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Q & A 12 ASTRONAUT’S VIEW 20 SPACE LAUNCH 34 Neil deGrasse Tyson A realistic moon plan SLS versus commercial SPECIAL REPCORTE A P S DARK ENERGY DILEMMA Why NASA’s planet-hunting astrophysics telescope is an easy budget target, and what defeat would mean PAGE 24 APRIL 2018 | A publication of the American Institute of Aeronautics andd AAssttrroonnaauuttiiccss || aaeeerrrooossppaacceeaammeerriiccaa..aaiiaaaa..oorrgg 9–11 JULY 2018 CINCINNATI, OH ANNOUNCING EXPANDED TECHNICAL CONTENT FOR 2018! You already know about our extensive technical paper presentations, but did you know that we are now offering an expanded educational program as part of the AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum and Exposition? In addition to our pre-forum short courses and workshops, we’ve enhanced the technical panels and added focused technical tutorials, high level discussion groups, exciting keynotes and more. LEARN MORE AND REGISTER TODAY! For complete program details please visit: propulsionenergy.aiaa.org FEATURES | April 2018 MORE AT aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org 24 20 34 40 Returning to Launching the Laying down the the moon Europa Clipper rules for space What next for WFIRST? Senior research scientist NASA, Congress and We asked experts in and former astronaut the White House are space policy to comment Tom Jones writes about debating which rocket on proposed United what it would take to should send the probe Nations guidelines NASA’s three upcoming space deliver the funds and into orbit close to this for countries and telescopes are meant to piece together political support for the Jovian moon. companies sending some heady puzzles, but the White Lunar Orbital Outpost- satellites and other craft House’s 2019 budget proposal would Gateway. By Tom Risen to space. kill funding for the Wide Field Infrared By Tom Jones By Debra Werner Survey Telescope. By Amanda Miller On the cover: A silhouette of NASA’s Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org | APRIL 2018 | 1 25–29 JUNE 2018 ATLANTA, GEORGIA EARLY MEMBER REGISTRATION OPEN The AIAA AVIATION Forum is the only aviation event that covers the entire integrated spectrum of aviation business, research, development, and technology. The forum will bring together autonomy, hybrid electric propulsion, digital design and manufacturing, and system integration to develop new vehicles, markets, and opportunities. WHAT TO EXPECT (cid:105) 2800+ Attendees (cid:105) 1800+ Meeting Papers (cid:105) Daily Networking Opportunities (cid:105) Recruiting Event (cid:105) Three New Courses (cid:105) Celebration of the F-35 (cid:105) Transformational Electric Flight (cid:105) NASA’s University Leadership Initiative REGISTER NOW aviation.aiaa.org/register AEROSPACE IN THIS ISSUE (cid:43)(cid:3)(cid:43) (cid:43)(cid:3)A M E R I C A (cid:43) (cid:43)(cid:3)(cid:43) APRIL 2018, VOL. 56, NO. 4 Tom Jones EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Tom fl ew on four space shuttle missions. On his last fl ight, STS-98, he Ben Iannotta led three spacewalks to install the American Destiny Laboratory on the [email protected] International Space Station. He has a doctorate in planetary sciences. ASSOCIATE EDITOR PAGE 20 Karen Small [email protected] STAFF REPORTER Tom Risen Amanda Miller [email protected] Amanda is a freelance reporter and editor based near Denver with 20 years EDITOR, AIAA BULLETIN of experience at weekly and daily publications. Christine Williams PAGE 24 [email protected] EDITOR EMERITUS Jerry Grey Tom Risen CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tom Jones, Amanda Miller, As our staff reporter, Tom covers breaking news and writes features. He has Robert van der Linden, Debra Werner, reported for U.S. News & World Report, Slate and Atlantic Media. Frank H. Winter PAGES 8, 9, 10, 12, 34 James “Jim” Maser AIAA PRESIDENT John Langford AIAA PRESIDENT-ELECT Daniel L. Dumbacher PUBLISHER Debra Werner Rodger S. Williams DEPUTY PUBLISHER ADVERTISING A frequent contributor to Aerospace America, Debra is also a West Coast [email protected] correspondent for Space News. PAGES 40, 64 ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN THOR Design Studio | thor.design DEPARTMENTS MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTION Association Vision | associationvision.com LETTERS AND CORRESPONDENCE Ben Iannotta, [email protected] CASE STUDY Getting to know Mars 2020’s circuitry 16 Aerospace America (ISSN 0740-722X) is published monthly by the American Institute of Aeronautics and 4 Editor’s Notebook 9 10 Astronautics, Inc., at 