AIAAHouston Section Congressional Visits Day 2021 April 2004

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AIAA-Houston Section Congressional Visits Day
20-21 April 2004
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AIAA Vision Mission Statement
AIAA is the worlds leading professional society
in the broad areas of aeronautics and
astronautics, and the preeminent worldwide
aerospace information source

• The Purpose of the Institute is
• to advance the arts, sciences, and technology of
  aeronautics and astronautics and
• to nurture and promote the professionalism of
  those engaged in these pursuits
• Houston Section
• Approximately 800 members
• Primary focus on space systems and applications

Photo courtesy of NASA/Hubble Space Telescope
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NATIONS EXPLORATION VISION (EXISTING PROGRAMS)

• Space Shuttle
• Safe return to flight is paramount for NASA
• The Space Shuttle is critical for station
  construction and resupply - especially for water
  resources. Water requirements have forced a two
  man contingency crew and dependence on Russian
  vehicles. There are no other viable near-term
  alternatives.
• Recommendations Use all necessary resources to
  enable Shuttle return to flight
• Safety investments must be made both before and
  after return to flight of the Space Shuttle to
  ensure a healthy fleet until an alternative
  vehicle is available
• Fully fund shuttle replacement undertaking, and
  do NOT underestimate magnitude and cost of buying
  down the technology risk. Seek innovative
  concepts from non-government sources.
• Ending use of Shuttle at 2010 is not a reasonable
  goal with no replacement launch vehicle.
  Consider Shuttle life-extension until a
  replacement is in existence, then consider
  possible privatization of Shuttle after
  discontinuation of NASA use.
• Consider whole manned enterprise, and use this
  energy to refocus on potential new options
• The successful repair and servicing of the
  Hubble Space Telescope demonstrates the potential
  for the productive participation of the human
  space flight program in advancing the goals of
  scientific exploration. (H.R. 3057)

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NATIONS EXPLORATION VISION (EXISTING PROGRAMS)

• International Space Station
• Most complex engineering project and largest
  international collaboration undertaken
• The Space Station is meant to be a scientific
  research facility and a 3-person crew is needed
  simply for upkeep, so little or no research can
  currently be accomplished
• A habitation arrangement and other crew
  adaptations MUST be made to support this research
  before assembly complete of the Space Station
• Assured crew return method for a 7-person crew
  MUST be available to support research goals
• Recommendations Continue our commitments to our
  International Partners to complete the Space
  Station project
• With the recent events the U.S. is keenly aware
  of the International communitys perception of
  our policies and our leadership role in space
• To date we have maintained a smooth working
  relationship with our International Partners, and
  we want to continue this progress
• Continue to use the research capabilities of ISS
  to prepare for future manned missions to the Moon
  and Mars

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NATIONS EXPLORATION VISION (FUTURE PROGRAMS)

• Human Spaceflight is undergoing massive review to
  determine its role in the future of space
  exploration
• Be open to consider all new exploration concepts
  while realizing there will be setbacks, both
  budgetary and technical. We must develop the
  patience to work through inevitable difficulties
  that will arise while undertaking a task of this
  magnitude.
• Let NASA take risks and suffer setbacks on the
  way to ultimate success in opening the space
  frontier. Resist aiming for safe, low
  expectations.
• Recommendations Seize upon NASAs new vision and
  consider bold new mission mandates for visionary
  manned objectives
• A rededication to manned discovery and
  utilization of Moon and Mars will promote new
  technology development and inspire generations of
  engineers, scientists, and future engineers and
  scientists
• Be innovative and expand our reach into nearby
  solar system areas, such as Libration Point (L1
  Gateway) and Manned Mission to Outer Planets
  (MOP)
• Look for any opportunity to expand the commercial
  space tourism endeavor. The excitement is
  building and helps the public realize their
  potential role in space!
• Remove the ban on advertising for space launch
  products to help offset launch costs
• AIAA endorses the Space Exploration Act of 2003

