US commits to landing an international astronaut on the Moon - This decade::This ticket to the Moon will probably go to a European or Japanese astronaut.
US commits to landing an international astronaut on the Moon - This decade::This ticket to the Moon will probably go to a European or Japanese astronaut.
Why?
Not because it is easy, but because it is hard
There are lots of difficulty things that actually benefit the people of this planet that can be improved upon. Let’s focus on something like climate change instead.
Or both because we can do both
Because landing on the moon is an excellent test bed for future scientific and commercial endeavors. But why an international person? Space travel requires support from the international community and an easy way to drum up support without being billed for it is to offer a spot on the mission and all of the prestige that comes with it.
This planet is on fire. Going to the moon right now makes no sense. Solve the world’s problems first before you set out to create the same problems somewhere else.
If the planet was on fire, leaving it would be a good choice.
this is bullshit. terraforming Mars or any other place in the solar system is going to cost orders of magnitudes more than solving earth problems. and no, we’re not even close to interstellar travel
Not trying to put the fire out? Hmm…
If you think humanity has the power to reverse climate change, then you’re going to be very disappointed.
I’m already disappointed.
We chose to land an International Astronaut on the moon in this decade and do the other things not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.
My favorite part of the speech is the reference to Rice playing Texas.
Since the beginning of the Apollo program, more people have traveled to the moon than Rice football players who started a winning game against Texas.
Oh brother…
International morale
You think going to the moon will boost morale better then something like fixing corruption or starting ubi or making sure everyone has food and shelter?
Unironically yes, I do believe that. Space exploration is a worthy endeavor in and of itself and takes up a fraction of the budget.
I disagree, but that’s fine. Good thing I don’t run the world, eh?
Do you disagree concerning what would motivate you or the average person in the world? I’m answering based on the latter.
Simple. Because the other country will be footing some of the bill.
I might be cynical, but if the Apollo missions are anything to go by, sacrificing many “international astronauts” in testing to finally get one successfully up there, is better than losing american’s?
But hey, I’m only watching from “The Dish” over here in Oz.