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United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science and Astronautics.. The Practical Values of Space Exploration
The Practical Values of Space Exploration
Table of Contents
Introduction
Figure 1.—A single shot of the 8-barreled Saturn of the future will cost millions of dollars, maybe tens of millions. What makes it worthwhile for the taxpayer? I. The Unseen Values
SOME EXAMPLES OF THE UNEXPECTED
THE ULTIMATE VALUES
Figure 2.—In the years immediately ahead, the orbiting observatory or the manned satellite will uncover crucial information about the nature of the universe
STEERING A MIDDLE ROAD
THE TIME FOR SPACE
Figure 3.—The versatile Atlas can be used either for launching man into space or to carry a nuclear warhead as far as 9,000 miles
II. National Security Values
THE MILITARY USES
OUR POSITION IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
Figure 4.—Symbolic of the American effort in space is this Thor-Able rocket, shown here launching the Tiros weather satellite into a near-perfect orbit. This same vehicle, which launched the record-breaking 23 million-mile communication probe—Pioneer V—has contributed enormously to U.S. prestige abroad
SPACE AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR WAR
Figure 5.—Today's assembly lines for automobiles and aircraft are being supplemented by the growing astronautics industry, here shown turning out capsules for manned space flight
III. The Economic Values
U.S. EXPENDITURES ON SPACE
THE SPREAD OF ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Figure 6.—Booster engines of tomorrow, such as this mockup of the 1,500,000 pound thrust single engine, will place broad requirements on men and materials
CREATION OF NEW INDUSTRIES
Figure 7.—The possible power source for space ships of the future, the ion jet, has significant counterpart uses for the commercial world
Figure 8.—The needs of tomorrow's spacemen will lead to marked advances in human engineering and psychology
ECONOMIC ALLIANCES
PRIVATE ENTERPRISE IN SPACE
Figure 9.—The electric and electronic needs of the space program are requiring more and more skilled labor. JOBS
AUTOMATION AND DISARMAMENT
Figure 10.—A host of new materials, skills, and engineering techniques are bound up in the construction of rocket engines such as this first stage booster
IV. Values for Everyday Living
TECHNOLOGICAL BENEFITS
Figure 11.—Vital information about the forces which cause weather can be learned from meteorological satellites such as these. Even a slight increase in the accuracy of weather prediction will be worth millions of dollars annually
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
COMMUNICATIONS
WEATHER PREDICTION AND MODIFICATION
Figure 12.—Storm center over Nebraska photographed by the first U.S. weather satellite, Tiros, on April 1, 1960. The extent of the picture can be seen from the accompanying weather map
HEALTH BENEFITS
Figure 13.—Biological reactions uncovered in space medicine studies, such as this centrifuge experiment, may lead to important health discoveries
EDUCATION BENEFITS
Figure 14.—Exploration within the solar system means a wealth of new knowledge which could lead to learning the secrets of life
V. Long-Range Values
TROUBLE SPOTS
LIMITATIONS ON SPACE RESEARCH
Figure 15.—Need for international cooperation in the U.S. space program is illustrated by this map showing the areas from which help must be procured for projects already planned or underway
FUNDAMENTAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT LIFE
PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SPIRITUAL VALUES
Figure 16.—Space vehicles of the future may look like this artist's drawing of an electrical propulsion craft. The nuclear reactor is located at the extreme left, followed by a neutron shield, heat exchanger, gamma-ray shield and propellant. The center tank houses turbogenerating equipment. Excessive heat is dissipated in the large radiator. At the extreme right are two crew cabins, landing vehicle and a ring-shaped accelerator
MATURING OF THE RACE
FOOTNOTES:
Отрывок из книги
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science and Astronautics.
Report of the Committee on Science and Astronautics, U.S. / House of Representatives, Eighty-Sixth Congress, Second / Session
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In any endeavor which is as futuristic as space exploration it is not difficult to become lost in the land of the starry-eyed prognosticators. Conversely, it is also easy to find oneself lining up with the debunkers and the champions of the status quo, for their arguments and views give the impression of being hard-headed, sensible.
If one must err in either direction, however, it is probably safer, where space is concerned, to err in the direction of the enthusiasts. This is because (and subsequent parts of this report will show it) the Nation cannot afford not to be in the vanguard of the space explorers.
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