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SPACE COMMERCIALIZATION

• Future expansion of government and commercial
  activity in space depends upon major cost
  reductions and operational improvements
• If shuttle is ended, we must NOT allow follow-on
  vehicle to fail, for there will be no other
  alternatives
• Accept trade-offs between reasonably meeting
  expectations and pursuing expensive,
  time-consuming perfection
• Consider all options to get payload/crews into
  space in the most reliable, cost effective way
• Recommendation Continue the government role as a
  sponsor of reduced-cost and improved access to
  space
• Pursue clear development milestones that lead to
  major operational improvements and cost
  reductions in space access technology
• AIAA expresses its appreciation of the Houses
  support of the Commercial Space Launch Amendment
  Act of 2004!
• AIAA endorses the following legislation
• Commercial Space Transportation Act of 2003
• Commercial Space Act of 2003
• Invest In Space Now 2003
• National Space Commission Act of 2003

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WORKFORCE ISSUES

• The future security and economic growth of the
  U.S. depends on an increasing number of qualified
  scientists, engineers, and information technology
  experts
• The average age of engineers and scientists in
  professional aerospace engineering is now
  approaching 57 years, and twice as many workers
  are over 60 than under 30 years of age
• 60 of future jobs will require skill sets that
  only 20 of population possesses
• If not counteracted, this will have wide-ranging
  national, economic, and homeland security effects
• Recommendation Provide federal incentives for
  more students to pursue careers in math, science,
  and engineering
• We applaud your efforts with the NASA Workforce
  Flexibility Act!
• Increase recruitment and retention of key
  personnel through the funding of cutting edge
  projects, like Moon/Mars outposts, HEDS, and bold
  new projects to open space frontier
• AIAA proposes legislation to establish a National
  Science and Technology Corps, where part or all
  of tuition in fields of science and engineering
  are government-sponsored in return for civil
  service or teaching science and math in
  underserved areas
• To maintain dominance in aerospace, we need to
  support initiatives that promote advanced degrees
  in science and engineering to counteract loss of
  expertise to other nations. AIAA endorses the
  Aeronautics RD Development Revitalization Act
  2003.

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NATIONAL AEROSPACE RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY PLAN

• Declining federal investment in civil aviation
  research and technology directly and adversely
  affects national security, balance of trade,
  national leadership, market share, jobs, and
  engineering competence
• U.S. Aerospace exports are the largest single
  item on positive export list (30B, with net
  positive 24B)
• U.S. aviation and space industry challenges must
  be met with new technology and new concepts that
  evolve from high-risk, long-term research
• Return-on-investment time spans are longer than
  the commercial sector can generally accept
• The European Unions strategy report European
  Aeronautics A Vision for 2020 outlines a
  strategy to win two great prizes global
  leadership in the development and sale of
  airframes, engines and avionics equipment, and a
  world-class air transportation system
• Recommendation Reverse decline in funding and
  enhance U.S. leadership. Support a comprehensive
  plan to address these issues.
• Must address both critical milestones and
  essential funding
• Continue the government role as a sponsor of
  civil aviation research and programs that reduce
  cost / improve access to space
• Significantly enhance university research funding
  to support the creation and development of the
  engineering talent needed to maintain and extend
  the U.S. lead in aerospace

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SUMMARY
We welcome your continued support for NASA! Thank
you, for the opportunity to share our thoughts
with you. Let us in the Houston section be a
resource for you on any and all Aerospace issues!
Houston Section Contacts Chairperson
(2004-2005) Sophia Bright 281-244-4135 Public
Policy Chair Nicole Smith 281-244-7145
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HOMELAND SECURITY

• The creation and implementation of the Department
  of Homeland Security is a monumental undertaking
• The aerospace industry possesses unique
  capabilities, talents, and systems which can be
  used for the technical challenges facing the new
  department
• University RD can be used extensively to develop
  Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle and anti-terrorism
  technology
• Recommendation Initiate a comprehensive review
  of requirements established by the Department
  to-date and conduct a mapping of
  aerospace-related technologies for further review
  and vetting
• The space industry has a forty-year track record
  in enabling technologies, particularly in
  autonomous systems, which can be used to address
  these security needs
• These enabling technologies are generally 10 to
  15 years ahead of the market and would be of
  great benefit to the Department of Homeland
  Security