I am NASA astronaut Ron Garan, I want to do an AMA but instead I want to ask you: What do you think NASA should do next? What's should be the next destination for human space exploration?

I'd like to see some sort of permanent structure on the moon.

I agree here's why: http://www.universetoday.com/61256/astronaut-explains-why-we-should-return-to-the-moon/

Talking about destinations assumes a mission orientation, and I think this is the wrong approach. Instead, I think NASA should think in terms of high leverage technologies and capabilities. Forgive my language, but designing new missions with the same crappy technology will not get you far in a limited budget environment. These two areas are the ones I think are most important:

Propulsion

Chemical rockets reached their technical limits 50 years ago when the first Centaur LOX/LH2 engine was developed. Later cryogenic engines have not improved significantly because there is no more energy in the fuel to use. At best you can get marginal improvements. The only way to get radical improvements is to stop using chemical rockets as the main method to travel in space. I will mention a few candidates, but the main point is move away from a technology that has reached a dead end.

One candidate is to use air-breathing engines up to around Mach 5. There are various engine cycles that could be used, but the important thing is by using oxygen from outside the vehicle, you can get about three times the fuel energy/kilogram as with LOX/LH2. Above Mach 5 the increased drag and heating makes it better to use rockets, so air-breathing propulsion is mainly useful for a first stage.

Another candidate is electric propulsion. Ion and plasma thrusters already have demonstrated 6-10 times the exhaust velocity of cryogenic engines, and solar panels to power them have doubled in efficiency in the last decade. They should receive a lot more attention than they are.

The Supply Chain

Bringing everything from Earth is ultimately too expensive and unsustainable. We should put a lot more emphasis on extracting resources wherever we are, establishing a production base, and making products like structural elements, fuel, food, and other things you need for long term operations. Modern computers and networking makes it possible to do a lot of the work by remote control. So we can put the robots to work preparing for when the humans arrive, and to assist us once we get there.

Some of this technology is getting worked on, but far too little effort is going into it, and I have not seen a real integrated systems approach to the supply problem. For example, if you extract fuel for a plasma thruster from asteroid materials, and use part of that fuel to bring back the next load of raw rock, it becomes self-sustaining. But you don't discover that synergy if you look at materials processing and propulsion in isolation. You need to look at them as an integrated process where each supports the other.

-- Sincerely,

Dani Eder

Formerly with Boeing's Space Systems Division, now writing a book on space systems engineering and doing conceptual design of future projects

[EDIT] For those who asked Mr. Garan to reply, he did, here, but it's kinda lost in the thousands of other comments:

http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/14f7gt/i_am_nasa_astronaut_ron_garan_i_want_to_do_an_ama/c7ddnrk

Dani, I do not disagree with anything you've said here. Great insights! I'm looking forward to reading your book, ron

Honestly? The next destination for NASA should be Elementary, Middle, and High-Schools across the country.

I can't imagine that you and your colleagues don't LOVE what you do for a living. If you took some of that passion to the classrooms of soon-to-be voters and got them excited about the possibilities of the space-program you would do more to ensure the future of NASA than anything else I can think of.

P.S. Thank you for what you do - if I could do any one thing in my life it would be travel to Low Earth Orbit.

P.P.S. Please check out www.reddit.com/r/KerbalSpaceProgram ... we will love you to death over there. Mention my name if you want to be a king maker.

The day after the 1st Space Shuttle landed I went to my academic advisor and asked how I can start taking more math and science courses. I completely changed my academic studies. This is an example of how the space program can inspire students to STEM courses and to academic excellence (not that I had academic excellence). Our world (the US in particular) has a huge shortage of students graduating with the technical skills required in a world of rapid technological advancement. The space program is a positive motivator to correct this trend

Back to the moon, get our shit together, go to Mars.

I like it - short and to the point

I think you guys (or someone) should mine the moon. If you tunnel down you'll get ample radiation shielding for free and if you process the raw materials you can build spaceships that can go faster since they won't have to contend with the stronger gravity of Earth or any atmosphere at launch.

If it was designed so that the cities on the moon formed a smiley face or an ejaculating penis when seen from Earth it would be even better.

amen brother (or sister)!

I think NASA should build a real life Death Star, basically an artificial moon/space station but with weapons that could blast any asteroids that get a little too close to Earth.

Also it needs to have all exhaust ports covered, you know... just in case.

