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UK Reconsiders 1986 Decision To Ban Astronauts
An anonymous reader writes "The British space agency, BNSC, is reconsidering its 1986 decision to reject all human space missions. The decision has dominated British space policy ever since, leaving Britain out of many American and European space projects. The UK is the only nation in the G8 group of leading economies that does not have a human space flight program. But space enthusiast groups like the British Interplanetary Society are trying to persuade the British government to participate in both manned and unmanned space activities."
David Lister.
Too many viewings of Doctor Who.
maybe they should work on those first.
"Bad teeth in outer space".
No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
The real reason we Brits don't send people into space is because you simply cannot get a decent cup of tea there! Manufacturing Bowler Hats to fit over those helmets has proved rather tricky too.
Awful UID - but I have been here ages...
They have too many hands in the British government.
'Same speed C but faster'
Pathetic whimperings of a dying civilization.
If one takes the British position that 'man has no business in space' then there isn't a point to sending robots beyond geostationary orbit either. The whole point of sending robots is that they are cheaper and more expendable to send than humans, thus they are good for the early scouting missions. But if humans aren't eventually going, what is the freaking point?
Democrat delenda est
How can Britain not have a astronaut program, when a country like Nigeria already has astronauts in space. I got an email from one of their astronauts describing the funds to get him back down were in an account that needed to be transferred out of Nigeria in order to gain access to it.
Ok, I read it at first as UK government reconsiders ban on astroids. I've heard of some ridiculous bans, but that would be pretty out there...
living in suburban wasteland, but I can break out, I can be free.
Maybe they're afraid that they won't be able to keep tabs on the astronauts in space? What's to prevent British astronauts from putting some duct tape over the cameras and engaging in terrorism?!
Ban something, and you may choose to regret not having the option later. The solution? Ban nothing. Or, ban banning.
Sending a person into outer space would put him or her beyond the reach of police surveillance.
That's just not on. What do you think we are in the UK, some kind of namby pamby democracy?
I guess the UK got tired of the United States government's fancy spy stations spying on the rest of the world :)
So the Koreans sent up kimchee, the Japanese had ramen. What wonderful food can the British send up to space with their people?
Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
Then how do they explain Space 1999?
Something like the manned moon mission was cool for its own sake as a demonstration of engineering prowess.
But the idea that any of this has been or can be steps towards a space-faring future is utter BS. From energy considerations, it doesn't work. If you think of planets as barren or far away, like say, a far away, barren continent, then it seems to work metaphorically. But if you calculate how far away they really are, and how hot or cold they really are, it never works, not even close. Not suprisingly, space-travel components always avoid those calculations. For example...people talk of extracting hydrogen from the Martian atmosphere for a return trip. How long would this take, using optimistic, back-of-the-envelope calculations? Serious thinking about space exploration should start with such estimates. But they are always mysteriously vague or absent.
While I'm at it, "private" space flight involving low-cost airplane-like vehicles is also a con. Yes, such craft can get into "space". But to reach a useful orbit requires something like a huge rocket - just calculate the potential energy difference. The press releases never mention that.
NASA scientists must of course make a living. It would be nice to see more earth science and big telescopes. Give the honest scientists more money, and let the rest find something else to do for a living.
(Holds up sack.)
England, do you know what these are? Perhaps not. It's been a while, hasn't it. Let me explain: these, dear friends, are your balls. You had them for a while once, back when you were a colonial power, you had big titanium steel ones while you fought the Nazis, and you had pretty good sized ones when you kicked the crap out of Argentina. But ever since you stopped sending humans into space, they've been sitting quietly in a burlap sack, growing old, gathering dust, completely unused while you drink beer and make funny movies and wonder what the hell happened to the England that was.
You know you want them back. You know you want to feel them again, along with the rush and thrill of going places where human beings just weren't designed to go. You know you want it, because that's where we've always gone as a species: where we're not supposed to.
Go on England. Explore space again. Get your balls back.