12700 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 200 Reston, VA 20191-5807 [703-264-7500]. Subscription rate is 50% of dues for AIAA members (and is not deductible 7 From the Corner Offi ce Trending Book Review therefrom). Nonmember subscription price: U.S., $200; foreign, $220. Single copies $20 each. Postmaster: Send The InSight lander The making of “2001: address changes and subscription orders to Aerospace 12 Q & A will be digging A Space Odyssey” America, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, for secrets on Mars at 12700 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA, 20191-5807, Attn: A.I.A.A. Customer Service. Periodical postage 49 AIAA Bulletin paid at Reston, Virginia, and at additional mailing 44 64 offi ces. Copyright 2018 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc., all rights reserved. 61 Career Opportunities The name Aerospace America is registered by the AIAA Opinion Trajectories in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Offi ce. 62 Looking Back Here’s why the non- Rocket Lab USA’s nuclear option may be the Daniel Gillies best way to save Earth from an asteroid aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org | APRIL 2018 | 3 EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK EDUCATION Beating Silicon Valley at its own game This month and next, students will head to fi elds in Wichita, Kansas, and The Plains, Virginia, for John Langford, two rites of spring that are taking on increased importance given the fi erce competition among who will become AIAA president in industries to attract the sharpest and most passionate minds . May, works as the I’m talking about AIAA’s annual Design Build Fly aircraft competition for undergraduate range safety offi cer teams from the U.S. and abroad, and the Team America Rocketry Challenge for U.S. students at the 2017 Team in grades 7 through 12. America Rocketry In Design Build Fly, teams design and build remote-controlled aircraft and then gather for a fl yoff to Challenge national fi nals. see who can best meet a rigorous set of requirements that are different each year . Last year’s fl yoff drew 73 teams from as far away as Slovenia and India. National Association of Rocketry In the rocketry challenge, teams of students from around the U.S. must build and fl y rockets that can carry a raw egg, sometimes two, to a specifi ed altitude and back within a required time without breakage. The specifi c rules and parameters are different each year. On average, fi ve thousand students compete lo- cally to be among the 100 teams that gather at The Plains outside Washington, D.C., in May for the fi nals of this competition put on by the Aerospace Industries Association and the National Association of Rocketry. So, if you’re one of those who worries that the best and brightest STEM minds are being lured to Silicon Valley or Wall Street to write code instead of revolutionizing aircraft or spacecraft, I would suggest that competitions like these are among the best ways to fi ght back. Silicon Valley’s products are in the hands of children soon after the crib if not while they are still in it . Children on average get their fi rst smartphone by age 10, according to the New York Times, citing 2016 research by the Infl uence Central marketing fi rm. That is down from 12 in 2012. And of course kids start playing with mom’s or dad’s phone much earlier. Being human, it’s only a matter of time before some of these kids start wondering how these games, apps and devices work; how they might make them do even more amazing things. Some of them will one day conceive of the next big step in information devices and concepts . I would not begrudge any young person for pursuing an education and career that leads to Silicon Valley, to Wall Street or even outside the world of science and technology. The point is to empower kids to fi nd their passions. If a young person never gets the chance for a hands-on encounter with aerospace technology, one that’s the equivalent of playing with the code of a computer game, then he or she did not truly make a choice. That’s the timely problem that the surging interest in aircraft and rocket challenges is beginning to solve. (cid:43) Ben Iannotta, editor-in-chief, [email protected] 4 | APRIL 2018 | aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org 17–19 SEPTEMBER 2018 ORLANDO, FLORIDA REGISTRATION OPENING IN MAY Stay tuned for more information: space.aiaa.org/GetAlerts 8–10 MAY 2018 LAUREL, MARYLAND The AIAA Defense and Security Forum (AIAA DEFENSE Forum), AIAA’s only classified event, is focused on