Thursday, June 30, 2005
Ready or not?
As a space geek, I want to see the space program thrive with both a human presence in space as well as far flung robot/computer probes. The space shuttle has been a problem from the beginning: a good concept awash in incredible budget overages. Back in the early 70's, NASA was promising earth-to-orbit flight rates dropping from $1000 per pound to $15. Heck; I'd go into orbit for $3000; wouldn't most people?
NASA is very eager to get the shuttle up and running, it's brushed aside the objections that it hasn't quite solved three important problems. It's probably a credit to the astronaut corps and the prep teams that the shuttles are running at only a 2% catastrophic failure rate.
I'm getting closer to the sad realization that until we can build an elevator, space travel will not be practical for large numbers of ordinary people. Did you know there's a space elevator blog?
*Sigh* I was born in the wrong century.
By the way, did you know that any human lunar base would be the pastoral responsibility of the Bishop of Orlando? There's a sf concept someone might tackle: the see of Orlando overtaking Rome as Rome stood out from the traditional patriarchates. Imagine 6000AD: OC no longer means orthodox Catholic but Orlando Catholic.
