At the end of last month, we reported about the readiness of the American space Agency NASA to change course and move away from the Mars program in favor of the moon, if such a task is put by the current government of the United States. And it looks like the Agency really have to take this step, because the US government has just announced the resumption of a program to return humans to the moon.
Published in the October 4 Wall Street Journal the statement of the Vice-President of the United States of America Mike Pence said on signing the Executive order on the restoration of the National space Council and his appointment as head of the organization.
“On Thursday the Council will hold the first in the last 25 years meeting and I, as Chairman, intend to make one simple message: America will once again become a leader in space exploration,” said Pence, adding that the lack of public space program a clear vision for further development is the main reason why countries such as China and Russia, not the United States, are currently the leading players in this field.
The Vice President also explained in his statement that the US is in dire need of their own space technologies required to protect their communication, navigation and surveillance systems from hacker attacks.
What will happen now?
New national space program, in General terms, boils down to human studies. However, Pence believes that the Moon and install a permanent human settlement is “very important strategic goal”, which should be in the first place.
It should be noted that the same opinion regarding the moon stick and other prominent figures. For example, in August this year, retired astronaut Chris Hadfield has said that the creation of settlements on the moon is the first thing have to return. And not just in order to prove that we can do, but also because the Moon could be a starting point for many subsequent space missions.
Of course, on the moon US ambitions will not end. According to Vice-President of the Penny, America is ready to make every effort to ensure that the country became the first in the world who would send a man to Mars. Thus the prerequisites for implementing such missions are more commercial, rather than research in nature.
“In subsequent years, American industry should be the first to create a commercial permanent human presence in earth orbit, expanding the sphere of economic influence beyond planet,” added Pence.
Vice President Pence speaks at the first meeting of the National space Council
In the coming weeks the administrative apparatus of the United States is going to form a special Advisory group consisting of leaders of the modern commercial space industry. As the name suggests, the main task of this group will be expert advice from those commercial organizations that are currently engaged in developing new equipment and technology necessary to deliver a man into space.
“Business move space technology forward, and we’re going to plunge into this vast world of innovation to accomplish our objectives,” added Pence.
Details about who will be part of this expert group, Vice-President of the United States, unfortunately not specified. But the first to mind, of course, come names such as Elon Musk (head of SpaceX) and Jeff Bezos (head of Blue Origin). First recently shared a detailed plan deliver people to Mars by 2024, the second wants to begin implementation of the tourist suborbital flights in the next year.
The first results of the work of the National space Council, however, will likely have some time to wait. Despite the fact that the space Agency had already shared their plans for the moon and Mars, mention the organization in the speech of speakers the Vice President of a Penny is indicative of absent.
Official: U.S. return to the moon
Nikolai Khizhnyak