Chris Lintott’s Universe

With space shuttle Atlantis having successfully reached orbit as the first of six planned shuttle flights this year, it seems a good time to return to my debate with Mark Hempsell about whether the UK should invest in the International Space Station. Following the first parts of our debate here and here, I asked Mark to elaborate on the type of science that could be done on the space station. Here’s what he wrote:

To give a taste of the sort of science the UK is already missing out on
consider the programme conducted on Mir and Space Shuttle and
continuing on the ISS which is studying calcium loss in the bones which has already
contributed a lot to medical understanding of osteoporosis and to
exploring preventive measures and cures. Or consider the tissue culture working
contributing to growing replacement organs of transplants with the
patent’s own DNA using cloning techniques. Or consider the research into protein

And although in the UK there is a group who belittle this science as in
some way second rate, I think if you suffered from Osteoporosis or were
awaiting a life saving transplant (with resulting lottery of whether a
suitable donor will die at the right time) your perspective of what is
important science research may differ. The truth is Britain is staying
out of all the space research that will actually have an impact on peoples’
everyday lives, which, by the way, is completely contrary to the UK
Government slogan “putting space to work” i.e. only spending money
where there is a proven direct economic return which cannot be said of
astronomy and space physics.

All those who signed the astronomy petition on the Downing Street website will have received an email pointing them to the STFC press releases as a response from the government. The upshot of these not very clear documents is that nothing has changed; UK astronomy is still facing large cuts. It would have been nice if the government has responded to that fact instead of saying the same thing over again.

This week’s Carnival of Space is up over at Orbiting Frog….always worth a look.

Chris

No telescopes open and more snow on the way. We could do some laundry for excitement, but are saving that for tomorrow in case we need more excitement then. Chris needs cheering up – please help!

And in a rash moment, he gave posting access to his fellow observers, heheh… so
Chris Quote of the day: (we were walking past the visitor centre where someone was grappling with a shiny metal thermos) “Look, that man has a telescope!” Um… yeah, that’s why they pay you the big bucks, Chris…
Survival Tactic of the day: not eating the Prawns of Death, which re-appeared again on the salad buffet. They’re kinda brown now.