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Last Updated on Friday, 09 April 2010 16:10 |
 Human space exploration - the Chair of the RAS Review outlines the case on the BBC.
As we prepare to return astronauts to the Moon and then ultimately to the next frontier, Mars, Professor Frank Close explores the physical and psychological limitations to human space exploration (HSE) in 2 half-hour programmes to be broadcast on BBC radio 4 at 2100 on July 26 and August 2.
Frank Close chaired the 2005 RAS review of the scientific case for HSE which recommended that the ...
'British Government re-evaluates its long-standing opposition to involvement in human space exploration...
profound scientific questions relating to the history of the solar system and the existence of life beyond Earth can best – perhaps only - be achieved by human exploration on the Moon or Mars, supported by appropriate automated systems...The wider commercial educational, social and political benefits help justify the substantial expenditure that full UK participation in a future international programme of HSE will require...It is hard to conceive that the UK, one of the world’s leading economies, would stand aside from such a global scientific and technological endeavour'
The RAS welcomed this independent report as ' an important contribution to the wider issue of HSE in general ', recognizing that there needed to be a wider public debate before any decision could or should be taken.
The full report can be read here  HSE report .pdf (393.50 KB 18.10.2005 10:21) |
