Books

Sharing the thrill of space travel

ENTERING SPACE:AN ASTRONAUT'S ODYSSEY

byJosephP. AllenwithRussellMadin

Orb~,London, 1984,223pp,£15

In a field of study which can be overly technical and somewhat unemotional, it is a real pleasure to read a book that brings a moving human dimension to the US space programme. In addition to having a well-written and highly readable text, the book is lavishly illustrated with 200 colour photo- grpahs from NASA's collection, many of which have never been published before. For the photographs alone, the book is well worth its reasonable price.

Joseph Allen became an astronaut in 1967 and went on to serve as head of NASA's Congressional Liaison Office and as capsule communicator on both Apollo and Shuttle missions. He made his first journey into space in November 1982 on the fifth flight of the Shuttle orbiter Columbia. After 81 orbits of the Earth, he joined a small group of lucky people who have directly experienced modern space travel.

Until space travel becomes as com- mon as air travel the rest of us must, perforce, look to poeple like Joseph Allen to provide an answer to an old question: what kind of an experience is it for a human being to enter, live in, and return from space?

Although the Shuttle's functions are very practical (during the 1982 Col- umbia flight, for example, two com- munications satellites were deployed for the first time from the Shuttle's cargo bay), and while the Shuttle concept of a reusable aerospace craft aims at making space travel routine in the future, the experience of space travel for any astronaut will always be a great adventure. It is perhaps the greatest adventure that any human being can ever hope to experience. It is this spirit of adventure which Joseph Allen imparts so well in this book.

All in all, it presents a mixture of intense, overwhelming and unforgett- able feelings and emotions. There is pride in the powerful and sophisti- cated technologies which make space travel possible, and in belonging to the group of dedicated professionals that make up the Shuttle flight team. There are joy and awe, which have often taken on religious connotations for many astronauts, at the beauty of the Earth and the infinite immensity of the Universe. And there is curiosity at the mysteries of the Earth and of the Universe, and a great desire to expand human understanding of what is still largely unknown. With regard to the latter point, Joseph Allen men- tioned that in 1986 the Shuttle was due to put a space telescope into opera- tion, which will expand the perceiv- able volume of the Universe by an

incredible 350 times. In terms of space exploration, we live in truly revolu- tionary times.

If there is one criticism of this book it is that Joseph Allen, for understand- able reasons (he is still with NASA), avoides any controversial questions about the US space programme. It would have been interesting, even if only in passing, to hear what an astronaut thinks about those criticisms which say that space travel is a very expensive game played by the rich nations of the Earth, at a time when most of humanity suffers so much here on Earth. And it would be interesting to hear what an astronaut thinks about the growing militarization of space. These controversial questions are, perhaps, more suited to another kind of book. Joseph Allen is only to be congratulated for producing this excel- lent volume.

Marko Milivojevie Halifax, UK

Comparing Indian and Japanese space policy

WELTRAUMPOLITIK INDIENS UND JAPANS

Stephan Frhr von Welck and Siegfried von Krosigk

Europa Union Verlag, Bonn, FR Ger- many, 1985, 132pp, DM12.00

This concise, very readable publica- tion describes Indian space policy since its inception in 1961 and that of Japan from its start in again to 1985.

To the knowledge of the reviewer, this is the first comprehensive review of the space policies of two emerging space powers in Asia. It is true, in 1975/1976 and in 1980 the United Nations Economic and Social Com- mission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) carried out surveys on the

remote sensing programmes of a num- ber of Asian countries, including India and Japan (ESCAP Reports of July 1976 and July 1980), but these contain only rather succinct information on policies, programmes and projects, limited entirely to remote sensing and focusing on proposals for international and regional cooperation under the aegis of ESCAP and the United Na- t ions D e v e l o p m e n t Programme, UNDP. Moreover, since these docu- ments are outdated, their omission is not grave.

Extensive use has been made by the authors of the National Papers submit- ted by both governments for the Second United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE 82). These documents contain valuable factual information and policy considerations, of course viewed from a national Indian or Japanese perspective. As

172 SPACE POLICY May 1986

such, they constitute basic reference documents for all those who, like the two authors, want to understand the space policies of these two countries. Since the relevant UNISPACE 82 documents are not always easily ac- cessible to interested persons, it should be regretted that no mention is made of the fact that selected portions of these and other national papers, together with the Report and a sum- mary of the proceedings of the Con- ference, have been published in 1984 in a commercial edition. 1 This publica- tion places the various quoted state- ments in the international framework of the United Nations, with its spec- trum of international cooperation acti- vities and political negotiation and action, in contrast to the personal judgment expressed by Dr von Welck and Dr von Krosigk.