Until you do, I'll keep them in my lock box, along with the brains of the people who designed City of Heroes. They won't be needing those anytime soon, I assure you.
Love, MAX.
Finding God in a Dog
See hundreds of years ago the equivalent to space exploration was sending a ship around the world. The UK was a leader in this effort. In 1770 a guy called Cook discovered a place called Australia and in 1788 a colonising fleet was sent from the UK to this new world. The new colony succeeded beyond the UK's wildest dreams. It's inhabitants evolved into bronzed, suntanned titans, with physical and mental capabilities beyond anything the UK was remotely capable of. Worst of all they repeatedly whopped the UK at all sports. The final straw was when the Australian colony sent back this thing called Neighbours and destroyed the Queen's English, the foundation of the UK's national identity, culture and pride.
The UK resolved "never again".
:-)
In typical British fashion, or Euro-collectivist fashion, they're showing their colors by trying to persuade the government to go into space, rather than putting their "society" into action and getting a man up there WITHOUT the permission of some worthless bureaucratic tax feeders.
But hey, the Brits are part of that mythical "free western societies" in which they need the GOVERNMENT to do stuff, instead of themselves. Pitiful, pathetic, and totally predictable.
Hey, give it another century, maybe they'll figure out that the reason we're not all having summer homes on Venus is because certain bureaucrats are the ones calling the shots, and people are depending on them to provide results, when the ONLY way they get more funding is if the bureaucrats DON'T deliver results. Results means that the perceived need for bureaucrats is no longer there, which means bureaucrats go unemployed, thus bureaucrats can NEVER solve the problem they were employed to solve, or they go without a job.
Surprise surprise.
" What luck for rulers that men do not think" - Adolf Hitler
that there will be no scurvy.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
Why would they send a man back into space after what happened to Major Tom, and all?
Where there's a will, a rich guy will find a way....
- Eddie Izzard, Dress to Kill
It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
Are you telling me Moonraker wasn't real???
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonraker_(film)
WHAT? But Roger Moore is British! It even says so in Wikipedia, so he's been up in space.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Moore
It's on Wikipedia. It must be real!
What do you mean that's not real life? I don't understand! That can't be right. If it is how can I ever aspire to having sex in zero G with a gorgeous Russian spy?
These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
i lol'd
...Keith Richards has already boldly gone where no man has been before.
Shortly after kicking the crap out of Argentina, we realized that nobody liked a bully and decided to stop kicking the crap out of smaller countries. After a short discussion we (as were a small country so we all sit down with the queen for tea and make these decisions), have decided that as a nation we would rather be neutered and not act like a stupid tomcat, that keeps running into danger and getting itself injured. While grand displays of bravery/stupidity were useful when intimidating the rest of the world and creating an empire, we've been their and done that. In this age, we would rather just go to the pub with our friends and drink some REAL bear (we still have a recipe if you want some)and sit around in mediocrity, however were not that fused about it so if all your spending on a space race ruins your economy well make an offer of £100 for our balls.
your sincerely,
England
IranAir Flight 655 never forget!
Why not? They banded my little tabby here - and I got 'er back after she run off once, when the man who pours linseed oil into the duck's carcasses forgot to slam the lid shut on th eold coal-chute. That's another story there, that is. But it worked for my tabby, and I hear there gonna' band schoolchildren, too. That'll show 'em. Something to find the criminals in jeans, they're saying on Sky. An Astronaut ought to be easier to band than a tabby. And I bet they don't sit under the couch, trying to rub the thing off over their ears all night long, either!
What? You said "ban"? What's that, then? Well, If they're Astronauts or not, I don't think we should let foreigners in, if they can't respect our ways, now. They're no better than the rest of us and that's the truth.
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
At this point human spaceflight is at best a propaganda exercise and at worst a complete waste of money. Why should the UK change their stance on the issue? Has human spaceflight become more interesting in the last 20 years? More strategically important? More affordable?
I realize human spaceflight is inspiring but that in itself isn't enough to justify the expenses.
+5 Funny. I think you mean the G7 group of leading economies.
