THE LANDING
It may well have rankled a few British ciizens this week when their expedition to Mars did not function as planned, and, just a few days later the United States landed a second unmanned craft which deployed on schedule and is not sendng back color photographs of the surface of Mars.
This sort of competative antagonism refected by such an attitude may well have been acceptable in the early days of space studies as if it were a sports compoetiton of some type. We have now advanced too far into space technology to let petty jealoucies and distrubing elements of false pride to impede progress we can make together. The simple truth is we owe much to each other.
Such expressions of pride in our accomplishment seem, to me, to be found among average citizen groups rather than among scientist or people associated with the space industries which are fast become a vital part of our economy. Much of the sensational style reporting coming from the media is found to be a direct result of the desires and references of average readers. The media has to give its users what they want as well as some things they ought to have.
If technical flaws exixt in the British vehicle which has not worked properly, they are probably much the same as he systems used in our own craft. Working together we can ovecome such hadicaps and we can make greater progress with less expense and, hence, get more public support for space progams currently available. It would seem any efforts to overcome some of the critical nitpicking, much of which does not take the space programs seriously, is to curb the ezrering citizen rather than the those in charge.
What do we, as individuals, actully know about the values we might obtain from such projects? We know very little, We freely accept the suppositions of others who seem to think they do know, but often shows that their views are based on conjecture and guesswork just as ours have been. We are, it seems, in constant dabgerr of pre-judging space projects ahead of the actual trials which will prove what it worth.. We do the same thing when we try criminals in the court of public opinion instead of allowing the judicial elements of our governmen o do their job.
Let's refrain from allowing ourselves to be too critical of space prorgams, until we know what the stated purpose is, and some of such work being done, as well as its limitations. The true facts will come from those qualified to state them and not sugar-coated, exagerated, mutated, battery-powered and wrapped in glitzy plastic cartons for us from Disney studios.
Place a "Handle With Care" label on your space project folders and think at least twice before you get critical. We should be aware of the fact that political colorings are being added to space news to make it seem to has never been. If there is to be any one area of our existance which is best kept free of political mid-handling this space study area is that item. Envy concerning any such accomplishments can be a crippling thing.
A.L.M. January 4, 2004 [c537wds]