These critical remarks are due to the fact that the main attraction of the book for those who have not mastered the German language is its wealth of references, together with some rather significant appendixes, inviting other scholars to take an independent look at the space policy of India and Japan. This could be a valuable exercise because one should not forget that India and Japan, with space related expenditures of the order of 0.25% and 1.3% of world space expenditure in 1983, came immediate ly after Europe on the international scale (ESA plus national programmes 3.8% of space expenditure in the same year. 3 Moreover, India foresees for the 1985-1990 period an increase of over 25% as compared to the 19800 1985 period, although the Japanese expenditure appears to remain stabil- ized at the 1983 level. In addition, the publication under review contains va- rious suggestions to the effect that both India and Japan use their re- sources perhaps more efficiently than Europe, be it in each case for different reasons.

Each of the two authors is responsi- ble for the policy analysis of one of the two countries, whereby slight differ- ences in approach can be felt, due in part to the fact that Dr von Welck is an expert in legal, economical and political matters, whereas Dr von Kro- sigk has an engineering background.

The reviewer appreciates very much the efforts by both authors to present a well-documented text, pleasant to read. They succeeded rather well in explaining the very specific national political objectives and socicv-cultural setting of two countries which have elected to become actively involved in outer space in a distinct manner, without wishing to copy American, Russian or European blueprints. This is the more interesting for us because the Indian rationale is that of a de- veloping country, firmly convinced that it must master high technology to overcome poverty and backwardness, to which are added considerations of national security and the understand- ing that a focus on space adds to its political leverage and power in the Asian region and in the world theatre. This is one of the reasons for initia- tives and programme management mainly by government. In contrast, the Japanese model is primarily that of creating a solid base for strengthening its industrial and commercial poten- tial, the main thrust being by private enterprise in close cooperation with national agencies and universities. In- terest is limited to peaceful uses, in particular those which promise long- term benefits, not short-term profits. Both countries have in common, but again for different reasons, a strong political will to achieve full self- reliance in space technology and its applications as well as in other areas.

Highly responsible post India has vigorously pursued a very long-term, consistent space policy since 1961, planned in terms of 10- year Space Research and Develop- ment Profiles (197001980, 198001990), with a step-by-step implementation during Five-Year Plan periods. All planning and decision making is con- centrated in a single person, the Secretary of Space to the Government of India, who comes directly under the Prime Minister. Until the present, only three people have assumed this highly responsible post - Vikram Sar- bhai (who died suddenly at the end of 1971), Satish Dhawan (retired in 1984) and, since 1 October 1984, U.R. Rao. This has also contributed greatly to

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the continuity and consistency of the Indian space policy.

Japan, in contrast, has pursued, just as energetically, an equally long-term space policy since 1955, fully inte- grated in its overall technology policy which forms part and parcel of its economic, trade and foreign policy, directed in its unique system of collec- tive decision making at all levels, with an overall coordination by a small Space Activities Commission (SAC) as an advisory body directly under the Prime Minister. Private industry is a full partner in the decision-making and implementation process.

It is often questioned in the indust- rial and prosperous part of the world whether developing countries should give priority to high technology in general, and space technology and its applications in particular, because of the very many basic needs which are still unfulfilled. The Indian answer is that space can and must make signifi- cant contributions to the solution of problems which are characteristic of India's every-day life: such as a fast population growth through lack of understanding of the importance of family planning; mass illiteracy; fre- quent natural disasters; or lack of raw materials and poor utilization of ex- isting natural resources, in particular, land and water.

While Japan aims at making the space venture a lasting economic suc- cess, the government is also intent on promoting the widest possible accept- ance of space technology by the peo- ple, by publicizing as frequently as poss ib l e th rough all med ia the Japanese achievement in this domain.

