Canada Releases New Space Policy Framework
Canada Unveils New Space Policy Framework Taking a Step in the Right Direction, SpaceRef Canada
“The Canadian government unveiled a new space policy framework today that reinforces what many within the space sector already new, space is an integral part of Canadian’s everyday lives and its importance will only grow.”
“The fact that the government recognizes this and is releasing a new policy framework is a step in the right direction. The new framework also implements some of the recommendations as outlined in the Aerospace Review conducted in 2012.”
There are abut 100 jabs and slashings of the professional journalists Slate.com article and just crickets chirping here on the new space policies of our northern neighbors or as we like to call them – our 51st State!
With fewer self-interests or powerful ones tugging at their reigns, the Canadian policy seems like cleaner clearer policy than what we see for NASA. What stands out for me is that they balance the need of government R&D to support, contribute to expanding their nation’s commerce in contrast to policy touching on visionary goals.
They emphasize cutting edge technology and emphasize the need to utilize on solutions from the industry instead of re-inventing wheels. It is in contrast to the remains of the Constellation program – SLS & Orion, that as a consequence of wasted funds, wasted time, revised design are being overtaken by commercial efforts.
If the innovator Musk had not driven SpaceX to the present state of progress, if the design of Constellation not been mucked up by Griffin and others, had there been no delays, revisions and insufficient funding, then there would not be a White Elephant standing in the room. There would be less objection to conflicting interests with commerce or re-invention of the wheel or not the appearance that NASA is tapping old tech to reach destinations beyond low-Earth orbit.
NASA does well in meeting goals such as Earth observing, Aeronautics, Planetary exploration and basic science – astrophysics, astrobiology. How much better could NASA fulfill the goals of our policies if not for a White Elephant crowding out other objectives or inhibiting achieving something substantial with whatever replaces the Space Shuttle? NASA’s greatest challenges are unfortunately not technological but rather political and managerial ones. NASA’s problems are in how the mission statement or policies are executed. The 10 toughest days for NASA, the gratuitous dump on NASA in Slate.com, the commenters row over Roe as chief engineer, all stem from the troubles executing human space flight.
It is clear to see now that a more technically feasible re-usable spaceplane, e.g. S3 and Sierra Nevada’s or the reusable vehicles of SpaceX and whatever ULA develops to challenge them, is what NASA and ESA should turn to. Three or four solutions from private enterprise will be sustainable and profitable and NASA and ESA will be able to reap the benefits. And cutting edge NASA R&D will have funds so humans can explore beyond low-Earth orbit. The remaining question is how long will public funds be squandered before SLS and Orion are replaced with the proper and cost effective solution.
“NASA does well in meeting goals such as Earth observing, Aeronautics, Planetary exploration and basic science – astrophysics, astrobiology. How much better could NASA fulfill the goals of our policies if not for a White Elephant crowding out other objectives or inhibiting achieving something substantial with whatever replaces the Space Shuttle? NASA’s greatest challenges are unfortunately not technological but rather political and managerial ones.”
It couldn’t have been stated any clearer. The Porkonauts in congress, who have insisted on a pork premium for any hardware destined for human spaceflight, have priced NASA right out of the game. Space transportation will now finally move to where it was always intended, commercial service providers.
Keith, Off Topic but did you catch this one?
http://www.huffingtonpost.c…
And here is where he lays out his case that is wasn’t a rock that NASA spotted but a spore
http://cosmology.com/
“Apothecia on Mars?
Life Discovered on the Red Planet.
Martian Mystery Structure May Be
Composite Fungus and Cyanobacteria Organisms “
There is no mention of the temperature or RH during the time this rock appeared. If the air was very dry or the soil temperature was below 0 C. it seems unlikely a fungus would sprout so quickly, since similar Earth organisms would be dormant. There has been speculation that seasonal color changes on Mars canyon walls are due to fungal or algae growth. The rover’s program should be adjusted to examine this interesting “rock”. Of course there will always be those who will claim a coverup in any case.
The first NASA mission I was part of was Mars Observer. Remember that one? We lost the craft just when the command sequence began executing to achieve Mars orbit. After all hope was lost, there were protesters at the entrance of JPL with placards calling NASA to tell us the truth, that aliens had destroyed our spacecraft and that NASA is aware of life on Mars. It was a strange sight. First time I’d seen such a thing.
So I understand that there’s no lack of conspiracy theories and those that think NASA is hiding all kinds of stuff from the public. Nevertheless, there is something cool about this fellow making this claim about the jelly donut rock. Suing NASA just draw more attention and forces the issue.
