Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Is the United States ending its space program? We're moving toward a private model as President Trump seeks to end funding for the space station. Mike Collins looks at the future of space exploration.
The landscape of space exploration is changing. The push for privatizing the space industry has been going on for years, while funding for NASA has steadily declined.
This private sector push reached a pivotal moment in February with the launch of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. The hope is that companies such as SpaceX will take up the mantel of exploring the final frontier.
Within days of SpaceX's launch, President Trump proposed to privatize the International Space Station, and end federal funding of the outpost by 2025. That plan encountered immediate opposition.
Experts, including Charlotte astronaut Joan Higginbotham, join Mike Collins to discuss this new chapter in space exploration.
GUESTS
Joan Higginbotham, former NASA astronaut, served on International Space Station as part of STS-116
Tariq Malik, managing editor, space.com (@tariqjmalik)