Slashdot Mirror
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin is Being Emergency Evacuated From the South Pole (businessinsider.com)
The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced Thursday morning that it will provide a "humanitarian medical evacuation flight" from the South Pole for an "ailing" Buzz Aldrin. BusinessInsider adds: Aldrin was the second man to walk on the moon, joining Neil Armstrong in the Apollo 11 Lunar Module in July 1969. He has since become an author and advocate for crewed missions to Mars. He is 86, and no further information is available as to his condition. The NSF's statement said that an NSF plane will fly Aldrin from the Amundsen-Scott research station at the South Pole to McMurdo Station on the Antarctic coast. At that point ski-equipped LC-130 cargo planes flown by the 109th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard will haul him to New Zealand "as soon as possible."
What is Buzz Aldrin doing at the South Pole?
Being awesome, most likely.
No matter how fit he is, I think visiting the south pole aged 86 its taking awesomeness a bit too far.
Almost dying at the south pole, check! XD Seriously thou I don't see a problem with the US burning taxpayer's money to bring the guy back. He's an inspiring explorer for more than one generation. Hopefully he isn't among the last (for space), and it seems like he's not going to stop exploring till he can't do it anymore.
I'm sure he's fitter that most of us, but the South pole is an unforgiving place.
At 86 years old, Earth is an unforgiving place.
Buzz is the real Most Interesting Man in the World.
Rode on the first moon landing, punched a conspiracy troll in the face, explores the Antarctic at 86, and has a cool name.
Buzz for Prezz!
Table-ized A.I.
^This.
Seriously people.
Follow his facebook if you don't already.
The man is prolific, and still excited to learn, discover, and push himself, and then educate and share with others.
The guy who said the election was rigged won the presidency with the second-most votes.
Honestly, at that age your remaining days are numbered, and it's not a big number. So your only real options lie on the spectrum between:
1) Live as safely as possible, taking no risks, including indulging in any pleasures that might increase those risks (that would be most of them), and try to put off dying as long as possible at any cost.
2) Do anything you want, knowing that your time is running out, and that even if it kills you didn't really have much left to lose anyway.
Personally I have a lot more respect for those who lean towards the latter. The former seems to me to have little to do with living, and much to do with fearing the inevitable.
--- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
You're conflating survival of the species with the indefinite survival of the individual.Slightly different issues.
We (and everything else on the planet) are the result of a billion-plus years of unbroken successes of the first one. Nobody has ever managed the second.
You tell me which is more reasonable to be concerned with.
--- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
He walked on the Moon. If Buzz Aldrin wants to go to the South Pole, who the hell has any right to say no?
The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
He's a bloody national hero. I can think of a lot more ludicrous things to spend tax money than airlifting one of the greatest explorers in history.
The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
"All these worlds are yours, except Europa. Attempt no landing there."
- some guy
The tourists that go on these trips buy insurance for things like this. It is quite possible that the company that organized the trip will pay for any costs incurred.
Also, military rescue people live for this kind of thing. They are required to have so much training every year in case there is a military need for such a rescue effort. I'd rather they practice on real people, saving real lives, to get that training rather than have to pay for them to do their training on mannequins.
If we are going to hold some kind of vote on if the taxpayers should pay for this then I'll vote for this to be funded in part by my tax bill.
Also, the US Coast Guard goes out all the time to keep people from wining the Darwin Awards, I don't get upset about that either. Call it training, call it international outreach, call it being a member of the human race. Call it what you will but just don't call it a waste of taxes.
I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.