US Human Spaceflight Program: Past and Future

Jim Head

(Raytheon)

The US Human Spaceflight program grew from the superpower rivalry of the 1950s and was remarkably successful in achieving its goals in the 1960s and 1970s. Since that time, the program is widely perceived to have stagnated. In 2004, NASA was given a new Vision to revitalize human spaceflight, recast in terms of exploration with an early emphasis on the moon, Mars, and beyond. The current plan calls for lunar outposts followed by eventual missions to Mars, with extensive opportunities for commercial and international participation. Success of the Vision is dependent on the creativity and energy of the next generation of scientists and engineers.

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