Perhaps that's why manned space flight is banned. Old Pec comes from heaven and we aren't giving it back.
Boffoonery - downloadable Comedy Benefit for Bletchley Park
Dear England, We, as an even smaller country, have never kicked the crap out of anyone. (Although for some reason we keep getting asked along as some sort of stupid sidekick) Anyway as a country of avid pub patrons we really want the 'REAL bear' recipe you mentioned. Usually we drink beer in our pubs but we do have a problem with an overpopulation of drop-bears and any demand for their tasty meat would be of great use in culling their numbers. Yours Sincerely, Australia
One thing is for sure. They don't have to worry about a dental plan for their astronauts.
Libertas in infinitum
Thanks. I'm here all week. Please tip your waiters.
HelLLLOOOO? I mean, it was funny - kudos and all that - but was modded Score 4, Insightful? Weird mods tonight on the Internets.
You guys didn't get it. Torchwood is not real, it's a TV SHOW BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA.
Unless...
Planning on watching two epis tonight. Heads up, don't watch the episode "Meat" if you're having a late-night snack. Just saying.
So, here's a reference some of you may get: Wasn't Dr. Evil in outer space? He was British! HA HA HA +5 Informative!
OK, stepping off my off-topic box now.
My comments are my own, and do not represent the views of my employer, my spouse, my children, or my cats.
To the back of the double-decker bus with him!
Also. . . I just have to point out that anybody who complains about racism while exercising religious intolerance in the very same breath probably wouldn't know what to do with an actual fact if they ever happened to find one.
-FL
for an unpopular war.
This space available.
They have a problem even looking into space as they can't get permission from countries all over the globe to install surveillance cameras pointed at the Space Station. I hear things get pretty wild when the Vodka starts flowing. Who knows what terrorist plots they may be making up there in space.
... of the US just changed the citizenship requirement specification for astronaut candidates. Where is says "Applicants for the Astronaut Candidate Program must be citizens of the United States" add "or of those countries which are allies in space exploration." and have a treaty drawn up that these ally countries can sign so their people can train and fly from here while retaining citizenship. NASA gets more candidates in its pool, UK (probably, eventually) gets some astronauts to brag about.
They could build their own training facility and equipment and staff it, or send them to Baikonur for 5 megapounds each. The former will require they finish training at the site of their choice (or by selection), US or Russia, to be able to fly one one of their missions, the latter gets them fully trained, but to fly on Russian missions only. Doing it themselves would cost a great deal more, because they have to train the trainers; not having a program of their own yet, they don't have anyone qualified to teach it to others. Even if they did, to fly on US missions they'd still be required to train here after initial qualification. In light of this, it seems patently absurd to require they get basic qualification at home when they have to come here for mission training.
I suppose they could send their people to one of the more reasonable countries who have their own training and are willing to take Brits in. But NASA administration has become so politicized that those people probably wouldn't be selected for mission training. When NASA says "you can't" they tend to mean something like "you can't, unless you ask real nice, and you can't a whole lot more if it's with someone else."
And before those who work for or contract to NASA, hacking hardware (including the kind that makes fire at the bottom), software and people get riled and tell me the people who work there aren't like that, yes I know. I know people who work there, and the engineer and scientist types are worthy descendants of the steely eyed missile men with pocket protectors. But you can't deny the political games go on at the top -- I know some that work there, or at least have to work around and with them. A treaty-based program would give the politicreatures something to do, which keeps them happy, and after that training and flying can proceed.
This is all based on the assumption that they're not going to develop a hardware program also. Personally I'd like to see them and the rest of the European Space Agency buy capsules from Russia (so training there becomes a foregone conclusion) and fly them on their own boosters. Hell, they could hire the Russians to build a crew capsule in one of their new Automated Transfer Vehicles and send up a whole squad of their own.