Against this background, the re- viewer regrets that the section on India overlooked a rather comparable Indian effort to include space science and technology and its applications within the framework of its education- al systems at all levels, including infor- mal education and learning activities, with the dual purpose of preparing society to accept this newly emerging technology and its various manifesta- tions, using it properly in national development and in professional acti- vities, and of modernizing educational curricula and structures. This policy and the progress made in its imple-

SPACE POLICY May 1986 173

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mentation, were clearly illustrated at teh United Nations Workshop on Space Science and Technology and its Applications within the Framework of Educational Systems, held in Ahme- dabad, India, 4-8 November 1985, co-sponsored by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

The same workshop testified also to another leading Indian principle, that of the Sharing of Experience in Space (SHARES) programme of the govern- ment of India, Department of Space, implemented by ISRO as part of the well-known international policy to promote South-South cooperation.

Japan has relied in the past on cooperation with the USA for the transfer of technology, adapting the new technology as rapidly as possible to its own needs and objectives while developing its own parallel technolo- gical solutions. Japan is now also ready to join the Space Station Prog- ramme and it is planning its own Space Shuttle version. In addition to oper- ational space applications, Japan has also a strong programme of fun- damental space research, providing much-needed spin-off to its commer- cial space activities. Thus far, Japan is not considering any military space activities and it does not deem such activities an important element to promoting civilian uses of space, in contrast to the USA (and France).

Again, there is a fundamental dif- ference - India adheres strictly to a policy of maintaining its independence vis-a-vis any external source for finan- cial or technological support. A care- ful balance is therefore kept between cooperative programmes in space- related matters with the USSR, USA, France and the Federal Republic of Germany, as well as the European Space Agency (ESA), to mention the main partners in the Indian space efforts. As it has for Japan, self- reliance for India has also resulted in the development of national launchers in addition to satellites and their payloads. This Indian programme for fundamental space research is much more limited in volume and in space. And while keeping military uses of outer space open as an option for the future, India sees such options, based on political and security considera-

tions, as only possible because of its achievements in civilian space applica- tions.

There is also a difference between the Indian and Japanese approach to ground segment functions, less-clearly expressed in this book than the analy- sis of the more spectacular achieve- ments in space. Japan bases its ground operations, be it meteorology, com- munications or remote sensing, on very advanced technology where it wishes to take an international lead. India, on the other hand, looks for the simple, robust and user-friendly solu- tions, which can function under adverse conditions in remote rural areas where lack of electrical power and maintenance are a rule. It is rightly mentioned in the study that the Indian approach, for very evident reasons, includes the involvement of educationalists, psychologists, socio- logists and linguists for the design and production of materials to be broad- cast for educational and popular in- formation programmes through its

national satellite communication net- work.

In conclusion, the authors have to be commended for their study, which gives ample evidence that endogenous progress in the conquest of space cannot be dissociated from the inher- ited fabric of a nation or a society. A slightly expanded English version, in- cluding some of the points mentioned in this review, would be a worthwhile undertaking.

1N. Jasentuliyana and Ralph Chipman, eds, International Space Prorammes and Policies - UNISPACE, Vienna, Austria, August 1982, Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 2Dondi and Toussaint, ESA Bulletin, 37, February 1984, pp 98-102.

Professor Dr C. VoOte International Institute for Aerospace

Survey and Earth Sciences 350 Boulevard 1945

PO Box 6 7500 AA Enschede

The Netherlands

Going slowly where no man has gone before

INTERSTELLAR MIGRATION AND THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE

Ben R. Finney and Eric M. Jones,

University of California Press, CA, USA, 1985, 354 pp, £21.25

For the past decade or more a debate has been in progress among people interested in the possibilities of intelli- gent life existing elsewhere in the Universe. The main point of discus- sion has been whether an advanced civilization, older and more capable than our present civilization on Earth, would undertake a programme of interstellar migration or colonization,

or whether it would be content to remain in its own solar system.

The 'colonizers' argue that civiliza- tions would carry out such a task, or at the very least it is unreasonable to assume that out of the millions of civilizations postulated by some, not one of them leaves its home system. As many of the supposed civilizations will be much older than the Earth, then the Galaxy should have been populated long ago. We see no sign of them, and therefore we must be one of only a very few such cultures in the Galaxy.

On the other hand, the 'listeners' maintain that colonization is expen- sive and slow, if not impractical. No conclusions should be drawn from the apparent lack of observational evi- dence until a rigorous, long-range,

174 SPACE POLICY May 1986