Comments on: Musings on the Lunar Landing Anniversary

By: Kim Sannes

Kim Sannes — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:00:03 +0000

I attended an interview and Q/A with Freeman Dyson last week. His view on our current shuttle/ISS space program is that while we have a lot of hype, these are basically a glorified camping trips to space. In fact, he said that this was a near quote from someone who had been up there. He feels that most of the science we are seeing is coming from the robotic missions.

I, like you Brenda, grew up with the Apollo missions. I was born in 1964, and the space program at that time shaped my life quite a bit. I have a passion for manned space programs, but it may well be that we are still in the very early learning stages. We can’t even keep someone up there for a few months without the strong possibility of having them pass out on their return. They always allow the first day into orbit as “rest”. I read this as “getting used to space sickness”, which is usually not mentioned.

It could easily be a very long time before we are ready to send people on a year plus trek to Mars and back.

By: brenda

brenda — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:54:06 +0000

I agree. I was afraid of the Bush regime militarizing space, although to be real, even though at heart I’m very deeply a pacifist, we also cannot allow anyone else to militarize space, either. We need to be there for defensive reasons, but I hope it’s never for offensive military reasons. A tough, gray line to walk. Maybe, in some ways, we’re not ready to be there yet. At heart, we’re exploreers, and as the cost goes down, more explorer/adventurers like Burt Rutan and Elon Musk will get out there.

By: brenda

brenda — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:51:03 +0000

Hi Joshua,

Thanks for the comment. I guess part of why I’m optimistic is that while we haven’t actually made nearly the progress in space that I would have liked to see, we have made a lot of progress in understanding information and sharing information, and I think that will help. What we need now is a dollop of vision or political driver.

By: Joyce Reynolds-Ward

Joyce Reynolds-Ward — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:31:42 +0000

I think you’re right that the next 40 years will show more progress in space exploration than the past 40. We get impatient about wanting to see a lot of it in our lifetimes, but also remember that there were some major wars that drove the likes of aerospace from its beginnings to where it is now.

I don’t think we want to see that particularly for space exploration. Great for stories, not so great to live through.

By: Joshua Patrao

Joshua Patrao — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 06:16:46 +0000

Very well-written article. Excellent sentiments, but I think they’re a tad optimistic. Much as I’d like to think we can accomplish all that in the next 40 years, I…don’t know. Maybe it’s just the recession talking. But definitely, a shame we haven’t been on Mars yet and back on the Moon in nearly 40 years.