LES OUTILS DU FUTUR
L'apport du spatialDu Silex au Satellite - From Flintstone to Satellite
Centre spatial de Liège, Université de Liège, avenue du Pré-Aily, B-4031 ANGLEUR
Abstract
Space activities have been pushed forward by the dreams of the pioneers to reach the Moon and the planets. Later on and more realistically, by the needs of the human kind to develop its economy, increase its security and improve its live. The structure of the Universe and its origin are also major subjects driving the space research and the development of space techniques. The evolution of science and technology is now extremely fast allowing us to expect some replies to these questions in the next few generations. Since a few decades only we are conscious to be thrown in a hostile universe and that major improvements in our technologies and the control of space should increase our security. Since a few decades we try to detect signals from intelligent species coming from star systems nearby the solar system. The life in the universe and the reply to the question : "are we alone and if not, where and who are they ?" are certainly essential to the human being philosophies and religions. Space means should play a major role in this quest of the live elsewhere in the Universe. The evolution of the technologies and its impact on space conquest is analysed on the basis of the present knowledge of physics. The bottleneck of the launch is put forward. In this field more than in any others, we need breakthroughs. Spacecraft is now part of the live in the developed countries. This influence will grow but the field is still in its infancy and progresses have to be made to reduce the costs, increase conviviality of the domain by more versatility and autonomy. In the short term, robots shall pave the way to the planets and later on to the stars. But for the long term, biotechnology will become essential to space exploration by the expected development of bio-sensors, bio-memories and biocomputers. We are naturally unable to plan these new tools but they should induce revolutions in the field.