Brant Sponberg: Centennial Challenges/Innovative Programs

In order to save time on this section, I'll mostly refer readers to Michael Mealling's post on the topic. I have to say that this is the best (and most important thing) that NASA presented at the whole conference. To me, making sure that NASA implements the Innovative Programs idea correctly will be the key to getting any real, lasting value out of the Vision for Space Exploration.



As the "stair steps" in the image show, this is a set of incremental non-traditional contracts, service procurements, and prizes starting with suborbital flights and leading to small cis-lunar demonstrators. If NASA doesn't bungle this, and if the commercial space industry is able to consistently execute on these deals, most of the key technologies needed for an affordable lunar architecture will be developed. In fact, as I pointed out in Chris Shank's talk, if these key capabilities (such as on orbit propellant storage, cislunar travel, reentry, proximit operations, etc) are developed soon enough, it may not be too late to fix the currently planned lunar transportation architecture. We only have till 2010 or 2011, but if Innovative Programs is succesful enough, a truly sustainable cislunar architecture may be adapted by NASA instead of their current Shuttle-derived architecture. The good news is that if Brant's idea does work, then even if NASA ignores those capabilities, those technologies and capabilities will be "on-the-shelf" for other commercial entities to use. If NASA really wants a commercially flown CNN camera crew waiting for them when they return to the Moon, that's their choice. I'm sure that Bigelow wouldn't mind renting them space for four at his Budget Suites of Selenia.