40 years on - how space lost its romance
Happy 40th anniversary of walking on the moon, mankind.
Of course, we have not made it back to the Moon since before cable TV, let alone PC's, the Internet, and cellphones.
Right now the public is being asked to pony up the cash to head back to the rock in orbit around us, and they are asking why. In 1969 NASA was over 5% of the federal budget (a budget that was a lower % of GDP). Today it is well less than 1%.
In terms of costs, getting back to the moon would be less than 5% of the Iraq war so far, less than the bailout of GM, less than 1% of the total cost of the US bailout. Yet, I understand why it does not capture hearts and minds.
Today, on the 4oth anniversary of "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" the big news out of the ISS? They managed to fix a toilet. Seriously. There are 13 people up there right now - the record for the most humans in space at the same time - but the news was that one of three toilets broke. They did a spacewalk, mostly to install some new machinery. Inspiring? No. Interesting? Not really. It feels like astronauts are up there to take care of chores.
It does not surprise me then that the real wonder and joy of space is captured not by NASA (with the exceptions of Spirit/Opportunity and Hubble) but rather by the private companies. If it were possible I would have wished that Richard Branson launched SpaceShipTwo today - but it was not to be. Soon I hope space will be back - but it will be on the backs of capitalists.
Of course, we have not made it back to the Moon since before cable TV, let alone PC's, the Internet, and cellphones.
Right now the public is being asked to pony up the cash to head back to the rock in orbit around us, and they are asking why. In 1969 NASA was over 5% of the federal budget (a budget that was a lower % of GDP). Today it is well less than 1%.
In terms of costs, getting back to the moon would be less than 5% of the Iraq war so far, less than the bailout of GM, less than 1% of the total cost of the US bailout. Yet, I understand why it does not capture hearts and minds.
Today, on the 4oth anniversary of "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" the big news out of the ISS? They managed to fix a toilet. Seriously. There are 13 people up there right now - the record for the most humans in space at the same time - but the news was that one of three toilets broke. They did a spacewalk, mostly to install some new machinery. Inspiring? No. Interesting? Not really. It feels like astronauts are up there to take care of chores.
It does not surprise me then that the real wonder and joy of space is captured not by NASA (with the exceptions of Spirit/Opportunity and Hubble) but rather by the private companies. If it were possible I would have wished that Richard Branson launched SpaceShipTwo today - but it was not to be. Soon I hope space will be back - but it will be on the backs of capitalists.
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