strategic, programmatic, technical topics and policy issues pertaining to aerospace, defense, and weapons systems. Engage with the industry’s leading professionals with over 20 high-level discussions and technical sessions at AIAA DEFENSE Forum! Opening Keynote Speaker: Michael D. Griffin, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, U.S. Department of Defense Join these and other industry experts on panels during the three day forum: Jandria Alexander, Mitigation of Cyber Threats, Booz Allen Hamilton John Balaguer, Protection of Space Ground Infrastructure, Raytheon Tambrein Bates, Director, SOFWERX Brian Delamater, Senior Program Manager, Advanced Technology International Robbie Robertson, Space Control Experiments, Air Force Research Laboratory Michele Schuman, Mitigation of Jamming and Detection Threats, MIT Lincoln Laboratory Sponsored by: Register now to secure the lowest rate! SEE YOU NEXT MONTH IN LAUREL, MARYLAND! defense.aiaa.org FROM THE CORNER OFFICE It’s Been An Honor It’s hard to believe that this is my last column as AIAA pres- with our student members, who are reaching out to AIAA’s expe- ident. I am proud of what we have accomplished together rienced members for advice. There are already hundreds of active and to have led AIAA during a period of positive change discussions ranging from space systems engineering to technical and organizational evolution. Although our transition to standards. AIAA Engage soon will be adding section-specifi c sites the new governance structure is ongoing, I believe that so members can discuss local issues. we are already much better positioned to be fl exible and adapt as AIAA is always looking ahead. During my tenure, the Institute necessary to better serve our members and the industry. There are formalized its efforts to increase diversity and inclusion as a so many people who made possible our successful transition to starting point to a long-term and meaningful commitment. We date, including Sandy Magnus, my predecessors as president, Jim as an Institute and industry have much work to do in this area Albaugh and Mike Griffi n, and my fellow volunteer leaders and, but we’ve gotten the ball rolling and set the tone for the future. of course, all of you, the members. We shared the extraordinary As my term ends, we are also saying goodbye to amazing col- vision, dedication, courage to do what was right, rather than leagues and welcoming new ones. While it took scores of people what was easy. Because of this hard work, our Institute is now on to transform AIAA into a more nimble and essential organization, a path to be strategically focused, relevant, and better positioned few had a deeper impact than Sandy Magnus. Sandy’s energy, to deliver programs and events that will help our members and courage, and determination were key to many of the strategic the global aerospace industry fl ourish. changes and “wins” we had during the past fi ve years. She leaves The changes put into motion over the past few years are the Institute both fi nancially stable and well positioned for the already paying dividends. This January’s AIAA SciTech Forum in future. Her strategic vision and determination led the way. I know Kissimmee, FL, had the largest attendance ever—with more than I speak for her staff and fellow members when I wish her all the 4,200 professional and student participants from 39 countries and best in her next adventure. all 50 states. High-level discussions about “fl ying cars,” digital We are excited and fortunate to have Dan Dumbacher take engineering, and autonomous vehicles packed rooms. Attendees the helm as the Institute’s new executive director. He has been an dove into the details during technical and Forum 360 sessions AIAA member for more than 30 years. I certainly can tell you that covering ground-breaking aerospace technical and scientifi c Dan has taken the role with an amazing amount of enthusiasm research, with the session on “Disrupting Aerospace Business and energy, and I am sure that Dan’s experience in government, Models” garnering more than 110,000 views on Livestream! Our academia, and his work with private industry during 35 years at forum event strategy is working! NASA will help take AIAA to the next level. In May, I will hand off As you know, next year is the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 the president’s gavel to my successor, John Langford. John, a mem- and the fi rst manned lunar landing. I am excited that the In- ber for more than 40 years, is CEO and president of Aurora Flight ternational Astronautical Federation selected AIAA to host the Sciences, now a Boeing