eugene@ames.UUCP (Eugene Miya) (08/05/84)
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Justifying the space program using 'spinoffs' does not buy it in Congress.
First, many so called spinoffs, electronic minaturization (sp) a good example,
have been argued down because that would have happened anyway (NASA didn't
really have much to do with it) or that has been argued that "free enterprise"
did the work. Second, spinoffs are highly unpredictable, extreme case,
justifying chemical warfare research because of possible spinoffs to
cancer research [This work has been done at U of U]. So, I stopped arguing
this track, but I do acknowledge benefits (Tang).
No, Joe Blow on the street needs to see that we are living in the space
age. For example, the theory of relatively is just seeing "practical" use: we
are starting to think about wire lengths in electronics, perhaps the consumer
of the future might, too. The space age is now involved with many aspects
of day to day life. All you need to do to see how vital some of this is:
1) turn off all weather satellites, especially during storm
seasons. Don't forget to tell people that they could be used.
2) turn off all communication and TV satellites
3) turn off numerous other navigation and satellites
This might be akin to turning off all traffic lights, but a bit more
removed. Perhaps, we should not subsidize space so much.
We are heavily involved in the space age: even arms control to an extend.
Direct research such as plantary exploration gives us a comparison
of our planet to others, and directly enlarges our understanding. This
reason is subtle, and almost borders on spinoffs, but it is not a spinoff.
Lastly, the most difficult to fathom reason, we must explore space, because
that is what separates us from the rest of the cosmic 'slime' on spaceship
earth. [Sagan would have used more elioquent words: 'star stuff']
Our desire for exploration is what separates us from the more primitive
tribes (my favorite are the Sherpas, as I am a climber). Modern man
got where he is because of his sense of time and the future (planning ahead).
Many other cultures (few left) are unable or unwilling to utilize time.
Modern man has to learn to balance present needs with future desires.
If we let the present dominate our thinking [it is important], then
we fall back down the evolutionary ladder.
I think your (my descendents came East, same difference) Westward migration
and subsequent Alaska and imperialist (to a degree) fortes into other
nations are a reflection of this latter. Space might give us an
opportunity to continue without killing ourselves. Let's hope we
can continue without:
1) destroying the Earth (a spacecraft) and ourselves
2) ruining other worlds in the process
I have heard social commentators mention '"Japanese" island mentality'
as a positive social force. Perhaps, we need a bit of "Earth island
mentality," too.
--eugene miya
NASA Ames Research Center
{hplabs,dual,menlo70,hao}!ames!aurora!eugene
emiya@ames-vmsb.ARPA
p.s. I wish I could be as eloquent as Carl.