:: Captain's Personal Blog ::

Stardate: Saturday, February 01, 2003

Procrastination Can End In Tragedy

I'm a bit numb, really. You see, last week my computer showed up. I was really excited. I just needed some time to get it together before I started blogging on it. As such, I wanted my next blog entry to be on my new computer. Well, here it is. My first blog on the new computer. Unfortunately, it took a tragedy to shake me from my complacency.

For those who have been living under a rock, this morning the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon reentry in the Earth's atmosphere. All seven astronauts were lost in the tragedy. Of note, the first Israeli Astronaut was on board. Also of note, seven intrepid human beings who, with little public attention, risk their lives for the future of mankind.

It actually hurts me that the space shuttle launches have become so routine that no one bothers to watch them anymore. They have become postscripts to the media day. Among the latest choices on The Bachelor or Joe Millionaire, you would find a tiny little blurb about the shuttle launching, or the crew's progress on the station. I remember when hearing from the crew, while they were in space, was an event. "We're going to talk live with the astronauts in space, stay tuned." Now, we hardly ever see them anymore.

Now, with this latest tragedy, the public has been shaken to the core. But I fear that it may be in the wrong direction. It was brought to my attention during the day that after the Challenger explosion in 1986, NASA was forced (for good reason) to discontinue shuttle launches for two years. It was also brought to my attention that with the changing times, this is no longer acceptable. A pause of that magnitude would be catastrophic for the International Space Station. The ISS can not go two years without supply runs or transfer of personal. While it is possible that other countries would still send missions to space, it would not be acceptable to the world that the US would bow out for two years. We have to get righth back into the game.

Unfortunately (and that word seems to be permeating this post) that may be easier said than done. There has been talk that terrorism has been ruled out of this explosion. I do not agree. Any amount of sabotage could have brought down that shuttle. Especially given the Zipper Effect (a term that was explained to me today as being when one little crack can grow and expand to take out a portion of the shuttle.)

But let's not deal with minutae. Here is the deal. The space station is a boon for mankind. It is the first step in our exploration of space. And according to recent articles there is a move towards atomic powered propulsion that could get us to Mars even faster than before. Unfortunately, this is the sort of talk that has been around for many years. 1950's B-Movie Science Fiction films talked constantly about Atomic Power used in propulsion.

I just feel a bit optimistic that we are almost there. Looking at the new computer before me fills me with hope that technology has reached a plateau where things like that are possible.

Then I am brought back to reality by events such as those that occurred today. Somehow, this is why I feel we need to investigate a possible act of sabotage. According to reports, Columbia was recently overhauled. Before that she had flown on approximately 26 missions. With all that in mind, how could a simple accident like this happen. The engineers gave her a clean bill of health before she took off. Again, I want to know what went wrong.

As to the crew of the shuttle, they were, as are everyone who dares to launch themselves into space, a brave group of men and women who knew the risks and did it anyway. They went with the future of mankind in their hands, did their jobs and expected to secure the hopes for the future.

It is, however, with this in mind that we have to think back to people like Mr. Lance Bass. I would be very interested to know how this has affected him. And what of the future of space tourism? Will it be hindered by this recent event? I don't mean will it no longer be offered. Just because we had an accident, does not mean that the Russians would stop allowing tourists on their flights. What I want to know is if this will have the psychological effect on the public at large that the missions are just too dangerous.

The thing to remember is that the last shuttle disaster happened close to 20 years ago. Recently one would think that we have gotten so good at this that there wouldn't be any more disasters. Now that belief has been proven wrong.

Let me say this. As of right now, I would go on a shuttle launch tomorrow, if I were allowed (of course, I couldn't afford it anyway, but that's not the point.) It's something to be done. We can not let this recent tragedy deter us from moving forward to becoming citizens of the universe (romantic, perhaps, but true nonetheless.) We must hold in our hearts the memories of those who have come before. Those who laid down their lives to advance the cause of humanity, and those who continue to do so.

Finally, let me explain why I put so much emphasis on the importance of these missions to the future of mankind. Unlike Skylab and Mir, the ISS is a global project which has been the first TRUE act of humanity since the start of the U.N. Many countries coming together as one to bring humanity to the universe. To take us from this planet to establish new colonies in space which have the potential to solve some of our problems here on Earth. It has been said in the past that zero-gravity medicine can lead to new breakthroughs in how we treat the ill. Much like stem cell research in some ways.

In addition, there are resources in space which can offset the losses that we are experiencing here on Earth.

I may be an uninformed fool, but our future in space means a lot to me. May those seven brave souls rest in peace. Your sacrifices will not have been made in vain, and you will not be forgotten.

:: J 9:16 PM [+] ::
...