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Space Exploration

Another age related Digital Divide?

The Big Thought Is Missing in National Security
By G. Pascal Zachary, The New York Times, July 1, 2007

Why has the pace of fundamental innovation in military technologies slowed? Why, six years after 9/11, is there no mega-research project — along the lines of the crash Manhattan Project that 62 years ago produced the first atomic bombs — to address the plausible security threats to the United States in the 21st century?

These two questions say a lot about how innovation happens today, and why concerns about national security, which once motivated civilian scientists and engineers to make crucial contributions to military technologies, may again shape innovation priorities.

The short answer to both questions is that the nation lacks a grand technological challenge that might galvanize the interests and energies of talented researchers and propel them into close cooperation with war-fighters in pursuit of innovations that will enhance national security….

He mentions how NASA was formed in 1958, after the Soviet Union launched the third in its series of Sputnik rockets.

Today the leading technologies are hatched by commercial companies pursuing lucrative and large civilian markets. “The U.S. government and its defense partners no longer are at the leading edge of most of the militarily-relevant technologies, having been displaced by international commercial industries and markets,” the Defense Science Board, an adviser to the Pentagon comprised of independent experts, concluded in a February report to the top brass entitled “21st Century Strategic Technology Vectors.”

How did the military, which spends a great deal of money on research and development, get into the position of having to play catch-up in technological innovation?…

He mentions several causes

Leadership is another missing ingredient. “The government isn’t going to researchers and saying, ‘Drop everything, work on terrorism.’ Instead, the government is telling them, ‘Proceed as before,’ ” says Daniel S. Greenberg, who has monitored military research in Washington since the 1960s and is the author of the forthcoming “Science for Sale.”…

Mentions the possibility of secret project but thinks they may be too small in scale and vision.

I think its all gotten a little too abstract for many leaders to get their hands around.

2007 07 01

Biz-Tech
Governance/Democracy
Space Exploration

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Humans in Space - Global Space Exploration Strategy Framework

Humans in Space: NASA + 13 Space Agencies Release Global Space Exploration Strategy Framework

On May 31, 2007, NASA and 13 other space agencies from around the world announced the release of their Global Exploration Strategy discussions document entitled, “The Global Exploration Strategy: The Framework for Coordination.” According to the NASA news release, the document reflects a shared vision of space exploration focused on solar system destinations where humans may someday live and work….

The complete framework document is available for review at:…

2007 06 02

Biz-Tech
Space Exploration

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