It seems that an eternal question plagues conversations about the future of commercial or governmental spaceflight: “To man (a spacecraft), or not to man?” -This query is one I am often posed when I reveal my own spaceflight ambitions. Many wonder why we bother with the incredible expense of sending humans off-world when critics argue that 1) […]
Read More Why Support Human Spaceflight?Our culture is replete with examples of androids and humanoid robots in space. From David in Ridley Scott’s brand-new film, Prometheus, to the iconic C-3PO in George Lucas’s Star Wars, androids and humanoid robots are often portrayed as our trusted servants and protectors, capable of tasks we ourselves cannot or will not perform. Further, the […]
Read More Telepresence, Androids, and Space ExplorationThe title of this post is tongue-in-cheek, but it makes an important point. Just because many people believe, assert, or convey something does not immediately graduate whatever they report to become scientifically-reliable or even scientifically-useful. This is actually symptomatic of a larger cultural issue here in the US. Frankly, the dichotomy of what people choose […]
Read More The plural of “anecdote” is not “data”When you gaze outside of your spacecraft, what do you see? What’s it really like to be there? With the advent of digital photography in the hands of determined astronauts willing to make time to steal moments to snap images like the above, now we can know. Have a look. Blow the image up with a click. […]
Read More Room with a (global) viewToday marks the 50th anniversary of human exploration off-world. Coincidentally, it also marks the 30th anniversary of the inaugural launch of NASA’s Space Shuttle. Now is a time of transition in many respects; it’s a time of remembrance and of guarded (and sometimes not-so-guarded) excitement. The Space Shuttle is retiring, the International Space Station is […]
Read More Yuri’s Semi-Centennial… and other milestones
Chronicles of an Atomic Astrowright 