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STS 497I: Space Colonization
Spring 2001

1/12/01

Instructor: Dr. Chris Churchill
Guest Lecturer: Sid Goldstein

A framework for the course?...

   "Write of Passage" by John F. Graham in Ad Astra  May/June 2000

   "What is needed is a greater education program so that the ordinary
    people can intelligently engage in a discussion about whether the
    space program has an value at all and should continued.  The
    current U.S. space policy is simple: it does not exist.  The
    purpose of the current program is not to go into space and explore
    it, but rather to provide jobs.  There has been a definite lack of
    success over the last decade in moving out into space, and unless
    words are backed up by support and funding our descendants will be
    wondering why we stopped after such a great start."

					  - John F. Graham 1995

read => - www.nss.org -> Roadmap
        - Ad astra "Brave New World" article
        - Space Colonization Institute white paper
        - National Geographic article by Thomas Paine, July 1969

websearch => - groups of 3
             - compile list of URLs on Space Colonization
             - For each site give 2 sentence synopsis 
                   * page content
                   * opinion on usefulness, graphics 
                   * overall rating (1-5), 5 is best
             - Due by 5pm, Wed, 1/17/01 by email to Chris

student introductions and responses to list of questions


Sid Goldstein, Overview and Politics/History
   MS in Public Administration, PSU, 1980's
   Public Works Coordinator, City of Erie, PA

Thinking influenced by the publication "Limits of Growth"
   and era of high federal deficits during the 80's.

Outline: The Politics of Space Colonization
  - Why should we?
  - Politics and history of space colonization
  - In the beginning
  - The Moon
  - Why did we stop?
  - The politics of Challenger
  - The politics of the International Space Station
  - The history of commercial space
  - Communications satellites
  - Space transportation
  - The future of commercial space
    - Two scenarios
  - The future of manned space
    - Two scenarios
  - Why should we?

  - What is the purpose of "life"? => survival
  - We are the only species capable of ensuring the survival
     of terrestrial life (through transplantation beyond Earth)
  - 100% change of a large asteroid impact at some point in
     Earth's future
  - What will we do?  Need to get into space, but it's expensive.
  - Easier/cheaper to do so from the Moon
  - Concept: mass driver to launch lunar soil into orbit for
     collection and use
  - Commerce is absolutely necessary! "Because we can isn't good
     enough (eg. Super Collider)
  - Model of an orbiting space station, 10,000 inhabitants
  - Skylab, Shuttle external tank -- missed opportunities,
     wasted money
  - Economic model: The problem is our dependence on fossil fuels
     => budget deficits and instability
  - Solution: Energy and space policy (independent energy supply)
     and incentives to invest and compete => stable economy
  - Effort requires commercial and government action


Credits:
Minutes courtesy Dr. Lisa Brown (Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium) 
Kindly typed in by Dr. Jane Charlton (Penn State Astronomy)
Some modifications by Dr. Chris churchill


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