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        New Message Board Archives >> Jan-Mar 2003 >> not clusters: the space mission
        
(Message started by: ave on Feb 2^nd, 2003, 10:48am)

Title: not clusters: the space mission
Post by ave on Feb 2^nd, 2003, 10:48am

In another thread Ted asked why we mourn the victims of the Columbia, more so than any victims of tragedy.

I know why I mourn them.
Not just the US has suffered a loss, the whole world has.

Access to Space is what we need, is maybe the only chance we have to keep this silly rabble called the human race alive till we all grow up.

But over and above that, there is the magic of pushing back boundaries, of gathering knowledge, of looking at the world with different eyes.

The astronauts of the Columbia were dedicted to that. Try these links and see the wonder of what motivated those 7 people too.

http://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/gifnebul/m16full.gif
http://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/gifearth.html
http://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/gifearth/usan.gif

Title: Re: not clusters: the space mission
Post by LTBullitt on Feb 2^nd, 2003, 2:35pm

It would be embarrassing if we were ever able to travel space into other planets, meet other lifeforms. To explain how we were able to achieve this, the money involved but ignore the fact that our own planet is starving.

Title: Re: not clusters: the space mission
Post by Charlie on Feb 3^rd, 2003, 7:09am

We tend to make a big deal out of space disasters because we see the families over and over and there is LOT of pictures.

It's on TV and is "real." It hits us over the head. We can't easily put it in a drawer and forget it. Captain Kirk and the crew won't be back after the commercial.

So much is expected and when it goes wrong we feel like we all failed. It's like we got caught, and can't "fix" it or make it go away.

Little men and their big machines. We realize we are not gods and don't like to admit it.

Charlie

Title: Re: not clusters: the space mission
Post by cerebus on Feb 3^rd, 2003, 8:37pm

The space program is almost 40 yrs old now, 24 people have died since its inception. Three count 'em THREE accidents ( granted preventable) have happened , two of which with "modern" technology ( actually thought of during the sixties). I appreciate the magnitude of the situation, but, a total of three major accidents in 30-40 years is a ratio I can live with. The Astronaughts who perished knew the risks when they volounteered for the job and took it with a grain of salt, why aren't we?
24 lives and three accidents is a small price to pay considdering the possible, even probable, numbers.
I mourn for the greater good of humanity, but I do not take back any of it.
Cerebus