Good Morning, Starshine.

[poliphilo]

Captains Kirk and Picard were never unduly worried by stray bits of foam detaching themselves from the Enterprise.

But then, as some NASA person was saying on the radio yesterday, sci-fi has left us with the mistaken impression that space flight is easy.

But it was easy once. The Apollo missions were easy. And why were they easy? Because the will was there.

We've lost the will. We got to the Moon and...and...

...we'd put one over on the Russkies and that was that. But it wasn't just about defeating the Russkies. Or was it?

Neil Armstong sounded as if he believed in his famous first words.

I'm sure he did.

I want that spirit back.

Comments

[mazzie.livejournal.com]

I've met some of the real science guys at NASA and the spirit is there. An astronaut volunteered to go on a one way flight to Saturn. It was scrubbed because of fear of public perception.
Going to the Moon wasn't easy. I just found out this week that the astronauts were barely able to make it back to the lander after their walk because they were so exhausted. Since then, from studying them and from doing biological experiments on orbit, we have learned that space flight and radiation have serious irreversible consequences, and we've spent the last three and a half decades developing countermeasures. The radiation effects are so severe, in fact, on-Earth biological testing to develop countermeasures has been done on survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
As for competetion, look China's way. Our new Administrator sure is. And speaking of the new NASA Administrator, he's a real science guy, and a no-bullshit guy. He's eliminating all funding and study that isn't directly related to or supporting return to the Moon and the mission to Mars. Thankfully, I work in Mission Directorate, so I'm safe, for now.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

This is fascinating- and encouraging.

A one way mission to Saturn? Oh my. I can understand why he volunteered- but also why they said "no".

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

What a wonderful novel that would be--One Way to Saturn, perhaps in a diary format.

When we no longer have warmongers at the political helm, perhaps we can spend more on exploration.

[zen-punk.livejournal.com]

Wow. I really don't think I'd volunteer for a one-way mission. But I applaud anyone who would and really truly wish that our government would allow them to do it.

I am wondering though - why would anyone want to go to Saturn? You realize there's nothing to land on?

[mazzie.livejournal.com]

because it's there. :)
to see it, to record images, to deploy equipment that could collect data.
to search, to discover ...
that's what i mean about the spirit still being here in the Agency. We just want to get the public to feel it, too.

[zen-punk.livejournal.com]

Hey, I understand, but doesn't it sound like a robot would do as much as a human could when it comes to Saturn? Now, Mars, man, sign me up - I'll live there. I would like to come back, though, or at least have a woman along. :)