Personal Growth — June 29, 2010

To Mars or an Asteroid by 2025

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

“The new national space policy calls on NASA to target missions beyond low-Earth orbit — such as to an asteroid — by 2025, with the eventual goal of sending astronauts to Mars.” The CSM reports. “International cooperation is key on all fronts included in the new space policy, White House officials said. ‘If there’s one really broad theme it is international cooperation, which is woven throughout the new policy and it’s our sort of foundational emphasis for achieving all of our goals in space,’ said Barry Pavel, senior director for defense policy and strategy for the National Security Council.” The new policy also emphasizes developing a robust commercial space sector.

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Politics & Current Affairs

How to keep peace in outer space? Create commercial development.

“To promote the development of a commercial asteroid resources industry for outer space in the United States and to increase the exploration and utilization of asteroid resources in outer space.”

Politics & Current Affairs

Do trade wars really put America first?

President Trump has placed retaliatory tariffs on the U.S.’s closest allies. His justification for this policy is national security and the protection of America’s businesses. But history has shown us that trade wars don’t put America first.

Surprising Science

NASA unveils 3 ways it will defend Earth from catastrophic asteroids

The chances of an asteroid large enough to be a threat to areas where human beings are concentrated are small. Still, it’s what’s known as a “high impact” result.

Surprising Science

NASA Needs to Aim for Mars, says Panel of Scientists

A report from the US National Academy of Sciences urges the space agency to make a decision on its long term goals. Those goals, argue scientists, need to include putting astronauts on Mars.

Surprising Science

Is NASA Going In The Right Direction?

Last month’s report from the National Research Council suggests that some objectives set by the Obama administration should be reevaluated in light of “national consensus” about space research and exploration.

Up Next

Guest Thinkers

Supreme Court Affirms Gun Rights

“It’s one thing to lose in court. Chicago has to win the daily struggle on its streets.” The Chicago Tribune reacts to the Supreme Court’s decision against they city’s handgun regulation.