Mind the Gap: Shuttle Retirement and Other Challenges on the Road to the Moon and Mars

Mr. Lon Rains moderated the panel discussion on the retirement of the shuttle and other challenges on the road to the Moon and Mars, featuring Col. Eileen M. Collins, Richard J. Gilbrech, Ph.D., Mr. William Parsons, and Mr. Chris Scolese. Dr. Gilbrech started the panel by stating that returning humans to the Moon is a strategic capability for the United States. It is time for the civil space program to go beyond low Earth orbit. The Moon serves as a stepping stone to further exploration and opens doors for new science to be conducted.

Concern was raised over the projected job losses when transitioning from the Space Shuttle to Orion/Ares. NASA is keeping its employees informed but stressing the importance of focusing on the last 11 shuttle flights. NASA and its contractors are beginning to identify the skill sets necessary for the development of the Orion and Ares vehicles. Astronauts will continue to train and work toward increased safety throughout the transition period.

Several questions were asked about ways to reduce the gap in U.S. human spaceflight capabilities. With increased funding, Orion and Ares could be ready by September 2013, significantly sooner than the current delivery date of March 2015. At present, the Russian Soyuz vehicle is the only option for crew transport to the ISS during the gap after the shuttle is retired. Without the shuttle, large modules and equipment will not be able to be delivered to the ISS. As NASA focuses its efforts to develop Orion and Ares, the ISS will be used to help understand the effects of living in space on the human body over time. Questions were raised about why Ares is being developed as opposed to using EELVs. NASA determined that it would require significant effort to make an EELV human-rated and would not sufficiently reduce costs, while also leaving some questions of safety unanswered. With regard to the public relations aspect, the panel noted that people will likely be surprised when they hear about the last Shuttle flight, and the transition to the next step in U.S. human spaceflight will require national support.