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Space Policy Now

Space Policy Now. 13 January 2015. History of Space Policy. 4 Oct 1957: Sputnik I launched Shock waves throughout free world, esp USA Part of Cold War competition in ideology and military capability Near hysteria followed Eyes looking down on us! Ham radio followed sputnik signals

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Space Policy Now

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  1. Space Policy Now 13 January 2015

  2. History of Space Policy • 4 Oct 1957: Sputnik I launched • Shock waves throughout free world, esp USA • Part of Cold War competition in ideology and military capability • Near hysteria followed • Eyes looking down on us! • Ham radio followed sputnik signals • Presaged ‘bombs from space’

  3. Bush Report (1945): Science - the Endless Frontier • Government supplies funds to universities, foundations, research centers • Bargain: • Gov’t supports science for the public good • Basic research provides raw material for progress, public good (e.g., ONR, AEC, NIH) • This requires iewstrategic planning, competition, selection, federal funding and re

  4. Questions • What is science? • What is policy? • Who knows best?

  5. Science • A process that supplies repeatable truth about the universe • Search for truth and new knowledge • Scientific method is over-simplified! • Not the same as technology • Basic research leads to applied research, which leads to development • Example: Manhattan Project’s development of atomic bomb was based on basic and applied physics research

  6. Policy • The way that resources are used: Follow the money (as in the Watergate scandal) • Space activities are expensive, only the richest nations can afford it

  7. Tension or conflict? • Science is generally free and open… remember Galileo and his telescope • But science policy involves incentives for discovery that will meet national and political goals • Policy is highly visible, costly, value-laden, and open to public debate • This naturally involves controversy and disputes

  8. Space Science Elements • Individual scientists and teams • Robotic and human space missions • Astronauts and politicians • Strategic plans and decisions • Balance big and small missions

  9. More Tensions • Who knows best, scientists or politicians? • Having a ‘strategy’ means we can’t have a ‘democracy’: only some activities are sponsored • NASA budget is flat, but $19B is still a lot of money (even the small fraction that comes to Colorado is significant)

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