Space exploration and applications in the year 2025

摘要

Karl Doetsch: Welcome to the final plenary session of WSC 2002, addressing one of the most important topics, namely our future, as we consider space exploration and applications in the year 2025. Space activity has come a long way since the first symbolic and monotonous beeps of Sputnik startled the world 45 years ago. Yet, what has so far been achieved is but a small step towards what is still to come. Space activity has moved from the early pioneering phase of large competitive exploration programs and the rapid development of applications, initially for military purposes, to widespread commercial applications and to both large- and small-scale international cooperative programs. Space activity is still relatively small as a global economic activity and as a source of global employment, but its significance to society-at-large is profound in terms of its technical achievements, its increasing of our understanding of the structures and history of the Solar system and the Universe, and its effect on virtually everyone's life through its applications. Space activity addresses society's needs both on and off Earth. The big open question is whether human space activity will become a key enabler of society's future development. Will space activity continue to inspire us to stretch beyond today's achievements and will it become mainstream to human evolution? I am delighted to be able to present an exceptional panel, well able to address where space activity might be heading during the next 25 years, from the perspectives of a scientist and university professor, Gerhard Haerendel, President of COSPAR and Dean of the International University in Bremen, a leader from industry, Michael Mott, Vice-President and General Manager for Space Systems at Boeing, a leader from industry in Asia, Sridhara Murthi, Executive Director of the Antrix Corporation in India, and Kelly Snook, from NASA, representing the youth generation. Each panelist will make a short presentation, then the floor will be opened for questions from and dialogue with you, the audience.