Space Technology: Future

The world will be making new developments in space. For the United States, the goals are to create a staffed base in orbit, military, and build new spacecraft. Colonizing

The United States is currently working on a tiny colony in orbit, the space station Freedom. Freedom is expected to function for three decades, orbiting around Earth every ninety minutes at a distance of 220 miles. Countries such as the United States, Russia, Japan, Canada, and ESA (European Space Agency) will help the colony by furnishing smaller laboratory units. The goal of NASA is to conduct experiments into the effect of microgravity on many different materials and living creatures as well.

Military Recently, Russia proposed that the United States and Russia should look into using their parts of the space station for military purposes. The two countries have agreed to discuss the possibility and do not intend to take advice from "junior partners." This would allow both nations to further their space weapons programs and cooperatively test anti-ballistic missile defenses for the first time.

Space station construction will begin during the summer in 1998 and will be fully completed by 2002. Crews will begin to inhabit the station in early 1999. Eventually the station will be modified for use as a docking and refuelling station as well as a satellite repair base. Operations in orbit are much less expensive if carried out from a space station. The most expensive parts of a mission, making a craft strong enough for high gravity and heat experienced during reentry will no longer be necessary. Spacecraft

The future of space vehicles lies in nuclear fission and fusion technology. A fission spacecraft could be produced within the decade using research done in the late sixties and would be capable of reaching high speeds for extending periods of time as uranium is a very light fuel for the amount of energy it produces. Fusion technology would allow refueling stations to be placed on the moons of Jupiter and would give us even more efficient means of movement and energy production.

The future of space technology contains endless possibilities for the unknown has yet been conquered. One day it will be and when that happens the number of advances in space technology will greatly affect the lives of the people.

Chris Medina