Pining for the moon in these uncertain times
Posted on 12/17/2003 5:36:43 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
"They done it, they done it, damned if they ain't flew."
One hundred years ago today, a young Johnny Moore raced down the beach at Kill Devil Hills near the village of Kitty Hawk, N.C., shouting those words to everyone within earshot, announcing the stunning achievement of two brothers from Ohio. On that day, Orville and Wilbur Wright gave wings to humanity by proving that a power-driven, heavier-than-air machine could manage controlled and sustained flight.
The first flight took 12 seconds and went 120 feet. The longest lasted 59 seconds and covered 852 feet. Not far. But to paraphrase another pilot describing an equally wondrous event not quite 66 years later, those flights were small steps and giant leaps. The consequences can hardly be overstated. It took humanity several millenniums to rise a few feet above the ground on Dec. 17, 1903. It took less than seven decades to go from Kitty Hawk to the moon.
The world is a different place now, closer and more dangerous. As a small example, it now takes mere hours to get to Europe from Milwaukee, where it once took months. Humanity is connected as it never has been and has accomplished things that our ancestors could only dream of. But the same technology that eventually took people to the moon also yielded the fire-bombing of Dresden and the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
While it's appropriate to use this anniversary to reflect on where flight has taken us over the last 100 years, the real question today is where humanity will take flight over the next century. What new barriers will be broken; what giant leaps will we take?
There are those who argue that it's time to go back to the moon. Others say a bigger and better space station should be on the agenda. But it seems unlikely that going somewhere we've already been will elicit a "damned if they ain't flew" response from any future Johnny Moores. A manned mission to Mars might.
While a base on the moon is a reasonable step for the future exploration of space, and should be one project under consideration, it seems that perhaps it's time for humanity to spread its wings a little wider. As Sharon Begley pointed out in a column in The Wall Street Journal last week, when it comes to moving the national spirit, a return to the moon is about as inspiring as green cheese.
Exploring Mars is something else entirely. The red planet has inspired the imagination for thousands of years, and a mission to Mars could inspire a whole new generation. More important, the tentative probes that already have occurred indicate that Mars could hold clues to some of the most basic questions facing humanity. Are we alone? Could life take other forms than the model found on Earth?
Maybe Mars doesn't hold any answers. But the answers probably aren't on Earth or the moon (although surprises may still await us on that), and Mars is the next logical place to look. It's also the next logical step if humanity is serious about exploring the universe.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration estimates that it would take $400 billion to get to Mars. The Mars Society says it can be done for $30 billion. It's time to find out which estimate is closer to the mark. And it's time to start the debate, not on whether to go to Mars, but on the best way to get there.
If we start now, it may not be too long before a future Johnny Moore is shouting, "They done it, they done it, damned if they ain't landed on Mars."
One point of curiosity though:
But the same technology that eventually took people to the moon also yielded the fire-bombing of Dresden and the events of Sept. 11, 2001
Rocketry and aircraft are vastly different technologies. Yes I know, I'm being picky, but am I missing something obvious in the connection here?
17 December 2003: NASA Hoping Stars Align for New Quest Washington Post
The federal government is spending more on non defense related programs than at any time in history and running a $300 billion plus dollar a year deficit in the process. This is the time for tens to hundreds of billions of dollars in new spending?
There's nothing noble about space exploration. It's welfare for aerospace engineers.
With an American Flag above the colony. Anyone else present is a guest.
It's so stupid, too. If you want to point out the good vs. evil use of technology, the V2 killed thousands in London, and was the direct predecessor to the Mercury Redstone. Aside from some materials, the B-17 (used to bomb Dresden), Boeing 757, and the Apollo rocket have no common technology.
I completely agree. Developing Lunar and cislunar infrastructures should, IMHO, be our priority prior to a manned Mars mission.
Where does the money come from?
Bump!
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