Company, and has the forward-thinking 70th International Astronautical Congress in Washington, DC, entrepreneurial spirit that is sure to help draw a new generation in October 2019 during this pivotal time. The event will bring of aerospace professionals to AIAA. together thousands of decision makers from all sectors of the Thank you for the opportunity to be your president. I look global space industry, creating opportunities to collaborate with forward to working with Dan and John for the rest of my term, top international innovators and discuss the latest space discov- and then as chair of the AIAA Foundation. We are all part of a eries and advancements—and what that next giant leap might be. tremendous organization with limitless potential. If we remain Giving AIAA’s members a more infl uential voice is part of AIAA’s future-focused and increase our reach, relevance, and engagement mission and a focal point of the new governance structure, which there is nothing we can’t accomplish together. (cid:43) provides you with a greater say in AIAA’s future. We also launched a new social platform in January to connect our members to each other and bring the aerospace community together. AIAA Engage (engage.aiaa.org) is a place where you can meet fellow aerospace professionals, share your challenges, fl oat new ideas, build your JJiimm MMaasseerr network, and further your career. The platform has resonated AIAA President aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org | APRIL 2018 | 7 TRENDING DISCOVERY Rare World War II planes found BY TOM RISEN | [email protected] Historians now have color images of rare U.S. naval aviation curator at the National Air and A Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat World War II planes, and families know the Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Paul G. Allen fi nal resting place of 216 U.S. sailors and The Lexington was also notable as a “very un- airmen killed during the Battle of the Coral usual aircraft carrier,” since it was converted from A Douglas TBD-1 Sea, following the research vessel Petrel’s a battle cruiser, says retired U.S. Marine Col. Mark Devastator torpedo discovery of a wrecked aircraft carrier scuttled in 1942. Cancian, a military expert at the Center for Strategic bomber found with the wreckage of the USS The Petrel researchers located the wreckage and International Studies in Washington, D.C. Lexington. of the USS Lexington on the fl oor of the Coral Sea The 35 U.S. planes that sank onboard the Lex- Paul G. Allen 3,000 meters deep and 800 kilometers off the east- ington included Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat fi ghter ern coast of Australia, according to a March press planes and Douglas TBD-1 Devastator torpedo release from Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s team. bombers. The painted decals on some of the planes Researchers located the wreck with the sonar and sea are still intact, similar to some other wrecks at that fl oor mapping instruments on a Remus 6000 auton- depth, where there is little oxygen or life to erode omous underwater vehicle built by Norway-based the paint, Burke says. Kongsberg, which says the vessel can dive to 6,000 “The Japanese had trained for multicarrier task meters. A separate remotely operated underwater groups so the ships could reinforce each other,” he vehicle with LED lights videotaped the wreckage. says. “The Zero [Mitsubishi-built fi ghter plane] was The expedition was funded by Allen, who has paid unquestionably faster and more maneuverable than for other attempts to locate the wreckage of World the Wildcat, but was also more vulnerable to gun fi re.” War II ships. The planes are a rare find and “tempting” to Japanese fi ghter planes launched from aircraft raise from the ocean, especially because there are carriers severely damaged the Lexington, forcing the no intact TBD Devastators on dry land, Burke says. destroyer USS Phelps to scuttle the vessel on May “The [U.S.] Navy still owns the planes and would 8, 1942, after the surviving crew abandoned ship. have to give permission for recovery,” he says. “I The Battle of the Coral Sea was “the fi rst pure believe the depth also makes recovery extremely aircraft carrier battle,” meaning one in which oppos- diffi cult.” ing ships attacked each other with aircraft without Locating the wreckage is signifi cant because (cid:43) directly seeing each other, says Laurence Burke, it could now be designated as a war gravesite. 8 | APRIL 2018 | aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org

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