Only problem is when you blast an asteroid you really only multiply the number of places on the Earth that are going to get hit - there are much better ways to deal with asteroids The B612 foundation is working on some of those http://b612foundation.org/

Some more international co-operation. We have so many agencies around the world. I think as soon as we start thinking as ourselves as citizens of Earth and not nations then progress in space will advance much more. Also a manned mission to Mars would be cool, I'd like to see a permanent settlement set up there or the moon like the prototypes drawn up in the 70's.

Agree! - the 15 nations that built and operate the International Space Station are a shinning example of international cooperation. I believe the single most important reason why our planet still faces so many critical problems despite our ample technology and resources is our inability to effectively collaborate on a global scale

This is off topic, but could you describe what it was like going out on your first spacewalk?

Part of my brain said, "This is an amazingly beautiful experience" - another part said, "Yeah, it's beautiful but it's not real" since on my 1st spacewalk I had no experience base to compare it to, part of me couldn't accept it was real

Perhaps we could land on the sun next?

we would have to go at night though - ba dump dump

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I think it's possible to do whatever we set our minds to. We are only limited by our imagination and our will to act

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I agree that exploration of our oceans is also critically important - Unfortunately, we are at great risk of losing the world's only undersea laboratory "Aquarius" http://aquarius.uncw.edu/ due to lack of funding

Mars. Unless I'm missing something.

I think Mars is an obvious destination - but should it be next?

what about space elevator? is it just fairy tale?

It is theoretically possible but at present not operationally practical or feasible

If I'm buying snow tires should I change all 4 or just the front or back 2?

4 wheel drive or 2?

4 wheel

Get all 4 unless you live in Houston

Of course, I would say that we should go back to the moon then to Mars. But I think to do that, we have to get the public informed as to how it could benefit them and excited them about it. How to do that is another issue entirely.

This reddit is one way - you can all help get the word out too

What would be your favorite planet to visit? and Why?

Probably Mars - it's the closest and @SarcasticRover is there

snoop lion started a new trend. Now people doing AMA's are asking redditors questions.

Oh man - I thought I was being a trend setter

1: If you guys are taking names, I will HAPPILY be the first man to die on Mars. If I understand this correctly, the radiation should kill me within a couple of months (if several years on board a ship doesn't already destroy human bone density and make me a straw-man).

2: OCEANS! We have mapped out something like 3% of Earth's oceans! Who knows what sort of cool biological breakthroughs will result from discovery of life that HAS NOT BEEN AFFECTED BY THE SUN FOR HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF YEARS!

3: Lightsabers.

1. Be careful what you ask for
2. I agree it's critically important to explore our oceans. Unfortunately we may lose funding for the world's only undersea laboratory "Aquarius" http://aquarius.uncw.edu/
3. Uh OK?

I'm going to call it a night - I will pick back up as soon as I can and address as many comments as I can. Thanks for all the great comments. I think this is a very important discussion and I'd like to keep it going if you're game

I think NASA should also focus on a new PR campaign to revitalize and encourage the public to support funding for space exploration. Some people need to realize how important NASA has been to furthering technology in our world. It's so much more than pure exploration. Just because we have been to the moon [example] doesn't mean we have nothing to gain from establishing infrastructure there. The technological, medical, and even economical benefits to the future of humans is immeasurable. Everyone should be stoked on this!!!

I think we need people with your insights to help us get the word out. Help us get everyone excited about our space programs and help us explain why space exploration and research being conducted onboard the ISS is so critically important to the future of all of humanity

One of Jupiter's moons!

All but Europa - we're not allowed to go there! - obviously

Why, in your opinion, should we explore space?

Also, if you were the first man to set foot on another planet, what would your first words be?

We should explore space because if the dinosaurs had a space program they'd still be here I'm not sure what my first words on another planet would be - but I'd probably have a long time on the way to think of something smart and witty

Pick a near-Earth asteroid like Nereus or Cruithne. Have an astronaut (carefully) walk around the entire object, publicize "first astronauts to circumnavigate another world on foot"

Maybe we could hold an "Ironman" competition

how long do you think it will be until space travel becomes affordable to most everyone?

Excellent question - I wish I knew - I think it's possible in our lifetimes

We need a ship that will support long term habitation in space. I don't think we'll see faster than light travel before our planet becomes too crowded or messed up to sustain us all. We're already searching for other worlds that support life, but I have a feeling we're going to need a ship that can sustain a decent sized population for several generations if humanity is ever going to get there.

Have you seen Wall-E?

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I agree it is critically important to explore Mars. I'm not sure if we should attempt to go there directly or use the Moon as a stepping stone. There are strong arguments both ways. I lean into the go to the Moon first camp but I would say I'm a Moon First Lunatic

Would it be a good idea to try and set up a permanent base on the moon? If only to prove it's possible before setting out further afield.

