John Glenn has gone
Discussion
'Over the long arc of John Glenn’s life, it proved impossible to ever ask him to do something for his country. No matter the mission, no matter the risk, he had already stepped forward, his hand raised, his jaw set, ready to go.'
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/12/08/publ...
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/12/08/publ...
Eric Mc said:
It's not even started.
Well, with your 'realistic vision' specs on, what do you foresee for the 21st century? Earthwise there's not much left to visit that hasn't been visited. Africa, Poles, Everest, tick. Looking out towards space we were going to be on Mars in 1980, but 36 years later we're back to where we were in John Glenn's day. OK the craft is bigger and packed with 'tech' but that's all. Man hasn't been out of Earth orbit since 1972.At least in another 200 years or so Captain Kirk will come along.
Simpo Two said:
Well, with your 'realistic vision' specs on, what do you foresee for the 21st century? Earthwise there's not much left to visit that hasn't been visited. Africa, Poles, Everest, tick. Looking out towards space we were going to be on Mars in 1980, but 36 years later we're back to where we were in John Glenn's day. OK the craft is bigger and packed with 'tech' but that's all. Man hasn't been out of Earth orbit since 1972.
At least in another 200 years or so Captain Kirk will come along.
There is plenty of territory in the Solar System waiting for us. At least in another 200 years or so Captain Kirk will come along.
And we're most definitely are NOT back where Glenn was in 1962 from a technical point of view. OK, we may be roughly in the same location at the moment but we are in MUCH more sophisticated vehicles.
Look on Glenn as an Amundsden of space and the International Space Station as one of the current Antarctic Research Stations.
And we have just started on this path. There is much, much more to come.
Edited by Eric Mc on Friday 9th December 15:43
Eric Mc said:
There is plenty of territory in the Solar System waiting for us.
And we're most definitely are NOT back where Glenn was in 1962 from a technical point of view. OK, we may be roughly in the same location at the moment but we are in MUCH more sophisticated vehicles.
I don't count technical sophistication as exploration or heroes though. If half the manpower that had gone into 'sophistication' had been spent on pushing the boundaries then we'd be on Mars and Titan by now.And we're most definitely are NOT back where Glenn was in 1962 from a technical point of view. OK, we may be roughly in the same location at the moment but we are in MUCH more sophisticated vehicles.
Given that man's push into the solar system fell flat on its face in 1972 and is curently still there, what (literal) further goal do you envisage happening this century?
Simpo Two said:
I don't count technical sophistication as exploration or heroes though. If half the manpower that had gone into 'sophistication' had been spent on pushing the boundaries then we'd be on Mars and Titan by now.
Given that man's push into the solar system fell flat on its face in 1972 and is curently still there, what (literal) further goal do you envisage happening this century?
I guess for me that depends how successful SpaceX are with their ambitions, if they do all they hope to achieve we'll be on Mars, if they have delays but keep that dream alive, we'll probably still be on Mars by the end of the Century, just in smaller numbers. If it really is all a pipe-dream for Mr Musk, then we'll be watching the Indian's or Chinese go to Mars (in my very naive and starry eyed opinion).Given that man's push into the solar system fell flat on its face in 1972 and is curently still there, what (literal) further goal do you envisage happening this century?
Somebody had to do stuff first. Then more come along afterwards to learn how to do that stuff better. As far as low earth orbit operations are concerned - that's where we are at the moment.
In many ways, Apollo was a bit of an anomaly and an event that probably occurred 50 years before it really should have.
We are now 50 years on and poised to start moving out again.
In many ways, Apollo was a bit of an anomaly and an event that probably occurred 50 years before it really should have.
We are now 50 years on and poised to start moving out again.
You're right but the spirit of John Glenn is about being first, and pushing the boundaries, putting his life at risk etc etc. By the time 'tech' has got bus trips going to the moon, well frankly that's like the modern cruise liner vs Columbus and nothing to do with pioneering.
A true pioneer will always do things as soon as it's possible, or sometimes before. Scott didn't think 'Well I can probably do it but I'll stay home for 20 years until tractors get better'. Lindbergh didn't think 'Hmm it's a bit risky, I'll wait until Sperry's made a gyro'. You go as soon as you can, not least beacuse you want to be first and famous.
A true pioneer will always do things as soon as it's possible, or sometimes before. Scott didn't think 'Well I can probably do it but I'll stay home for 20 years until tractors get better'. Lindbergh didn't think 'Hmm it's a bit risky, I'll wait until Sperry's made a gyro'. You go as soon as you can, not least beacuse you want to be first and famous.
Beati Dogu said:
Indeed, and Amy's work is all worth a look.Einion Yrth said:
I admire Eric's optimism, and I hope he's right, but all this stuff about better tech? The only current man rated vehicles appear to be either Soyuz, or closely based thereupon. Soyuz entered service in November 1966.
Don't you count the International Space Station as a spacecraft? It's the largest and most sophisticated space vehicle put into space so far. Within its confines we are learning how to go about living and working in space for months and even years at a time. All this is basic knowledge which will serve us well when we start moving out.The means of getting to the space station is almost irrelevant. Hopefully, within two years there will be a choice of at least three ferry craft to get to the Space Station - or any other stations that may follow.
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