A long term strategy for the future of NASA

Natalie Gonnella
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As NASA retires the US shuttle initiative after 30 years of space flight, Col. Walter Cunningham and Rep. Pete Olson this weekend on Politico weigh in on the growing discontent over the future of the US space program.

Critical of both the Obama administration's space policy and the rising uncertainty over the benefits of American space exploration, Cunningham and Olson offer an innovative strategy for the future of the program, calling for both the integration of private participation and commercial markets, as well as a wider commitment to more meaningful operations.  With Atlantis concluding the final shuttle mission on Friday, here's a quick look at their key ideas for the future of US space exploration:

By establishing a long-term strategy, with specific policies, led and endorsed by Congress, we can again make NASA and the human space program credible and beneficial. To this end, we must:

• Spell out a coherent HSF mission, goal and timeline for the next 20 years. Manned missions to the Moon, and then Mars, should be part of this timeline
• Return to the earlier NASA model of success: Adopt best practices to reform contracting, foster better communication between centers, eliminate activities not essential for space exploration and clear away bureaucracy.
• Assess the near-term potential and costs for commercial space companies to support both cargo and manned LEO missions to better understand the potential investment required by private investors, and the degree it may free NASA resources to focus on the deep-space mission
• Make a quick decision on a heavy launch system and the necessary related technologies;

In their new homes, Atlantis and her sister orbiters are likely to inspire little in the next generation of Americans if there is nothing for our children to aspire to. Let us hope that Atlantas’ return to Earth will be the harbinger of a new era of U.S. human space flight and American exceptionalism.

The full op-ed by Col. Cunningham and Rep. Olson is available to view here.