on 1/29/03 2:20 PM, logsdon at logsdon@gwu.edu wrote: > These are good questions! I really don't know much about the > property rights issue. So in the sake of addressing the other > questions in the allotted time, I'd suggest dropping the first set. > JML --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Dr. Logsdon: Below are the questions our class has prepared for your interview. Let us know if anything needs clarification. Also, if there are additional space policy issues you'd like to discuss, please let us know so we can include them. We will talk with you via videoconference on Monday, Feb. 3, from 12-1. We need to end promptly at 1 p.m. since the TV station charges by the hour. Thanks for agreeing to talk with our class about space policy. We're looking forward to meeting you (virtually). Brock Pronko Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium Penn State 814-237-3273 Dr. Chris Churchill Department of Astronomy Penn State 814-865-2918 ; 814-360-8080 ---------------------------------- QUESTIONS --------------------------------- A. SPACE POLICY A1. SPACE TREATY / SPACE LAW What is today's thinking (US and international) about modification to the 1967 Space Treaty in view of the economics? Specifically, a) With regards to space law and the economics of space, can you elaborate on the implications on the present US stance on property law in space. What existing economic models do you think would serve humanity best for space settlement? b) What do you think about the Lewis & Clark model, where the US government role is providing cheap access and no legal inhibitors to the "New Frontier", as a basis for National (or International) Space Policy? c) Several multinational businesses and international governments are now becoming "players", members of an international space competition. Does the United Nations have an official or unofficial perspective towards space policy and regulations of space use? For example, have non-capitalist economical models been discussed? A2. SPACE POWER, PROTECTING SPACE POWER You have argued for a balanced approach in order to allow all sectors -- private, military, and government -- to contribute to the dialog on Space Power. There is the Ideal and then there is reality... a) Would you please contrast your ideal with what you think will really happen in the international push for Space Power? Has 9/11 changed your thinking? b) In light of 9/11, what recommendations are now being made to the President with regard to US Space Power? How do you think Donald Rumsfeld would answer this question (what would he recommend to the President)? c) If a LEO equivalent of 9/11 happened, what do think the short/term-long/term government response would be? A3. U.S. MARKET SHARE Please address the effect that space initiatives implemented by other nations will have on the cooperative efforts of the current active space "allies". a) How does the Bush Administration (i.e. via NASA) intend to deal with the threat of losing control of cooperative international space business and commercial launch business to other nations? Do you think that government should assume an active position to regain the share of the market? b) China is becoming one of the new strong players in space exploration and a manned mission to the moon is high on their priority list. How do you think this will affect the US perspective about space exploration- Do you think a "red menace" will promote a new space race that will revitalize/strengthen the US space program? A4. HUMAN PRESENCE / HUMAN SETTLEMENT The Bush Administration's 1989 National Space Policy included the goal to "expand human presence and activity beyond Earth orbit into the solar system". The Clinton Administration's 1996 National Space Policy dropped this goal. a) If a new "human presence" National Space Policy is drawn up in 2004, what do you think the chief goals would be for the Bush Administration? b) What would be the ideal National Space Policy for a pro space settlement presidential candidate? A5. INDIRECT COSTS TO SPACE Regarding insurance liability. The International Space Brokers Group provides insurance to companies involved in the satellite and space-related industries. If cheaper access to space is achieved, more civilians will be going into space as tourists and as workers to support space hotels, medical and industrial research stations, asteroid mining, etc. Given the risk of space flight, liability will be an important issue in the "Second Space Age". a) What do you see as the long-term solution to the liability problem of civilian human space flight? b) Does the US government or an international space body have a role to play? B. NASA B1. THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION In Jan 2001, NASA released the ISS Space Commercialization CD as part of its campaign to lease space on the ISS for private medical and industrial research. Penn State students contributed a video to the CD, which speculated about the new inventions and technologies that could potentially come from this space research. However, the space station has become more of a symbol of international cooperation in space than an opportunity for space commercialization or a stepping stone for human missions beyond Earth. a) From a policy point of view, what would you recommend to remedy the situation? b) What do you think should be the directives for the ISS to release its fullest potential? B2. SEAN O'KEEFE ROLE The new NASA Administrator was a Penn State professor in the School of Business Management. Recent statements by Sean O'Keefe suggest that he is not visionary, but is interested in getting NASA's house of cards back into shape. a) If you were the new NASA Administrator, what would your plan of action be to lead NASA into the next century? b) How would you prioritize your focus between NASA'S management woes, financial/budgetary resources, stagnating booster research, failure-prone unmanned space research, stalled manned presence in space, military involvement, and shrinking market share in the space "business"? B3. NASA NO MORE? It has been suggested that NASA should be disbanded and that smaller more specialized agencies should be erected in its place. a) Do you favor this idea in principle? Please elaborate. b) Assuming NASA were to be disbanded, could you outline a broad plan for its replacement in the form of smaller agencies. How would you distribute these agencies between the government, private, and academic segments of society? How would you foster seamless international cooperation without sacrificing science and technology goals and national security? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------