‘Cosmic barometer’ could reveal violent evens in universe’s past
As an unapologetic space geek, I am excited to see the remake of COSMOS on Fox/National Geographic and its mission to re-ignite excitement for space exploration and science in general. As someone who wanted to be a pilot and astronaut, I have always hoped to see our space program flourish and exceed the accomplishments of the Apollo Program. Unfortunately, since the Apollo Program, the only major accomplishments in the human spaceflight program have been low-earth orbital missions by the Space Shuttle and recently by private companies such as Space X.
It has been 42 years since we last landed on the moon. Since then, our human space exploration efforts have stagnated. According to NASA’s Strategic Plan, its core mission is “Expand the frontiers of knowledge, capability, and opportunity in space” with emphasis to “Expand human presence into the solar system and to the surface of Mars to advance exploration, science, innovation, benefits to humanity, and international collaboration.” However, had we remained committed in 1972, we could have established a moon colony that would have allowed us to continue exploring further among the other planets of our solar system. Instead, our efforts shifted to the Space Shuttle, despite proving itself valuable and generally reliable, kept us within the same bounds of exploration of Project Mercury, our first human spaceflight program. What should have occurred with the Shuttle Program after the first 10-15 launches, when the procedures and risk mitigations were in place, was to shift it to the private sector while NASA shifted back to manned deep space missions. It would have had the potential to revolutionize global travel as the private sector competed for the missions, and created additional spin-off potentials for the private sector. This means that instead of waiting for Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic to provide the means for commercial space flight in the near future, it could have already been a reality.
Compounding the problem associated with NASA’s single focus on the Space Shuttle was the decision to retire the program before the Orion Spacecraft was developed as a viable replacement. This decision was criticized by Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, in his testimony to Congress when he informed them he worried “NASA would lose its edge in spaceflight, if it went years without its own flying astronauts.” Since Shuttle’s retirement, the U.S. has been hitching rides on Russian Soyuz Rockets to the International Space Station. Recent events in Crimea exposed our vulnerability to access space as tensions rose between the U.S. and Russia. As a result of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, NASA announced it was suspending joint U.S.-Russian Space activities, limiting our means to send our astronauts into space.
The tensions with Russia, China and India’s quest for space exploration should now re-awaken our competitive spirit. In fact, actor Neal McDonough’s recent Cadillac Commercial stuck me and made a point when he said that our work ethic led us to the moon landing; however, we got bored, left the keys in our space car and left, and that we are the only ones going back. Despite our work ethic, what we need is another leader to inspire us to continue our quest for the unknown, to bring out the best in us, and to provide the incentive for continued innovation in science and technology that will reshape our economy and way of life. Niel deGrasse, host of COSMOS, recently spoke to students at North Carolina State University on how revitalizing NASA could revitalize the U.S. He elaborated his position on NASA’s ability o revitalize the economy when he stated:
“I would double or triple NASA’s budget. That’s all you need to do. That solves everything. Then NASA can have a budget to go somewhere, a budget to advance the space frontier. And any time you advance a frontier, you have to patent new machines, tools, and methods, and these discoveries then make headlines…I derive this from the fact that when Sputnik was launched it put a flame under our rear ends in 1957, and people were climbing over each other to take science and engineering classes…There was a challenge in front of us that was making headlines. Once you do that, by my read of history and of human conduct and the impact of the space program on the American economy, I know of no more effective force to be brought to bear on that problem than a fully-funded NASA.”
In order to make that happen, in an age of austerity, we need a cause that will unify our nation beyond our divisive and polarizing politics. We need a challenge that will require us to innovate in order to solve complex challenges such as deep space exploration; something that forces us to accomplish a goal in a short timeline and require dedication, commitment, and collaboration by government and industry. What we need is a leader to continue President Kennedy’s challenge to the American people to accomplish what was perceived as when impossible when he said “We do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard!” It is such challenges and fear of failure that drives us to excel. In the current age of austerity, it will be a tough, but necessary, sell to the American public. We must be reminded that even the Apollo program was not universally supported because of its cost, but the effort paid off. We are a nation of immigrant pioneers – a people driven by what is possible more than what holds us back. We are a nation that rewards those that make the impossible possible, and those who learn from failure in order to succeed. I hope that my fellow Americans, hoping for a better future for our nation, will regain our spirit for exploration by keeping President Kennedy’s challenge alive and dream like Robert Kennedy who said “I dream the things that never were and say why not?”
My hope, after 13 years of war, after years of polarization, that we can find something that will inspire us again to greatness. My hope is that we regain our inspiration to explore because I hope others like me who not only dreams things that never were and say why not, but want to make it a reality.
