So, yesterday, we described Bigelow’s first space venture. (Yes, FIRST.) Because space still matters- as does recognizing the dreams of science fiction are just tomorrow’s science and technology realities. Even though we have a government that seems to have lost the concept that spending money on government R&D returns manifold benefits to the economy. Because, if the government helps with basic research,  private industry picks up the ball and makes these concepts everyday tools for you and me.

The BEAM is already in space- in particular, parked at the International Space Station (ISS). Waiting for testing. But, in the meantime, there’s plenty (seemingly) happening here on earth. NASA has a few bucks (nothing like the Apollo or Gemini programs) to create and test the NextSTEP program. (No, this is very different from Steve Job’s post Unix concept for the Next computer.)

NextSTEP is NASA speak for  Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships. One university and 10 private companies have gotten intial funding to explore new concepts in human habitation, advanced propulsion, and small satellites.

The propulsion grants have been awarded to two Redmond (WA) companies- MSNW LLC and Aerojet Rocketdyne, plus Texas’  Ad Astra Rocket Company. (Woo Hoo. Brooklyn Poly’s [which awarded me my initial Chem E degree] motto was Ad Astra!)

The small satellite program awards have been provided to Lockheed Martin and Morehead State (KY). Their function is to develop cubesat missions– shoebox sized satellites that will first be deployed on the Space Launch System NASA promises to launch in 2018.

The Human Habitats is the program that includes Bigelow Aerospace, the company behind BEAM that we discussed yesterday. (Other participants- Boeing, Texas Dynetics (which is, of course, in Alabama), Hamilton Sundstrand Space, Lockheed Martin, Orbital ATK, and Orbital Technologies Corporation.)

Which brings us to Outpost. As opposed to BEAM, the collapsible habitat, Outpost is a fixed metal structure. OK. Think of those old movies and cartoon that had barrels going over Niagara Falls. (The picture below shows it with a ceiling fan attached to it. More on that below.)

The Outpost unit has a propulsion module, so that fine tuning its position and maneuverability would be possible. It also contains sleeping bags- but they wouldn’t be on the floor.  Instead they will be suspended via bungee cords. (Or, the astronauts may remain in the Orion ferry that brings the astronauts to Outpost. Which may be useful, since Orion has a galley and life-support systems. Outpost only will hold the (four) astronauts for some 21 days at a clip.)

Outpost won’t be close in to Earth like the ISS, but almost contiguous to the moon. The Orion unit will actually link up with Outpost, so there two rooms in this space habitat- one on Outpost and one on Orion. The goal is to use this “home” to learn how we could launch a vehicle towards Mars. And, stay alive in the process.

Why near the moon? Because the partnership wants our astronauts to mimic exactly what Mark Watney did- learn and employ that ‘can-do’ attitude to survive and thrive in space. To not rely on ground control providing all decision authority. After all, going to Mars is going to take a few years and waiting for mommy or daddy to come up with a solution for the astronauts should something go wrong will not yield satisfactory results.

The problem with these concepts? This is America, right? Funding. Our government hasn’t put up all the funds needed for its part in the program. (Actually, if my memory serves, Congress decided the funds we used for space and R&D had much better utility fighting wars -without budgets- in Iraq and Afghanistan.)

But, there’s still time. Because the first unmanned flight isn’t scheduled for two more years. Which means the future “Mark Watney” won’t be on board until 2021 or 2023.

Let’s hope the funds keep coming.

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