I personally think we should establish a permanent outpost on the moon. Here's why: http://www.universetoday.com/61256/astronaut-explains-why-we-should-return-to-the-moon/

I wish Nasa could grant me the ability to not be horrible at math so I could graduate with a degree worthy of working at Nasa. >_<

The space program could use all kinds of help - not all of it requires being great at math

Let's explore Titan.

OK but why Titan before anything else?

I desperately want the warp drive research to be fruitful. What's the general feeling around NASA - pipe dream, or within our lifetime?

I think the first step is to get beyond chemical propulsion - I think that will be a reality within the next decade. Warp drive is another story - can't answer that one

To be honest, I think NASA is doing fine on the exploration front. If I were to change something, it would be to make the American public aware of all the amazing things that have come out of NASA. I know far too many people who think NASA is a waste of money because they don't produce anything useful (and then they get surprised when I reply that NASA really does make stuff that they use every day).

Any chance of having some kind of PR campaign to get the word out? You guys have the facts behind you; just tell people about them more! I suspect your budget would be slashed less often if people understood that investments in NASA have paid for themselves many times over in the commercial success of stuff they invented.

We have done a horrible (an understatement) job telling the success story of our space program. Since the beginning of social media and platforms like reddit, I have seen a slight positive change in our ability to tell the story. Everyone can help us get the word out. One of the places I use to tell the story is http://www.fragileoasis.org/

I'd love to see something start here on Earth. How about more funding for you guys and NASA!

Thank you!

Make a colony on the moon

I second that!

Has there been any discussion about a manned mission to an asteroid? I think that would be awesome.

Yes there has been a great deal of discussion about a manned mission to an asteroid - One interesting scenario has us bring the asteroid to us (or near us) The trick is making sure we don't inadvertently slam it into the Earth - not good

What's it like way up in space? What are the best memories you have had?

My best memories are simply looking back at our beautiful planet. Since I was up there for 6 months, I was able to watch the seasons change from space. It really appeared as if we are all riding through the universe together on a living breathing organism

I think ultimately regular people should be able to go to space if they don't have 20 million dollars

I couldn't agree more - I truly believe the more people who have an opportunity to see our beautiful planet from space, the better off we will all be

I am an engineering student, and my friend and I want to become astronauts. What advice can you give us in the pursuit of this goal? Thanks!

Study Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, pick a career you truly love and be the very best you can be at it

With the discoveries of water on Mercury, it would be really interesting to land rovers on it for further analysis. Do you see something like this happening in the near future?

I'm not sure - but I hope so. The more we understand about our own backyard (our solar system) the better off we will all be

Alpha Centauri. Lets get a look at that earth like planet.

We may have to take some intermediate steps first

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I agree here's why: http://www.universetoday.com/61256/astronaut-explains-why-we-should-return-to-the-moon/

i read a great article about what it would take for a manned mission to alpha cent. a and b. what are you're thoughts on manned missions to other solar systems?

We need to figure out a way to go much faster

manned exploration of mars its realistic and a big achievement

I think Mars is an obvious destination - but should it be next?

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Me neither

What was your first thoughts when you experinced weightlessness, and seeing space for the first time?

I felt very grateful for being given that experience and I felt a huge responsibility to share the experience with as many people as I can as best I can

Do you see Asteroid mining becoming a new major industry when its more researched / developed?

I do but I think it's won't be a reality anytime soon - not at least until we can get launch costs down

Send robots to other parts of the solar system. The USSR sent craft to Venus, let's get better images and data with modern technology. It would be interesting to see many of the planets and moons up close.

We do have a pretty robust robotic exploration program. In my opinion, we should expand our robotic missions and also look for way to collaborate between robotic and human exploration. By doing that we would enable great synergies

I think we need to focus efforts on developing more practical ways of reaching orbit before we start setting sights on manned missions to mars. We don't even have the funding to return to the moon much less another planet. What do you think about privatization of NASA so that big money investors can become a part of it?

I agree we need to vastly improve our ability to reach Earth orbit. I think commercial space will make great strides and will help provide more cost effective launch capability. We also do not have to launch everything we will need to explore from Earth. There's water on the Moon that can be made into rocket fuel. There's enough to launch 1 space shuttle sized vehicle everyday for decades

Faster and more efficient ways of travel, so we CAN have the ability for human space exploration.

Also, Cryogenic Freezing.

There's no doubt we need better propulsion systems to enable us to get to places faster - I'm not a big fan of cryogenic freezing however