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For the first time in history, SpaceX and NASA launched American astronauts into space on a commercial rocket and transported them safely to the International Space Station (ISS).
The successful launch was the realization of a plan initiated by Maj. Gen. Charles Frank Bolden Jr., (USMC- Ret.), Member, Potomac Institute Board of Regents, former Administrator of NASA. Prior to that plan, the Institute performed a NASA-funded study on commercializing the International Space Station (ISS) in 1996, while the agency was under the leadership of Administrator Dan Goldin. Led by Dr. Jim Richardson – with former NASA Administrator James Begg chairing the team’s Advisory Panel – the study suggested a strategy of privatization-to-commercialization of human orbital space as a logical means of achieving NASA’s goal of commercialization for lSS. According to the study, the most viable opportunities lay in the privatization of government functions, such as resupply and operation of the space station.
This goal of this recommendation was put into action by Maj. Gen. Bolden when he created the public- private partnership with SpaceX called the Commercial Crew Program, following the company’s successful completion of the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program. That program ultimately resulted in the successful launch of American astronauts from American soil for the first time in nearly a decade and has paved the way for a commercialized space domain that allows NASA to become a partner, and one of many customers, in that marketplace.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine praised Maj. Gen. Bolden’s efforts, highlighting his resolve in championing the program, “He had members of Congress on both sides of the aisle that were in opposition to it and wouldn’t adequately fund it, and ultimately gave him a hard time about it.” Despite this, Administrator Bridenstine said, Maj. Gen. Bolden, “persevered and he pushed through. That was the beginning of what we all got to experience today.”
President Trump was also in attendance, and praised the accomplishments of both NASA and SpaceX. He reiterated the vital importance of space, and his continued support, saying, “As has often been stated, you can’t be number one on Earth if you are number two in space. ... We are not going to be number two anywhere.
Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley boarded a Dragon spacecraft perched atop a Falcon 9 Rocket at Kennedy Space Center in the early afternoon of Saturday, May 31st. At 3:22 pm EDT, the Falcon 9 successfully lifted off and began its journey. Just under nineteen hours later, the Dragon crew capsule docked flawlessly with ISS. Not only does it mark the long-awaited return of human launch capability to American shores after nine years of reliance on Russian rockets, but it also is the first time a commercial company has launched humans into space.
There was a familiar feel to the countdown and launch, reminiscent of the many Space Shuttle launches over the years – yet the differences were striking. First and foremost, evident to any viewer were the sleek white spacesuits – so different from the traditional orange NASA uniforms – designed as a suit for the 21st century. Touch screen terminals replace the analog switches and dials of the Shuttle, millions of viewers tuned in to live YouTube and Twitch streams and television broadcasts, #LaunchAmerica trended on Twitter, and NASA employees conducted “social media checks” throughout the stream. The astronauts had signed their names on the walls of the white room before boarding their ship ship – an action described as the start of a new tradition and a message of hope for many more launches to come.
This launch is the culmination of years of effort by NASA, SpaceX, and public officials. It is a sign of things to come, and it may serve to not only open up low Earth orbit for many more visitors, but also the Moon, and eventually the solar system. And best of all, millions of people all around the world watched as an American company lifted the eyes of humanity to the cosmos once more.
Unintended Digital Transformation
Melissa Hathaway, Member, Board of Regents and Senior Fellow discusses our unintended digital transformation within cyber security, critical infrastructures, and services in our current environment at Secureworks. Listen to the Rapid Digital Transformation: Is the World Ready to Succeed in the Next Wave? Are You? podcast here.
Melissa Hathaway, leading expert in cyberspace policy and cyber security, brings a multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional perspective to strategic consulting and strategy formulation for public and private sector clients. She developed a unique methodology for evaluating and measuring national levels of preparedness for certain cyber security risks, known as the Cyber Readiness Index (CRI). She has served in two U.S. presidential administrations, spearheading the Cyberspace Policy Review for President Barack Obama and leading the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI) for President George W. Bush. At the conclusion of her government service, she received the National Intelligence Reform Medal in recognition of her achievements.
Dana Shepard joins the Institute as a S&T Policy Research Analyst. Prior to this role, she spent almost a decade working in nonprofits focused on areas such as social emotional learning, improving outcomes for at risk youth, and oceanic conservation. Her experience includes grant writing and management, research, strategic planning, process design and improvement, data analysis, and fundraising. Ms. Shepard previously interned at the Constituency for Africa and spent over a year studying and working in Cameroon.
Ms. Shepard received a master’s degree in public administration from the University of South Florida, where she was selected as a Presidential Management Fellowship finalist. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Dickinson College.
Dr. Rita Colwell, Member, Board of Regents and Senior Fellow is featured in Chemistry World from the Royal Society of Chemistry. In the article, “Rita Colwell: ‘Pseudoscience is almost like a disease’,” Dr. Colwell provides insights to her journey as a woman in science and forewarns the consequences of pseudoscience.
Dr. Colwell served as the 11th Director of the National Science Foundation, 1998-2004. She has held many advisory positions in the U.S. Government, nonprofit science policy organizations, and private foundations, as well as in the international scientific research community. She is a nationally-respected scientist and educator, and has authored or co-authored 19 books and more than 800 scientific publications. She produced the award-winning film, Invisible Seas, and has served on editorial boards of numerous scientific journals. She serves as Chair of the Research Board for the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (2010-2020).
Dr. Rita Colwell’s interests are focused on global infectious diseases, water, and health. She has developed an international network to address emerging infectious diseases and water issues, including safe drinking water for both the developed and developing world, in collaboration with Safe Water Network, headquartered in New York City.
Read “Rita Colwell: ‘Pseudoscience is almost like a disease’” by Rebecca Trager here.
Maj. Gen. Charles Frank Bolden Jr., (USMC-Ret.) Maj. Gen. Charles Frank Bolden Jr., USMC (Ret.), Member, Board of Regents was featured in Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum’s inaugural Virtual Astronomy Live event to commemorate the 30th anniversary of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope launch and discuss the iconic observatory.
Watch Maj. Gen. Charles Frank Bolden Jr., USMC (Ret.) in Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum’s inaugural Virtual Astronomy Live event here.
See a replay of the event on Twitch here.
Maj. Gen. Charles Frank Bolden Jr., (USMC-Ret.) was assigned as the Deputy Commanding General of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force in 1997. During the first half of 1998, he served as Commanding General of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Forward in support of Operation Desert Thunder in Kuwait. Bolden’s 34-year career with the Marine Corps also included 14 years as a member of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Astronaut Office. After joining the office in 1980, he traveled to orbit four times aboard the space shuttle between 1986 and 1994, commanding two of the missions and piloting two others. Bolden piloted STS-31, on which the Discovery space shuttle launched the Hubble Space Telescope. Bolden served as the 12th Administrator of NASA.