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Come on Up (to the ISS) You're the Next Contestant
Ender writes "The Voice of America and the NY times (Free registration, yetti, yatta ...) are running articles informing us that the Russian space Agency Rosaviakosmos has an agreement with Moscow to send a TV contest winner to the International Space Station. All contestants would train for space flight during the programs and this would show the audience how cosmonauts are trained prior to their space flight." Boy bands are ineligible.
Y'know, maybe I'm biased, but having such a unique "grand prize" makes me think that losing would be devastating, in a way other "survivor"-esque shows aren't. If you're optimistic you think *maybe* this isn't "once in a lifetime", if we manage to make space travel a little less unique, but still.
...huh. I meant that to be funny, but now it just seems like a depressing commentary on the state of space exploration by the USA.
And how ironic is it that its the formerly communist governments that are making this stuff possible? I'm sure a scifi writer from the 1950s would still have the game show by those wacky Americans, but would probably soom that we'd do the space travel side as well...
SO YOU'RE GOING TO DIE: The Comic for Dealing with Death
Why haven't we been back to the moon?
:P
Where's the ships travelling to Mars?
We've done jack since going to the moon. We only went there because 'We can't let the Russians beat us!'
You know, I'd like to travel beyond Earth before I die. The Russians seem to be the only ones who have figured out the fact that I'm not alone in that wish. If not for them, I'm sure we won't have viable space tourism for a few hundred years.
NASA has already sent up people who don't really belong. Politicians, for example. OK, they had some training. But, then, so do the people in the $20 million category. It's not like they're selling tickets on a Soyuz like, for example, airlines sell tickets on 747s. A hell of a lot of training goes with that ticket.
When Dennis Tito went up, I and others thought NASA's objections were at best disingenuous, at worst outright lies. The man had been an aerospace engineer and had received months of training before his trip. Yet NASA proclaimed how difficult his trip made things for them. I thought, what if something unexpected went wrong on the station not connected to that little trip? If the system was that fragile, it was a disaster waiting to happen.
NASA needs to develop technologies that are more robust. The country needs space technologies that are able to recover from at least minor problems. The Russians have done that to some extent.
And, of course, with each of these tourists Russia earns some badly needed hard money for their struggling program.
"Beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy." -- B. Franklin
The key to getting the people to invest in expensive space exploration and development programs is in keeping them interested. It's sad that NASA has to learn a lesson from the Russians on this one.
You cannot get funding for a program if it doesn't capture the hearts of those paying for it. NASA had that with the moon landings, but they've let the public's imagination slip away to the point that most people don't consider space exploration worthwhile.
They can send NSync, the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears up all at the same time for a weightless concert, who cares if it gets other more vital projects necessary funding? If the ISS isn't kept in the public's view, if they're not reminded on a daily basis how important and exciting it is, then it'll end up just another SkyLab with it's most noteworthy event being it's fiery re-entry.
Might one argue that this is the opposite of the problem NASA has? It ISN'T thinking about the bottom-line - it is thinking of its pride!
Just think - if Bill Gates is willing to pay his way for a ride into space, why SHOULDN'T NASA let him do it? Now, it should definitely not cost the public a single dime - he should pay for all costs associated with the trip. However, to say that he shouldn't be allowed simply because it doesn't advance science is just pride. Basically you're saying that his money isn't good enough for you.
The Russians have opened space to the public. Sure, most people can't afford it - but most people can't afford a $14,000 plasma HDTV either... The Russians aren't afraid to make money on space travel, and neither should NASA.
If NASA wants to factor in the cost of lost opportunities (due to having room for one less scientist) or wear and tear on the shuttle, or any number of other costs - fine. But the cost shouldn't be "not gonna do it for any price"...
Besides, stuff like this makes space travel more appealing to the public, and probably would boost their funding anyway. (As if John Glenn's journey was really just for scientific value!)