Why Space Matters Today

spacedaily.com ^ | 07/22/03 | Dennis Ray Wingo

[KevinDavis]

In the news recently was a statement by Klaus Toepfer, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), where it was stated that said "China's aim of quadrupling its economy by 2020 can only occur if developed nations radically change their consumption habits to free up scarce resources for the world's poor." As an further example (from the article on CNN.com)

[KevinDavis]

Very good commentary. It is in our blood to explore. It is in our blood to take chances.

[KevinDavis]

Space Ping! This is the space ping list! Let me know if you want on or off this list!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Why the excerpt?

[Ronin]

While I most sincerely wish it was the United States leading the human race into space, I am forced to fully support the Chinese effort.

Despite the fact that they are going to be doing it with purchased Russian and stolen U.S. technology, I am not only convinced there will be a Chinese presence in orbit within 3 years, there will be a permanently manned Chinese moon base within 10.

And the Chinese are not going to just collect a few rocks, plant a flag and leave. They will stay and work the place. It won't be as elegant as it would be done if we did it, but so what. They are going to have accidents and lose people, but so what?

The race will move into space. If that lights a fire under the fat bottomed asses in Washington D.C. so much the better.

[greasepaint]

The US Space program went thru three phases
1. national need
2. national pride
3. nostagia/uselessness
.
I would, however, be in favor of the manned
spaceflight program if another country
would pay for it.

[RadioAstronomer]

3. nostagia/uselessness

What about the orbiting sensors, laboratories, telescopes, Earth observations satellites, weather satellites, and interplanetaries?

[Frank_Discussion]

I think greasepaint means MANNED spaceflight.

[Frank_Discussion]

I agree that with you in the sentiment of getting some progress here, but I absolutely do not want the ChiComs to establish a lunar base. That's not acceptable.

But if they race for it and we feel the need to beat them in that race, and stay this time around, then that I'll get behind.

[Sam Cree]

I agree that space exploration is important, on a number of levels, including the acquisition of resources.

"Couple this with a press release by the WWF (World Wildlife Foundation) that in order to support global affluence we would need the equivalent of two more Earths, and you have a pretty bleak vision for the future. This is a problem for those of us who are space advocates because we know that the sentiments espoused by these institutions are simply wrong!"

Yeah the sentiments are wrong alright, and for more reasons than that they do not recognize that resources are available in space. I think this is the first instance I recall of socialists coming straight out and calling for worldwide poverty as a means of conserving resources.

How idiotic is that!? The way problems get solved, the way poverty is defeated, is by having free societies in which citizens can follow their individual dreams, building wealth, being motivated, coming up with myriads of clever ideas that, in the end, solve these problems, raise standards of living for all, and improve life in ways that centrally planned socialist bureaucracies could never envision or understand. Provocative article, thanks.

[Ronin]

I am looking at it from a human, not a nationalist point of view. The future of the human race, if there is going to be a future, demands that we move into space. Sooner rather than later.

If the Chinese effort lights a fire under our fat bottoms and gets us to stop fooling around with a wheezy, tinkered-up space truck made with 1950s technology and start playing the game seriously, than so much the better.

I am not worried, even if the Chinese do it first, it is bound to free up the resources needed for us to do it better, as I am sure we can. Especially if we get NASA out of the way and give private enterprise its shot at it.

I am sure that the Chinese have definite plans that include factories, lunar mining, etc. It's not all about national prestige -- although I am sure that is a factor as well.

[Frank_Discussion]

"I am looking at it from a human, not a nationalist point of view."

If we're talking about the expansion of communism to the moon and the greater solar system, the issues are one in the same. When we beat the Russians, it was really beating communism. If there is to be a race with China, so be it, so long as we win. If the ChiComs win, we might as well turn back the clock to before July 1969.

"1950's technology"? Well, late-sixties to early-seventies, maybe, but not fifties. It's old stuff, I agree, but don't exaggerate.

"Especially if we get NASA out of the way and give private enterprise its shot at it."

Private enterprise isn't waiting, that's a myth.

[RightWhale]

In the early 70s an attempt to "break" the limits to growth was made by a daring United States

The Club of Rome is a conspiracy to keep us from exploiting outer space and so to invalidate their 70s report "The Limits to Growth."

[B-Chan]

“Risk? Risk is our business!”

-- Captain James T. Kirk, USS ENTERPRISE (NCC-1701)