She’s Home

Only a Few Shuttle Missions Left; Where to Next??

Discovery returns home on September 11, 2009. Courtesy NASA.
Discovery returns home on September 11, 2009. Courtesy NASA.

I am struck by the interesting (and uncomfortable) irony that I can watch a shuttle launch and landing (and press conferences about gawgeous HST results) via satellite TV in the comfort of my home — made possible by advances from the United States space program — and yet, we in the U.S. are facing the end of a significant part of our crewed flight to space capability.  After next year (2010-ish) we have no human launch capability in the U.S. Period.  The Ares launch vehicle won’t be ready to go for some years yet, and NASA is facing that fact. So are those of us who have followed NASA’s many achievements for most (if not all) of our lives.  I can’t imagine a time without space access — yet we, in the U.S., are facing that time.  The Augustine Commission recently-released document notwithstanding, we are slamming into a wall that will prevent us from going to space for a quite a while. The worst thing is, it’s a wall of our own building.

We, collectively, in the US, have let the leadership slight NASA for too long. And, NASA is paying the price. Yes, it can still do great things — but it can’t do the greatest, not with the lack of funding and Congressional and Senatorial support it is facing.  I have many friends who work for NASA and its contractors, and their agency doesn’t deserve the neglect it’s getting.  I am proud of the folks at NASA — they are a gift that this country once voted to give to itself. And now, the best and brightest are being treated like second-hand goods by politicians who would rather encourage some very questionable things with our tax dollars.

Maybe it’s time that we let the rest of the world leap ahead of us. Maybe we’ve done all we can.  Maybe we should just revel in our complacency that allows us to use satellite TV and cell phones and other technology that space travel has made possible, but not look forward to or enable new accomplishments made by our fellow Americans.  Maybe the U.S. doesn’t have the will to move forward any more, given our country’s slide into anti-science, anti-reality fundamentalism and hatred. Maybe we don’t deserve to go to space any more — and that other countries can find ways to do it better. Maybe we need a kick in the collective hiney.

I’d hate to think that this would be the case. I’ve always been proud to live in a country that led people to space and has given the world so much to marvel at.  Space travel and the will to explore has been part of our national psyche for a long time.  It’s kind of sad to think that maybe we won’t be in that leadership role any more. What do you think?

365 Days wins Parsec Award

For those of you following all the events of the International Year of Astronomy, the big news this week is that the 365 Days of Astronomy podcasts have won a Parsec Award. This is a very big deal for the organizers of 365 Days of Astronomy, as well as all of us podcast creators who have been sending in our ‘casts every day. Mark and I (through Loch Ness Productions) have created 8 podcasts already (see my vodcast page here) with three more in the hopper. We’ve also supported the program with a financial donation because we see the grand promise of new media projects like this one. It’s been great fun to create these little audio labors of love and if you haven’t been listening every day, get over to 365 Days of Astronomy and start your audio astronomy adventure.

Special congrats to the 365 Days of Astronomy overall production team — and to all the podcast creators who have been sharing astronomy with listeners around the world.

(Note: for those wondering where I’ve been–I’m here, but my Internet access has been spotty due to an equipment problem with our provider. So, I get short periods each day to check email and post things. It should be fixed in the next day or so and I’ll be back with my regular postings. In the meantime, I’m working on some special projects in astronomy outreach!)