Comments on the commercialization of expendable launch vehicles

The President's national space policy encourages private sector investment and involvement in civil space activities. Last November, the President designated the Department of Transportation as lead agency for the commercialization of expendable launch vehicles. This presents a substantial challenge to the United States Government, since the guidelines and requirements that are set now will have great influence on whether American firms can become a viable competitive industry in the world launch market. There is a dual need to protect public safety and free the private sector launch industry from needless regulatory barriers so that it can grow and prosper

Space-Based Thermal Infrared Studies of Asteroids

Large-area surveys operating at mid-infrared wavelengths have proven to be a valuable means of discovering and characterizing minor planets. Through the use of radiometric models, it is possible to derive physical properties such as diameters, albedos, and thermal inertia for large numbers of objects. Modern detector array technology has resulted in a significant improvement in spatial resolution and sensitivity compared with previous generations of space-based infrared telescopes, giving rise to a commensurate increase in the number of objects that have been observed at these wavelengths. Space-based infrared surveys of asteroids therefore offer an effective means of rapidly gathering information about small body populations' orbital and physical properties. The AKARI, WISE/NEOWISE, Spitzer, and Herschel missions have significantly increased the number of minor planets with well-determined diameters and albedos.Comment: Chapter for Asteroids IV book (accepted for publication