This question is a tough one for me, on one hand I believe since we are helping to pay for the space expeditions that we should have a say in what is done and what the goals are of the program. At the same time, I think the majority of the public are very ignorant when it comes to space and the goals and tasks of NASA. I think that NASA should be guided by public opinion, but in the end the engineers and other who work for and at NASA should have the final say because they hold the most intelligence on the issues.
The value of space exploration is beyond anything imaginable. If we were to conquer the difficulties faced and could become a multi-planet species, then we might be able to save our species from future extinction. While the possibilities are endless with the right intelligence and inventions, I believe we must be cautious about our exploitation of space. I thought some of the topics that the episodes introduced we a bit farfetched and absurd. When the episode talked of space cruises and space as a luxury, I couldn't help but roll my eyes. I hope that human beings do not take something as mysterious, delicate, and majestic as space and exploit it into a capitalism-centered bouncy house.
I think deviating NASA's goals from the public's opinions is what saves this exploitation from happening. The entire idea of the space cruise was from the mind of a Brazilian billionaire, not an engineer from NASA, thus proving my point.
I agree when they started to talk about how people could start taking honey moons out in space was pushing it a little to far. We cannot even kiss in space, we cannot cuddle, we cannot have sex or create a baby, why are we trying to create a magical sight into a honeymoon luxury? This is in the far future, we need to take space one step at a time. We need to think about what we are going to do when the Earth is no longer here and humans disappear. Where do we go? Is there even a place to go?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the idea of a space cruise a bit out there. I don’t think that we would ever be able to live in a world where that is possible. It would simply cost too much money. The thought of a snuggle tunnel made me laugh a lot but it is the idea from people with money that make them happen. I don’t think we will see things like this happening within our generation but I feel that in the future it is something that could possibly happen though.
ReplyDeleteHaha. Very nice write up Emily. Funny too. I felt the same about the interstellar bouncy house. I appreciate all angles of life being entertained through thought, but that one didn't have to be mentioned. It actually took some of the credibility away for me. I wrote on the same point. True though, as you said, that the public for the most part is pretty ignorant to what might need to be done, even if it was thoroughly explained to them. Might be best to just have the final vote be in house. Very fun post.
ReplyDeleteThis was such a good write up. I love that you were honest about not knowing for sure whether or not the public should have an opinion and you really tackled it from both angles. I have to agree with you when you said you rolled your eyes at the thought of space being a luxury. There is so much about the universe that we still have yet to understand, and by we, I mean everybody including those who have the most knowledge of space. Space is so mysterious that even when we think we have all the answers, we're probably going to find that there is way more to it than what we truly know. I think that where you came from was really good. I like how you said since we help to pay for their experiments and research that we should have a say, but they should have the final say because of the knowledge that they have. I think that really makes people think. I know that it made me think about my post after I had already posted it. I think this was a really good post and I enjoyed reading it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments everyone! :)
ReplyDelete