Comments on: The Space Race & Chinese History http://insidetheasylum.blogsome.com/2009/05/24/learning-from-chinas-history/ Politics, Philosophy, and BS Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:18:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Filthy Stinking No.9 http://insidetheasylum.blogsome.com/2009/05/24/learning-from-chinas-history/#comment-345 Tue, 26 May 2009 03:54:28 +0100 http://insidetheasylum.blogsome.com/2009/05/24/learning-from-chinas-history/#comment-345 Hi Roga. I agree absolutely that private enterprise is the best (and possibly only) hope for the west to continue to lead in the realm of space. Unfortunately, we really do seem to have put all our eggs in one basket. When I say "we" I should stress that I am not an American myself, and use the term in a wider sense. The west has essentially allowed most of their efforts to become subsets of whatever NASA is up to. NASA is a dead-duck ... but I'm not convinced that western private enterprise is going to take up the slack. The problem lies within your words "if we are open to the frontier" ... and I would have to answer that "we", meaning the collective west, have shown that "we" are not open to it. Some individuals are. Even a few corporations are. Is there a critical mass? Certainly not. Will there ever be a critical mass? That is open to doubt. I grieve for the lost opportunities, and lack the faith to hope for brighter futures. I'm part of the western cultural tradition, and I would like to see it go on to dominate the space era ... but there's a good chance that it won't. I don't think it's too late ... but I do doubt that there is the will to make the critical changes before it becomes too late. Hi Roga. I agree absolutely that private enterprise is the best (and possibly only) hope for the west to continue to lead in the realm of space. Unfortunately, we really do seem to have put all our eggs in one basket. When I say "we" I should stress that I am not an American myself, and use the term in a wider sense. The west has essentially allowed most of their efforts to become subsets of whatever NASA is up to. NASA is a dead-duck ... but I'm not convinced that western private enterprise is going to take up the slack. The problem lies within your words "if we are open to the frontier" ... and I would have to answer that "we", meaning the collective west, have shown that "we" are not open to it. Some individuals are. Even a few corporations are. Is there a critical mass? Certainly not. Will there ever be a critical mass? That is open to doubt. I grieve for the lost opportunities, and lack the faith to hope for brighter futures. I'm part of the western cultural tradition, and I would like to see it go on to dominate the space era ... but there's a good chance that it won't. I don't think it's too late ... but I do doubt that there is the will to make the critical changes before it becomes too late.

]]> by: Marvin the P.A. http://insidetheasylum.blogsome.com/2009/05/24/learning-from-chinas-history/#comment-344 Tue, 26 May 2009 00:11:57 +0100 http://insidetheasylum.blogsome.com/2009/05/24/learning-from-chinas-history/#comment-344 China recently put a man in space after what seemed a crash program to get on with their long stalled plan to do so. Why the big rush all of a sudden? My theory is that they were scared of being beaten into space by the X Prize guys and Space Ship One. China beaten into space by a small commercial American company - not the sort of look they wanted. China recently put a man in space after what seemed a crash program to get on with their long stalled plan to do so. Why the big rush all of a sudden?

My theory is that they were scared of being beaten into space by the X Prize guys and Space Ship One. China beaten into space by a small commercial American company - not the sort of look they wanted.

]]> by: roga http://insidetheasylum.blogsome.com/2009/05/24/learning-from-chinas-history/#comment-342 Mon, 25 May 2009 20:53:58 +0100 http://insidetheasylum.blogsome.com/2009/05/24/learning-from-chinas-history/#comment-342 The lesson isn't that "we" have to do it. The lesson is that if you put all your eggs in one political basket, eventually someone will come to power who disagrees with you. And then it's done. If we are to open the frontier, it will be done the same way the first American frontier was opened: international and business competition, individuals and families taking enormous risks for enormous rewards, and a free market reinvesting its profits back into itself. NASA as it is today is a dead end jobs program; a cancelled line item waiting to happen. The lesson isn't that "we" have to do it. The lesson is that if you put all your eggs in one political basket, eventually someone will come to power who disagrees with you. And then it's done.

If we are to open the frontier, it will be done the same way the first American frontier was opened: international and business competition, individuals and families taking enormous risks for enormous rewards, and a free market reinvesting its profits back into itself. NASA as it is today is a dead end jobs program; a cancelled line item waiting to happen.

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