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Mills on the Hill: Space Exploration on the Cheap
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06/03/08 10:08 AM ET
In my younger days I thought I might make a pretty decent astronaut, so I packed up and went to college in Florida. In short — I went down there and "took up space.” Seriously, folks, where's a good snare drum when you need one?
I must be listening to too much ’60s music on my XM radio. Last week my tribute to LBJ generated lots of interesting comments, both here and directly to my e-mail. And today’s column, “Space exploration on the cheap: America misses its moment,” seems to have struck a chord as well. Check it out and feel free, as always, to share your thoughts right here for all to see.
The operative section of the column:
“Today’s lack of political leadership when it comes to space exploration is embarrassing. Don’t get me wrong. This is not a Republican or a Democratic matter. And politicians are not the only ones to blame. We the people, who have not exactly demanded excellence from our government over the past few decades, share a big part of the blame as well. Maybe even most of the blame.
“Sure, there are ‘plans’ to establish a base on the moon, and maybe someday send a crew to Mars, but we don’t really have our hearts in it. We are going through the motions, doing it on the cheap, and without any articulated vision of why we should explore the heavens in the first place.”
Didn’t really have time to get into the money/cost/benefit discussion in the column, but feel free to share your thoughts on that, too.
I must be listening to too much ’60s music on my XM radio. Last week my tribute to LBJ generated lots of interesting comments, both here and directly to my e-mail. And today’s column, “Space exploration on the cheap: America misses its moment,” seems to have struck a chord as well. Check it out and feel free, as always, to share your thoughts right here for all to see.
The operative section of the column:
“Today’s lack of political leadership when it comes to space exploration is embarrassing. Don’t get me wrong. This is not a Republican or a Democratic matter. And politicians are not the only ones to blame. We the people, who have not exactly demanded excellence from our government over the past few decades, share a big part of the blame as well. Maybe even most of the blame.
“Sure, there are ‘plans’ to establish a base on the moon, and maybe someday send a crew to Mars, but we don’t really have our hearts in it. We are going through the motions, doing it on the cheap, and without any articulated vision of why we should explore the heavens in the first place.”
Didn’t really have time to get into the money/cost/benefit discussion in the column, but feel free to share your thoughts on that, too.
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