Nothing funny this Friday. We just watched the space shuttle Atlantis lift off for the last time. The space shuttle program is over.
And there’s nothing on the horizon to stir our (my) dreams of space exploration.
I’m conflicted on how I feel about the end of this era of space flight. Supposedly, space exploration is now in the hands of private companies. As an advocate of limited federal government that side of me likes the idea of private industry moving the innovations of space flight ahead.
The side of me that is the kid who read science fiction novels in the 1950’s and had dreams of people traveling to the stars is not sure the commercialization of space is a good idea.
Space exploration is a lot like basic research. There’s no guarantee all the work and expense will result in anything useful or profitable. Yet, most if not all of our major breakthroughs came out of basic research.
Many of the technologies in cell phones, computers, medicine, control systems we now have in our cars – all either came directly out of or were influenced by basic research work done for the space program.
I’m not sure private companies have the resources or will to do the kind of basic research in the future that was done in the past for the space program.
So, I really don’t know what the future holds. Given our age, Betty and I may not see in our lifetimes another grand space launch like the one we saw this morning when Atlantis “slipped the surly bonds of earth.”
I hope I’m wrong.
(PS to those who asked – my hand is much better. There is still a little swelling between the two knuckles and very minor pain in that spot. The color is slowly returning to normal as the blood is absorbed.)
8 comments:
what? NO!
i cannot accept this!
private is good but i've been so proud of my country in this sector. going to a science center in germany, you see mostly american made exhibits.
what's gonna happen now?
I too grew up with the space programs from Mercury to the shuttle..I do pray it is not the end of such exploration in our lifetimes. I agree that private endeavors may be the future, but only if there is hope for profit..I hope that we as a nation decide that the challenges of exploring the universe beyond this blue planet are worth the sacrifices. In financial counseling we talk about needs, wants, and desires. For me the space program would be closer to the need to have end of the spectrum than the I wish I could have it end...godspeed to Atlantis
I find this sad, our space program is/was something that everyone in this nation identified with in some scale. Little boys and girls dream of being astronauts and going into space.
I'm curious to see what happens in the private sector, I hope it's positive.
I have mixed feelings, but mostly feel sad. Good post, Dan.
~Lisa
If there is anything that all the science fiction I've read tells me, it is that private companies in space is a bad idea. It is This Alien Shore versus Star Trek. Others can probably think of better examples since I'm still waking up, but I'd rather know that private companies are subjected to some sort of strong oversight. Once they are up in space, whose rules do they have to follow? If the government doesn't have a spacecraft, its not like we can go up and check out what they are doing.
I have my feet firmly planted and have never been interested in space. Mark thinks I am weird. I think that if companies want to go there, let em. LOL. Of course, it will end up being regulated and such I am sure.
Dan, I just started crying. Yep, I'm hormonal. "Given our age, Betty and I may not see in our lifetimes another grand space launch like the one we saw this morning when Atlantis “slipped the surly bonds of earth.” I hope I’m wrong." This started the water works. Beautiful. :)
Yes research is the key to our progress Dan I agree. The Hubble Space Telescope and the ISS are orbiting our Earth thanks to the Space Shuttle ~ let's see if governments can work together to share costs so the research can continue ~
Ps: I'm pleased to hear the hand is better ^^
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