Comments on: Lift off for Atlantis – but what’s the science?

By: Dave Lermit

Dave Lermit — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 21:49:14 +0000

This is an old argument Robots v Humans in space.
I seem to remember Clarke arguing the case for the latter and Lunar observatories…

Budget sez “Robots in Space” is cheaper (when they work!) Politics say “Humans in Space” is inspirational.
Without inspiration the Great British Public will continue to regard Space as something we don’t do and the Government will continue to cut back on Space Science even the Robotic Bits! vide STFC and the Gemini Telescope.
Tsiolkovski (Hawking) was right and if we don’t get out of the cradle real soon… we never will. And then we can kiss goodbye to a Technological Future. With No Robots. Or Space Science. Or Physics.
That being said the HEM is Pie in the Sky. We would be better collaborating with the Russians/ESA on ACTS (new Soyuz replacement) and their proposed Next Generation Orbital Lunar Launch Facility. Especially if a third (fourth) iteration Russian LSS and whatnot can support us to on the long long missions to trans Lunar Space and the NEOs. Barring a Icy Miracle from LCROSS or Chandrayaan-1 or Chang’e or Kaguya that’s where we will find the next waterhole.
Mars is at the bottom of another Gravity Well.

By: Doug Ellison

Doug Ellison — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 14:43:47 +0000

“Britain is staying
out of all the space research that will actually have an impact on peoples’
everyday lives”

Nonsense, we’re involved in Meteosat, Envisat, the DMC constellation etc. We don’t have enough cash to go around the needs of astronomy, physics and so on already. To suggest that we could ever find enough cash to be involved in manned spaceflight ( or that, if such an ammount of money, building a dorm for the ISS is the best way to spend it ) just seems, to me, to be madness. I’m not against manned spaceflight- but I am against the UK getting involved in it with our current ESA contribution.

By: Adam Primus

Adam Primus — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:59:22 +0000

Would it really be “Inventing a project”? The HEM radiation shielding would seem to be an essential development in manned space flight & on it’s own would be worth the effort, particularly if we are serious about the mooted Mars Mission. (We are also beginning a new Sunspot Cycle).
In the long run I still feel that British involvement would raise the profile & the greatest benefit would be the public impact of such a collaboration. I think he higher the public profile, the better the chances of funding.

By: Vagueofgodalming

Vagueofgodalming — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:54:09 +0000

Surely what matters for the treatment of osteoporosis is that the research is done, not who does it. British people need not miss out because foreigners do that particular piece of work.

This is about the UK being a good international citizen, and I’m not sure that inventing a project is the best way to improve that.

By: Adam Primus

Adam Primus — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:24:01 +0000

Never underestimate the power of of publicity. The impact on the public psyche of a Briton on a Space Station that the British helped fund could have very real benefits. People in space capture the public imagination & fires enthusiasm in a way that bacteria in space never could, & with the politicians holding the purse strings, having the public on your side must be an asset.

By: Will Gater's science writing and astronomy

Will Gater's science writing and astronomy — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:04:36 +0000

Successful lift-off for Space Shuttle Atlantis…

The Space Shuttle Atlantis has finally lifted off from Cape Canaveral to begin its 11-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The launch of STS-122 has been delayed since December with fuel sensor malfunctions causing trouble for NASA. In…