Guest: Dr. Paul Spudis. Topics. 2015 space year review, RTM & Cislunar development, comprehensive key space issues review. Please direct all comments and questions regarding Space Show programs/guest(s) to the Space Show blog, http://thespaceshow.wordpress.com. Comments and questions should be relevant to the specific Space Show program. Written Transcripts of Space Show programs are a violation of our copyright and are not permitted without prior written consent, even if for your own use. We do not permit the commercial use of Space Show programs or any part thereof, nor do we permit editing, YouTube clips, or clips placed on other private channels & websites. Space Show programs can be quoted, but the quote must be cited or referenced using the proper citation format. Contact The Space Show for further information. In addition, please remember that your Amazon purchases can help support The Space Show/OGLF. See www.onegiantleapfoundation.org/amazon.htm. For those listening to archives using live365.com and rating the programs, please email me as to why you assign a specific rating to the show. This will help me bring better programming to the audience. We welcomed Dr. Paul Spudis back to the program for a 2015 space year in review. During the first segment of our 1 hour 31 minute discussion, we covered much ground reviewing key events of 2015 including European, Russian, & Chinese space accomplishments & missions. Dr. Spudis got several emails on a wide range of topics from space advocate rhetoric to Orion, CST 100, Dragon V2 and more. Regarding advocate mission plans and projects, he said the technology people talk about and want to use in their various space mission designs does not really exist. He used going to the Moon to harvest water ice for water and fuel as an example of where we are today. That said, he indicated that there are only so many wants to do certain types of space projects so it was likely that which advocates called for could end up in actual mission plans and real projects. Budget issues were also discussed as well in this segment. Listener Christa asked if the return to the Moon and cislunar development will become a future policy priority. Dr. Spudis had much to say on this topic so don't miss it. This included the possible impact of the 2016 presidential election on space policy. Jeff in Boston inquired about the aging process and other human factors as challenges/obstacles to doing BLEO projects. Dr. Spudis offered us an interesting perspective on the human factors issues. Jack in Portland inquired about our guest's views on asteroid mining and the language used in the new commercial space law recently signed b the president. Our guest shared his views with us on these issues. We talked public-private partnerships and government procurement. Kim called from Mexico to inquire about the Lalande Crater on the Moon & the cracks or fissures seen in the photos, plus impact melt and more. She also talked about young and old craters which Paul defined for us upon my request. A young crater would be less than a billion years old! Near the end of the segment Paul talked about the challenges in closing a business case for going to the Moon at this time, plus the proper role for government in this situation. Sandra asked about the lunar space elevator. In the second segment, Kim called back to inquire some more about Lalande crater, thorium bright spots, and more. BJohn emailed in asking about lunar landers, then Rodney brought up space settlement. Paul had interesting comments on space settlement you will wan to hear. A good portion of the second segment was spent on Mars. Back to the budget, he said the challenge was to do more in the most efficient ways possible while reducing the need for more funding. The Mars-Moon debate came up again with Paul explaining why returning to the Moon before going to Mars was important Solar power for missions and habitats was discussed along wit ISRU usage. Don't forget to reach Paul's article on Air and Space about the asteroid mining section in the Commercial Space Law just signed into reality by President Obama. See Paul's writings at www.airspacemag.com/author/paul-d-spudis/?no-ist as well as at www.spudislunarresources.com. While there, check out his "Close but no Cigar" article we discussed on air (www.spudislunarresources.com/blog/the-new-space-resources-law-close-but-...). Please post your comments/questions on TSS blog above. You can reach Dr. Spudis through his blog and website.