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The VentureStar Project: NASA’s Abandoned Hope for Reusable Spacecraft

The VentureStar project was one of NASA’s most ambitious programs aimed at creating a single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) reusable spacecraft. Conceptualized in the mid-1990s, the VentureStar was intended to replace the aging Space Shuttle fleet, promoting cost-efficiency, safety, and frequent access to space. However, despite its innovative vision, VentureStar never made it past the prototype stage due to technical challenges and budget constraints.

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Planning Crewed Missions to Mars: Understanding the Effects of Long-Term Space Flight on the Human Body

The environment of space is remarkably different from that of Earth. It exposes astronauts to conditions of microgravity, increased radiation, isolation, and confinement, all of which can potentially affect the physical and psychological well-being of space travelers. This article reviews the physiological and psychological effects that long-term space flight can have on the human body.

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Report: For All Humanity – the Future of Outer Space Governance (UN 2023)

The policy brief contains an examination of the extraordinary changes under way in outer space and an assessment of the sustainability, safety and security impacts of these changes on present and future governance. The brief also contains an outline of major trends that are impacting space sustainability and the positive impact that these trends could have on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Also contained in the brief is an outline of major trends affecting the security of outer space activities and the risks to humanity that could materialize if these challenges are not solved. Lastly, it provides a practical set of governance recommendations for maximizing the opportunities of outer space while minimizing short-term and long-term risks.

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A Comprehensive Guide to Threats to Humanity’s Survival on Earth, and the Case for Going Multiplanetary

Human survival on Earth is threatened by numerous potential scenarios. Some of these threats are natural occurrences, while others are caused by human activities. These existential risks range from the immediate and concrete to the distant and speculative. Regardless of their nature or likelihood, understanding these threats can help us prepare and, ideally, prevent their most devastating outcomes.

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Report: Large Constellations of Low-Altitude Satellites: A Primer (CBO 2023)

In this report, the Congressional Budget Office provides an introduction to the advantages of and challenges for constellations of low-altitude satellites. In particular, the report describes the effects that orbital altitude has on the design of satellites and constellations of those satellites, focusing on DoD’s Earth-observation and communications missions.

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Single-Stage-to-Orbit (SSTO): Pioneering the Future of Space Exploration

Ever since the advent of space exploration, human beings have employed similar types of vehicles to journey beyond the confines of our planet. The concept of Single-Stage-To-Orbit (SSTO) vehicles represents a significant shift in our approach to space travel. This fascinating technology has the potential to revolutionize space exploration by offering a more cost-effective and efficient means of reaching orbit.

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Report: Assessments of Major NASA Projects (GAO 2023)

NASA plans to invest more than $83 billion in its 2023 portfolio of 34 major projects, which is defined as those projects or programs with a lifecycle cost of over $250 million. The goals of these projects include exploring Earth and the solar system, extending human presence beyond low-Earth orbit to the lunar surface, and understanding climate change, among other things. This report provides an overview of NASA’s planning and execution of these major acquisitions-an area that has been on GAO’s high-risk list since 1990. It includes assessments of NASA’s key projects across mission areas, such as the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (Orion) for human exploration; Europa Clipper for planetary science; Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) for Earth science; and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (Roman) for astrophysics.

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