One has to wonder, since so many other ESA countries have had their ESA trained astronauts fly on NASA missions, why UK as an ESA nation doesn't also? It's a fair cop, guv. I'm thinking it's not likely Belgium, with 2 astronauts accepted for NASA missions, has its own astronaut training program. If this is the case, UK doesn't need a program of their own, they need to get with their ESA pals and do the same things.
Or do it the hard way, by yourselves for yourselves. The hard way is good. We chose to go to the moon, not because it was easy, but because it was hard. That was our challenge, but we don't own the concept.
"I may be synthetic, but I'm not stupid." -- Bishop 341-B
I'm sure most of our endeavours have been for purely mercantile reasons anyway. We sell foreigners weapons (or simply sail around their country in them) and teach them banking, they sell us spices at knock down prices. Typically we didn't find the foreign countries ourselves, we simply 'won' them from other empires.
No doubt we'll send a gunboat up there in due course, but the robots will have to find something in space that makes a good return on the outlay first. In any case, doing anything for the glory of it is seen as terribly vulgar.
Even Phileas Fogg couldn't stand travelling, desperately wanted to send a droid.
Damned silly bet, almost lost the money his family made from slavery.
Crikey... I honestly had no idea we had a space agency. What do they do all day?
"We live in a global world" - Harvey Pitt, former Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman
Hahahahahahahahah!
I would like to know how you could do _anything_ in the uk without bureaucratic intervention, let alone spaceflight.
You can't even leave a vehicle on blocks in your shed without filing a 'Statutory Off Road Notification', good luck assembling rocket propellant and testing radio telemetry gear.
They whose government reduces their essential liberties for temporary security, receive neither liberty nor security.
Given that the Research Councils have been well and truly done over by the government, to the point where STFC tried to withdraw the UK from Gemini to save money - where the hell are we going to find money for astronauts?!
Reality Show?
:).
:) )
How about "Vote them off the planet!".
We present our candidates:
1) George W Bush
2) Tony Blair
3) Simon Cowell
Get your phones ready to vote.
send <candidate number> to 33333 for return trip
send <candidate number> to 44444 for "one way".
50p per vote, you can vote as many times as you want.
Alternatively visit votethemoff.theplanet.com to vote on line
Conditions and terms apply. Not all candidates will accept the wonderful opportunity to go to space, in which case the organizers will have a good laugh all the way to the bank.
Visit the Hall of Fame at votedoff.theplanet.com to see our past winners.
(note this is not for real - there's no such site or show yet
Anybody who has watched Hyperdrive or Red Dwarf has seen what a disaster the future will be if the Brits are allowed to become a space power!
----------------------------------- My Other Sig Is Hilarious -----------------------------------
Especially after the problems that the British Experimental Rocket Group had in the 1950s with those three astronauts and that incident in Westminster Abbey.
R Tape loading error, 0:1
Watch this Heartland Institute video
Monkeys in a can.
Britain has a space agency???
Oh sorry, that bit wasn't the news?
I'm British and even I know St. Patrick's day was yesterday, not today.
Gentoo Linux - another day, another USE flag.
Now that th' space tourism be gainin' momentum, 'tis time t' raise th' swashbuckler jolly rogers!
with their Tang and freeze-dried space food. I wouldn't want them in my neighborhood, or even my country either. Let them stay in space if its so special and wonderful out there.
/Oblique Upright Citizens Brigade reference
Eat the cheeseburger astro-boy!
EOF
After reading "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", the British Space Agency came to conclusion that it's too dangerous to send an english person to the space.
So say we all
unemployed astronauts is quite crowded.
Oh wait, it's just your regular pub, with the usual wretched hive of scum and villainy.
WARNING: Smartphones have side effects--most of them undocumented.
Actually, it was celebrated on March 14 this year (at least in Ireland) instead of the traditional date of March 17 to avoid conflicting with the Holy Week of Easter.
Can you read timestamps? The message you're replying to was posted on St. Patrick's Day... The fact that you replied to it the next day is irrelevant...
So, tone it down a little. OK, then I want to be shoe salesman. /better not be obscure
Utilizing the synergization of benchmark e-solutions to pre-workaround action items!