] Gemini ended in triumph, setting the stage for a mission to the Moon.

The accomplishments of the Apollo program would not have been possible without Gemini. The main, most important skills required for going to the Moon and returning back to Earth alive were acquired by NASA’s astronauts during the Gemini program. Gemini provided a solid foundation of technology, a team, and the confidence to go to the Moon.

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Notes:

[1] Butterworth, Tyler. When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions. Dangerous Films, 2008.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid.

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Bibliography
 

Butterworth, Tyler. When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions, Episode 2: Friends and Rivals. Dangerous Films, 2008.