Dr. Robert Braun, NASA chief technologist, will visit Iowa State’s College of Engineering to discuss the future of human space travel. His presentation, part of the T.A. Wilson Lecture series, will be held on October 20 at 11:00 a.m. in the Alliant Energy-Lee Liu Auditorium in Howe Hall.
Through “Investments in Our Future: Exploring Space through Innovation and Technology,” Braun will provide an overview of NASA’s planned research, innovation, and technology investments that focus on robotic and human exploration throughout the solar system.
Braun believes NASA’s new Space Technology Program will provide vital development in new technologies to the future of space travel. The program has been focusing on advancements in deep space missions for humans, as well as creating benefits for these new innovations on Earth. These technologies will allow humans to venture beyond low Earth orbit more safely and efficiently, while providing real-life applications and benefits.
Braun was appointed NASA Chief Technologist in February 2010. He has more than 20 years experience performing design and analysis of planetary exploration systems, and has also contributed to the design, development, test and operation of several robotic space flight systems including entry, descent, and landing systems.
The T.A. Wilson Lecture was established in honor of the 1943 Iowa State aerospace engineering alum who went on to become the CEO of Boeing.
Perhaps someone on campus will ask Dr. Braun about the possible utilization of fusion energy for futuristic high-speed spacecraft to place humans at the moons of Mars, the Martian surface, and perhaps to the Jovian moon Europa. In my mind, this is one of the keys to the future of humans entering deep space. President John F. Kennedy thought nuclear engineering was critical to deep space operations as early as the 1960′s. The design and development of fusion-based energy propulsion is critical. One only has to spend a little time with Dr. George Miley at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to understand the concept and potential designs.
I also hope that someone at Iowa State University will digitally record his entire remarks and subsequently place his remarks on YouTube for the space community nationwide.
Thank you!
awesome!
I will make certain that Robert Braun gets your comment. I will see what I can do about getting a video of this presentation put on You Tube with the College of Engineering U-Tube site. Thanks for your comments.
Mr. Kennedy,
Great question, Fusion power, remember Orion? Now that would have been a bump filled ride. Anyway, I even feel fragmented-fisson using Thorium might be the way go in our life time. With Electromagnetic tubed mirror’s controlling the super heated plasma gases. It appear’s to me, we shall be lucky to see VASIMR with a BIO-MODE reactor or a NERVA based NTR for start’s!
Did anyone ask about Helium 3 for fussion generation?