Ad Astra Volume 18 Number 1 – Spring 2006

Cover image by Dan Roam ©digitalroam.com

Featured Articles:

• 16
  THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE:
  A QUARTER-CENTURY OF SPACE ADVOCACY
  25 years ago, a generation influenced by Apollo staked a claim for space travel for all humanity.
  By Leonard David
• 19
  SHARING THE STORY:
  THE ALLEN TELESCOPE ARRAY
  In a remote valley in Northern California, the search for the answer to one of humanity’s greatest questions has begun.
  By David Schlom
• 25
  FREE ENTERPRISE: NASA’S NEXT MISSION?
  Introduction by Anthony Duignan-Cabrera
• 26
  NASA: RISING TO THE CHALLENGE? OR STUCK IN THE PAST?
  The Vision for Space Exploration needs innovative ideas not just from within the U.S. space agency, but across the whole aerospace industry.
  By Robert S. Walker
• 28
  COMMERCIAL SPACE:
  IS NASA ALL TALK AND NO ACTION?
  Since the agency’s current approach to “big aerospace” offers little wiggle room to work with entrepreneurs, systemic change is needed.
  By Richard Searfoss, former Space Shuttle Commander
• 30
  NASA, LET US HELP YOU HELP YOURSELF
  The founder of the Ansari X Prize, the X Prize Cup and Zero-G Corporation offers NASA a little unsolicited advice.
  By Peter H. Diamandis
• 32
  OPENING THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FOR BUSINESS
  If the orbiting platform is to survive long after NASA stops participating, a business model or a Chamber of Commerce is needed.
  By James Muncy
• 34
  MAKING SUN-SHADES FROM MOON DUST
  Global warming and NASA’s new vision could share a common solution far above the Earth.
  By Roger Angel and S. Pete Worden
• 34
  THINKING DIFFERENTLY WITH SPACE ELEVATORS
  By depending too much on rocketry and brute force, humanity might be missing its chance to glide into space on gossamer threads.
  By Dave Brody
• 38
  TAKING THE MOON BY STORM
  With the world’s space-faring nations all eyeing the Moon for future exploration, a look at the science fiction of the past could influence the future.
  By Bill Christensen