A predominant argument made against space solar power is that it is not an economical future energy source. The premise of this argument appears to be that the world has adequate non-renewable hydrocarbon, terrestrial solar, or nuclear energy sources to meet world needs well into the future. Part 5 of this series looks at the issue of long-term non-renewable hydrocarbon fuel supplies to meet the increasing world demand for energy. Does the world have enough to meet its needs or is the landscape of world energy production going to dramatically change as the world runs out of oil, coal, and natural gas this century? If this is the case, then building space solar power systems may be a necessity rather than an economic choice among alternatives.<< MORE >>

AstroPolitics: The International Journal of Space Politics and Policy recently published my essay "Spacefaring Logistics Infrastructure: The Foundation of a Spacefaring America." << MORE >>

The holy grail of reusable space access has been the single-stage aerospaceplane. I worked on the National Aerospaceplane Program in the late 1980's. This was a concept for a scramjet-powered, horizontal-takeoff, horizontal-landing system. Recently, Eric Hedman wrote in a Space Review article of one point-of-view on the potential advantages of developing such a single-stage aerospaceplane. While there are clear operational advantages to achieving single-stage space access, a wide range of technical and programmatic challenges must be first successfully addressed. My Space Review article summarizes these challenges.<< MORE >>

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports on U.S. and world energy supplies and consumption in terms of "quadrillion BTUs." This blog explains what this means in terms of energy production to help in discussions of alternative energy sources such as space solar power.<< MORE >>

The Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies, associated with the United States Air Force Academy, is conducting a public forum in Washington D.C. this week to address the "Space Challenges Facing the New American Administration of 2009." While many issues will be addressed, this blog focuses on the key strategic space issues that the next president should address.<< MORE >>

The recent Bali conference on "global warming" has increased public awareness of this issue and the need for improved sources of energy. This opens the door for advocates of space solar power to help influence the future course of U.S. energy policy and solutions.<< MORE >>

One comment raised several interesting questions regarding the feasibility of building space solar power satellites. This blog entry provides my responses to these questions.<< MORE >>

In a recent on-line Space Review essay, Taylor Dinerman raised several questions regarding solar power satellites and the reusable space access element of the enabling spacefaring logistics infrastructure. This entry is the response to Mr. Dinerman's essay that was published in the Space Review on December 4, 2007. This essay was also noted in the AIAA Daily Launch of December 4, 2007.<< MORE >>

Part 1 of this series on space solar power and America’s energy future identified a list of desirable energy outcomes that would form the basis of a rational U.S. energy policy. In part 2, this list is organized to identify, first, a hierarchy of importance and then a hierarchy to be used to conduct a search for desirable, long-term energy solutions.<< MORE >>

Mike Snead appeared as guest on David Livingston's The Space Show on October 10, 2007. The discussion topics were spacefaring logistics, building an integrated spacefaring logistics infrastructure, and the important role of such an infrastructure in America becoming a true spacefaring nation. This blog includes questions and answers covering many of the issues discussed on the show.<< MORE >>

Space solar power is being assessed as a potential future U.S. energy source by the National Security Space Office. Should the U.S. pursue space solar power, this will require that the U.S. becomes a true spacefaring nation. Is space solar power a reasonable choice for meeting America’s future energy needs? This first blog in a series on the spacefaring aspects of space solar power looks at America’s future energy needs and the U.S. energy production, distribution, and consumption outcomes that are desirable and could form the basis of a rational U.S. energy policy.<< MORE >>

The following is the opening of my opinion article published at the on-line The Space Review on September 4, 2007. This article discuses the important role of spacefaring logistics in opening the space frontier and why addressing this need should be important to the next presidential administration. The full article is available for download.<< MORE >>

Europe's EADS and its Astrium division recently announced a concept for a business jet-style rocket plane for the commercial suborbital tourist market. Far from being just another entry into this arena, EADS Astrium's announcement may have other more important implications.<< MORE >>

Are your pro-space actions supporting America becoming a true spacefaring nation? This blog focuses on questions that may help you to better understand whether your personal actions, as a member of the American pro-space community, are helping America to become a true spacefaring nation.<< MORE >>

What advice would you give to the next president about America's spacefaring enterprise? In response to a general invitation by USA Today in 2001, I wrote a "Dear Mr. President" letter that was published for the inauguration of President George W. Bush.<< MORE >>

A "third best" solution is the "what best can be done now" solution. Such solutions are what now need to be identified and proposed for the next president to change the course of the American space enterprise. These are not, however—and this is very important—steps backward in technology or involve the use of out-dated design approaches.<< MORE >>

Competing new space systems carry different levels of developmental risk due to different levels of technology maturity at the start of system development. This blog discusses the Technology Readiness Level scale widely-used for assessing technology maturity and relates the level of technology maturity to "near-term" system designs.<< MORE >>

As noted in Spacefaring America Blog 4, the Aerospace Commission concluded: "America must explore and exploit space to assure national and planetary security, economic benefit and scientific discovery." A natural question that arises is what rules will govern America's spacefaring activities? One possibility is a world-wide convention similar to the United Nation's Convention on Law of the Sea. This blog looks at the question of whether the Law of the Sea is a beneficial model for governing American spacefaring activities. My conclusion is that joining this convention, as currently defined, is NOT in the best interests of America's spacefaring future.<< MORE >>

This first in a series of Spacefaring America blog entries looks at when and why America started on the path that has brought us to the threshold of a new and very exciting era of America's history. It is about America becoming a great nation and the precedent that building logistics infrastructure has had in achieving this status. Building logistics infrastructure—or internal improvements, as it was called in the early 19th century—has been an American key to success in opening new frontiers and forging a nation.<< MORE >>

America's great power status is critical to preserving its freedom and prosperity. In the 21st century, the world's great powers will necessarily be true spacefaring nations. The next U.S. president should take advantage of America's aerospace lead to establish the U.S. as the world's first spacefaring great power.<< MORE >>

A key obstacle to America becoming spacefaring is the public's belief in a technological "space access barrier." Addressing this myth and changing the public's belief is critical to gaining support for a new national spacefaring goal.<< MORE >>

Both the Space Commission and the Aerospace Commission identified the need for America to improve its underlying spacefaring capabilities if America is to remain a global leader in the 21st century.<< MORE >>

In this new century, those who effectively utilize space will enjoy added prosperity and security and will hold a substantial advantage over those who do not. Freedom of action in space is as important to the United States as air power and sea power. In order to increase knowledge, discovery, economic prosperity, and to enhance the national security, the United States must have robust, effective, and efficient space capabilities (U.S. National Space Policy)<< MORE >>

A true spacefaring nation will be one that has built the spacefaring logistics infrastructure enabling its citizens, as spacefarers, to access and work in space to reap knowledge, wealth, and security from space. America is not yet at this point, but this is the goal of a Spacefaring America.<< MORE >>

"Spacefaring America" is a new catch phrase to portray an image of America as a spacefaring nation with command of space through technology, enabling Americans to seek knowledge, wealth, and security in space. << MORE >>