A New Hope for Space

[eldritchhobbit]

Hats off to the Tier One Project, the world's first privately funded manned space program, which includes SpaceShipOne and carrier aircraft White Knight.

A new era is born.

Quote of the day:

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of ...
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

from "High Flight" by Gillespie Magee

Comments

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Wow... who knew? I guess I'd figured that there wouldn't be any more real space exploration in my lifetime. Glad that's wrong.

And love the quote- I've also seen that for those of us who aren't thrilled about flying; focusing on gorgeous imagery helps. :)

I owe you an email, my friend- will do that post-haste. Don't worry about the coffee thing; we'll get together sometime before Thanksgiving, right?!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

>And love the quote- I've also seen that for those of us who aren't thrilled about flying; focusing on gorgeous imagery helps. :)

LOL! Glad you liked it. Though I think the one for Sept. 26 is even more "you," what with the Celtic ties and all. And you're quite right: coffee WILL happen. Thanks for replying. Take care, m'dear! :)

Homer Simpson in space?

[(Anonymous)]

Hey Amy

I look forward to humankind reaching the stars too, but worry what level of commercialization it will require to make accessible to us all. It wont be long before you see in lights on the face of the moon "this view brought to youMcDonalds"

alex

http://popthought.com

Re: Homer Simpson in space?

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Hey there! Thanks for stopping by! I, too, am concerned about how space will be commercialized. Then again, it was a NASA mission that left all of those golfballs on the moon. :( In the end, I'd far sooner trust the private sector than the governments of nation-states to take us into the final frontier and make that universe accessible. At least entrepreneurs have the incentive of profit and the competition of others to make them somewhat accountable and efficient: because of this, I doubt some of the same problems experienced by state monopolies in space travel (funding, R&D, performance) will be revisited. Besides, if given a choice, I'd prefer that the "others," if they exist, happen across a Starbucks as the first sign of Earth culture than military satellites and orbital weapons. :)

Re: Homer Simpson in space?

[(Anonymous)]

http://www.popthought.com/display_column.asp?DAID=290 for those interested in an interesting alternative history this link takes you to a discussion of the comic MINISTRY OF SPACE. What is most interesting is that it explores the cost to a state or people to overcome and launch oneselves into space.

Starbucks in space is scary, I'd rather see Dunn Brothers.

alex

http://popthought.com

Re: Homer Simpson in space?

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Great stuff indeed! Many thanks!

Hey, are those Pop Thought banners new, or have I just missed them before? Must go add them to my web pages... :)