Here is the 2nd part, of a 3 part series, on the space economy.  You can read the first part by clicking here.

In this piece, I talk about suborbital space business.

There's more...

Here is the 2nd part, of a 3 part series, on the space economy.  You can read the first part by clicking here.

In this piece, I talk about suborbital space business.

There's more...

Yesterday, I talked a little bit about space, and promised something more.  I know there are many people who question the purpose, and reason for sending people into space.  Tonight, you get to see the first, in a series, about how space can have a major impact on the economy.  

This diary was originally written in response to some of Senator Obama's comments about the validity and justification for manned spaceflight, but I know that there are more people than just him who question it, and thus, I suggest everyone read it, whether Obama or Clinton supporter (or uncommitted, like me).  

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No doubt many of you saw the online debate between Chris Bowers, and Matt Yglesias about the issue of space, between what Senator Clinton has proposed, and what Senator Obama has proposed.  Unfortantly, I felt that both Matt and Chris could use more and better information (which is probably true of most people).  BTW, those who didn't see it, here are links to the 3 posts about space between Matt and Chris

Matt's original post
Chris's response
Matt's final response.

The time has come to have a discussion about what direction we want space policy to go, and how to best utilize space.  And I plan to be a part of that, and I hope you do to.

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I see by the NY Times that it is the 50th Anniversary of the launching of Sputnik by the Soviet Union, the first successful space satellite that launched us into the space age. Because of Sputnik, which beat our first successful Explorer, we faced what was then an international embarrassment by having the Communists conquer the skies while our first couple of attempts blew up on the launch pad. It was something that would be repeated when the Russians launched Yuri Gagarin as the first man-in-space a few years later.

The focus changed when Jack Kennedy vowed to land a man on the moon within a decade. America got 100% behind the space program and succeeded. As a young boy when all this started I was sure that when I reached the age of my father and grandfather we would be exploring the galaxy.

So what happened?

Years of Viet Nam followed by years of South America, the Berlin Wall, the Reaganizing of our economy (which converted the economy to private, profit-motivated development and really got the government out of a real future in space - hidden behind the space shuttle program which was like marking time in history) and the adventures in the Middle East oil situation (excuse me, in the Middle East bringing-democracy-to-the-oppressed-Arab s situation) have left us, after 50 years, still on our little planet wondering if we'll ever get off.

The space program was once the most positive competition with our then Soviet enemy that didn't give us 3 or 4 dead Americans a day and produced all kinds of advances (like Tang!) which actually improved our lives. It led to cooperation between the Russians and us on the International Space Station which, while it's development is dragging along, has not accounted for one IED explosion or bombing raid on women and children.

If my three grandsons reach my age, an increasingly iffy situation in a world identified by Axes of Evil, I wonder if they will see us traveling to Mars or beyond?
One could wish.

Under the LobsterScope

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