Sykes Discusses Space Exploration on NPR

NPR's Talk of the Nation interviews Dr. Mark Sykes of the University of Arizona's Planetary Science Institute in a 24-minutes about the prospects of returning humans to the Moon in which he notes that the direction of space policy is now focused on White House presidential leadership.

Sykes notes that NASA's budget is less than one-half of one percent of the federal budget; and, he says that water on the Moon and Near Earth Asteroids (NEO's) are important to planetary science. The well-known scientist advocated that the nation adopt long-term goals in space rather than short-term firsts and adapt to international cooperation to gain more 'bang for the buck.'

Solar sail and electric propulsion system technology should be advanced, Sykes noted. He said that the government could help foster advancement in high-risk technologies. But the space expert notes the need for biological research for long-term human stays in space. He decired the 2005 cancellation of the Centrifuge Accommodations Module (CAM) for the space station.

Dr. Sykes is interested in the origin and evolution of dust in the solar system. He is a member of the Dawn Science Team. Dawn will be orbiting two of three surviving terrestrial protoplanets in the main asteroid belt: Vesta and Ceres.