February 5, 2009

• WCFQ 34a: Space, not the final frontier

  In 1969, the astronaut who made headlines was Neil
  Armstrong, who was the first human to set foot on
  the moon. In 2007, the astronaut who made headlines
  was Lisa Nowak, who drove across the country in a
  diaper to confront a romantic rival. Has interest in the
  space program waned over the decades? What role
  does the media play in public perception of the space
  program? And what can be done to re-energize
  public interest in space exploration?
  Praetorian1001

  As interested in space as I am for the sake of our species and the spirit of exploration, I think before we can consider colonizing non-terrestrial locations, even the airless moon, we need to fix the problems here. Though colonization of other planets might help alleviate the social, economic, and environmental pressures we currently face, leaving earth without first correcting these issues will only ensure their continuation. 
  
  Right now the focus is on the environment and rightly so. Though I agree with the non-ecologically minded sentiment that the world can heal itself, I don't believe it can do so if we keep kicking it around like our own personal landfill. Or rather, it will do so eventually... once it's succeeded in finding a way to decrease our populations or get rid of us altogether. After all, the world doesn't need us. We need it.
  
  Has popular interest in the space program waned over the years? Not if the science fiction genre is be believed. Considering there are parts of our own planet which are still the "great unknown," and they usually have air even if they are fairly inhospitably. Even the sea is closer than space exploration, and has similar difficulties.
  
  The problem with space exploration, other than the obvious physical difficulties involved in getting humans into airless space and back, is that the media portrays most people interested in outer space as more than a bit off. What are you, rocket scientist? is an insult, not a compliment. The people at SETI listen to static and the crackle of stars dead a million years. Belief in aliens is ungodly. In short, the media portrays anyone interested in space as stupid, irreligious, crackpots, and has done so for years. The thing with Lisa Nowak just gave them more fodder for their propaganda machine.
  
  If interest in space is to be rekindled, it needs to be done in a very practical way. For instance, from time to time (usually after the fact) some mention will be made of an asteroid which has just missed the earth by a narrow margin. No one really pays attention, but the prospect of going out like the dinosaurs is a pretty scary though. The media mostly downplays these events because they don't want to create a panic, and they are after all, only reported when the danger is done. But the possibility that the earth could be struck by a meteor or other celestial object is really not so far fetched. Look at all the craters on the moon, on the moons of other planets, and at earth. There are still craters left by asteroids of millions of years ago if you know where to look (the gulf of Mexico is one massive crater). By playing on society's fear of imminent destruction (and asteroids are far more imminent than global warming), the media could possibly increase public interest in space. If the focus is on the possibility of an extinction level event, and how it can be averted, then it becomes a practical problem that even someone not trained in astrophysics is equipped to contemplate. Once we have a plan in place for averting such a disaster we could conceivably adapt that plan to space exploration. For instance, a moon base would allow us to keep a watchful eye on the stars and act more quickly to avert disaster. A moon base could also be used as a step towards more extensive exploration of Venus or Mars, and further. By taking a step towards the stars in order to safeguard ourselves from extinction, we could also cater to the exploration and colonization groups.
  
  And of course, lots of new science fiction shows like Babylon 5 and Firefly and Farscape couldn't hurt. In fact, bring back Farscape. I want to know what happened to John and Erin's baby!!!!

  
  
  

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  February 5th

  
  

  St. Agatha, the Christianized version of the Greek goddess Tyche, the Roman Fortuna, and the Norse Wyrd, has her holy day today. This day is especially powerful for all forms of divination and fortune telling.

  
  
  

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  • 5:58 pm
  • 3 Comments