02 February 2005
Why Do We Have a Space Program Anyway?
A good article from Space.com on the importance of space exploration. If you don't get it after this, then there's no hope for you. It is a UNIVERSAL LAW: something (anything) is in one of two conditions - either progressing and advancing, or regressing and decaying.
This law applies to physical systems, individual organisms, ecosystems, individual human lives, nations, and civilizations (just to name a FEW examples).
In relation to space exploration, it affects several of these at once. Firstly, as a species, the only way we will ever advance, is to keep on movin' out and get some of our eggs (and sperm) into another basket. As a civilization, we require the resources, energy, and the knowledge gained by technological development that are the inevitable outcome of space exploration. As a nation, if we fail to move on this, SOMEBODY else will figure it out and gain the high ground, to our probable harm. The world is full of clever, smart people some of whom will have the knowledge and determination to apply their resources and reap the rich harvest described above.
To quote an old George Harrison song:
"How high will you leap?
Will you make enough for you to reap it?
Only you'll arrive at your own made end,
With no one but yourself to be offended
It's you that decides."
This law applies to physical systems, individual organisms, ecosystems, individual human lives, nations, and civilizations (just to name a FEW examples).
In relation to space exploration, it affects several of these at once. Firstly, as a species, the only way we will ever advance, is to keep on movin' out and get some of our eggs (and sperm) into another basket. As a civilization, we require the resources, energy, and the knowledge gained by technological development that are the inevitable outcome of space exploration. As a nation, if we fail to move on this, SOMEBODY else will figure it out and gain the high ground, to our probable harm. The world is full of clever, smart people some of whom will have the knowledge and determination to apply their resources and reap the rich harvest described above.
To quote an old George Harrison song:
"How high will you leap?
Will you make enough for you to reap it?
Only you'll arrive at your own made end,
With no one but yourself to be offended
It's you that decides."