While I think its just a jostled rock that rolled into place, the challenge makes or kinda gives one the chance to just imagine ‘what if’. Maybe we don’ know all the possibilities for other types of life, other types of metabolism, other types of lifecycles. JPL is quick to give most plausible reasons though I think a meteorite event was really stretching it. So this fellow has given like a dry-run. Is it likely that some Martian or elsewhere will stand there waving a placard “Bradbury was right?” NO. And the simplest life may not look like life as we know it; aside from being microscopic. So it is cool to read his paper asserting ‘this could be life’ and how it looks like a life form on Earth. There is some ‘stretch’ in his arguments nevertheless, it has given a chance to imagine, like when the Antarctic meteorite was revealed. There is science fiction, there is these fringe things and then there is the discoveries like those of Kepler. If settled rationally, the jelly donut rock is not a useless event. If Squyres has some high resolution, I’d like to look at the rock now whether it would just stoke the fire with more questions or resolve the issue for good.
There is no life on Mars !!!! Yet !
Spacex fan boy
I’ve wondered what discussion there has been of the possible circumstance that we find life and must consider quarantine and restrict colonization of Mars. Theorists speculate that DNA-based life and the metabolism that prevails today dominated and drove other forms of life quickly into extinction. A human colony could carry so many organisms, even extremophiles, that it would risk wiping out Martian life.
Calling RCH…!
This is off topic. Discuss it in the appropriate place.
I love how he still claims NASA didn’t investigate the rock, in spite of them taking images with the microscope cam, and analysing the elemental makeup. (And apparently being quite excited by the results, suggestive of desert “varnish”, which some think is caused by bacteria or lichen.)
This is off topic. Discuss it in the appropriate place
It would be interesting to see how the CSA would respond to a push for space solar power in Canada. A space solar power program would fulfill all five core principles in the framework:
Canadian Interests First:
Space solar power simply will provide many benefits to the country who first begins a program–Japan, India, and China are already looking into the idea. Firstly, whomever participated in such a program would have direct access to the largest wealth of energy resources the world has ever seen: the sun. This would provide an amazing amount of leverage in international agreements. These resources could be distributed essentially anywhere, which would be an immense asset to security, among others.
Positioning the Private Sector at the Forefront of Space Activities:
Space solar power would be greatly beneficial to the private space sector. The basic idea is that the private sector would own the space infrastructure, and would sell the energy to energy companies who would distribute it to the local grid back on Earth. The government would participate in technology investment and other considerations, rather than owning the assets.
Progress Through Partnerships:
A space solar power program would require a partnership at least on the scale of the ISS. It would require input from experts on environment, land use, energy regulation, air travel routes, international treaties, spectrum management, the energy industry lobby, etc. Multiple countries would certainly participate, along with several individual government agencies to cover all of these areas.
Excellence in Key Capabilities:
Space solar power would require excellence in several key emerging technology areas that are only just being explored or have not before. Some of the technologies required include sun-tracking reflectors, photovoltaic and solar-thermal converters, gossamer structural elements, microwave and laser transmitters and receivers from ground to GEO and GEO to ground, and identical solid-state conversion-transmission modules.
Inspiring Canadians:
It would be difficult to argue that any activities in space were not an inspiration to people. Space exploration is certainly inspirational, but so it providing unlimited, safe, renewable energy to the world. The latter, however, is also directly and obviously beneficial to all.
Chris Dessert
Twitter: @SSPpolicy
Facebook: Space Solar Power Policy
http://spacesolarpowerpolic…
[laughs]
No offence. Just got a chuckle out of the ironic juxtaposition of those two phrases. Being a “hanger-on” is Canada’s greatest gift to the space program. A specialist hanger-on maker, second to none.
This time of year, my part of the world is over-run with infiltrating Canadians, all dressed up to secretly look like us…
“we may not have as big a space/defense sector”
I read back in the days (1950s) Canada was third largest and developed the fastest fighter (Mach 3 Avro Arrow). Canada wanting to make a comeback?
” lack of special interests in the sector makes canada a model, and not a microcosm”
Interesting, I haven’t followed Canadian aerospace closely but maybe some good stuff there besides hosting one of the most popular ISS astronauts (Chris Hadfield).
Wait, You mean some of your countrymen would like to join us? I can think of a few states to trade for a couple of your provinces. Certainly, just an old joke but one can take it as how much we value Canada and how much we’d value it as a part of the USA.