The America 500 Space initiative

The US Space Program can expand to recapture its position of world leadership by the 500th Anniversary of the Discovery of America in October 1992, when there is:

1. A.
   Consensus on goals, leading to long term planning of a systematically expanding permanent infra-structure.
2. B.
   Focus on human factors for long duration, and broad participation to provide the needed popular, political and financial support and yield increased benefits.
3. C.
   Cost-efficiency through better and more intensive utilization of available and near future technology.

Re-evaluating basic requirements will lead to again utilizing well-proven concepts such as unmanned HLLV and upper stages in Space station design (commercially retro-fitting redesigned or pre-modified ET's). This will make possible the large pressurized volumes and earth-normal conditions (including artificial gravity) necessary for long duration human habitation, and free the Space station from the planning and size restrictions of the Shuttle cargo bay. The proposed large SpacePort and rotating Space Complex in LEO - springboard to Geosync, Moon and Mars - will be the first tangible results.