The End of an Era

In case you missed it Tuesday morning, the space shuttle Discovery streaked through the skies above downtown Washington, D.C. on its farewell tour before it will come to rest at Smithsonian’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia.  Thousands gathered along the National Mall and on rooftops scattered throughout the city to catch a glimpse of the shuttle as it piggy-backed on a Boeing 747 up from Cape Canaveral.  People cheered as the shuttle soared overhead, and for many, especially those who have grown up in the midst of the awe and wonder of the American space program, the flight symbolically marks the end of an era.  In 2011, NASA decided to end the low-orbit shuttle program in favor of focusing on farther destinations, and Discovery was the first of the three retired shuttles to head to a museum.

Many people decried the decision as a sign that America’s science and technology dominance was waning and that the nation’s innovative capacity was not what it used to be.  Others felt that if it didn’t already, the termination of the program would lead to innovative decline as the research was cut and motivation was gone.  It remains to be seen whether there will be negative effects from the termination of the low-orbit program, such as fewer knowledge spillovers from research or a lack of students and young people interested in science and space because the possibility of space travel is remote.

However, a few private entrepreneurs and their companies are waiting in the wings to pick up the slack and capitalize on NASA’s withdrawal from the “space market.”  Companies like Space Exploration Technologies Corp, also known as SpaceX, and will begin carrying cargo to the International Space Station, and the first commercial cargo flight is expected within weeks.  Commercial passenger craft are unlikely to be ready for another 3 to 5 years.  Nonetheless, low-earth orbit could become a whole new market for luxury travel and leisure, just the way commercial airline flights were in its early days.  Despite the fact the end of the NASA shuttle tugs at the heartstrings of many Americans, this is certainly not the end of space flight for the United States.  Fittingly, America’s spirited entrepreneurs seem ready to fill the gaps and continue to push innovation forward into the future.

Posted by Brian Gowen

Sources: The Wall Street Journal

Photo credit The space shuttle Discovery flies over Washington, D.C. courtesy of flickr user Official US Navy Imagery

Space Flight, Innovation, and American Competitiveness

The space shuttle Discovery recently returned from its 39th and final mission, leaving America’s space program in a state of transition.  Only two more missions remain for the shuttle fleet, and it is unclear what will replace the shuttle as the means of sending humans into space.  The goal is that the end of this program can give way to another in which deep space exploration is the within reach.  The hope is that retiring the expensive shuttle fleet will free up federal money for developing new launch systems that can penetrate into deep space or smaller spacecraft capable of quickly ferrying people and provisions to and from the international space station.  Congress, however, has been hesitant to commit funding for the next phase of human space flight as it seeks ways to cut spending with the specter of increasingly large deficits looming ever-present.

The situation looms larger as it relates to overall American competitiveness and employment.  The US holds a comparative advantage in the highly skilled space industry, which may become a key global industry over the next century, according to former Rep. James Bacchus (D).  In effect, maintaining a robust space program is not just about saving ordinary American jobs, but those that utilize skills and knowledge that will be critical for American innovation in the 21^st century.  Rep. Sandy Adams (R) recently stated that “human space exploration has contributed greatly to our nation’s economy, national security, and has fueled American ideas for innovation and technology.  NASA’s human space flight program has been an American flagship and a symbol of strength for our country and has inspired children to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.”

Posted by: Jason Schall

Sources: sunshinestatenews.com, tampabay.com, thehill.com, the space review,

Photo credit: Space shuttle liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center: Merritt Island,  Florida courtesy of flickr user State Library and Archives of Florida