THE DR. WERNHER VON BRAUN VISION

摘要

One hundred years ago, the birth of visionary Dr. Wernher von Braun significantly changed the course of rocketscience and space exploration. His influence on space exploration has led to enhanced observation satellites, roboticexploration vehicles, advanced rockets capable of carrying humans to space, man walking on the Moon, and theinitial concepts for the Space Shuttle. Dr. von Braun loved all aspects of space exploration and had visualized astrategy for the future of human space flight. He proposed establishing a permanent human presence in spacethrough circular space stations and lunar science laboratories with the intent of human exploration of Mars. In honorof his 100th birthday, this paper compares Dr. von Braun's plans for future space missions with both the reality ofevents that have unfolded since the Apollo age and key issues he and NASA would have encountered if the spaceprogram had progressed as he suggested. These issues include astronaut health, such as radiation exposure and theloss of bone density in a microgravity environment; technology needed to achieve the dream, such as artificialgravity and the replenishing of material on long duration space flights; and political limitations that would haveinfluenced major decisions.