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Reasearch: The Space Movement's Dip

Posted by AronSora • 7/05/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: mediocre, NASA, space, space movement

Hey, I'm writing a blog post based on Seth Godin's The Dip applied to my topic. Basically, I'm claiming that the space movement is in a dip.

I have a few questions that I'm struggling with:

1: Can a space program be mediocre? Can anything on the cutting edge be mediocre? Why?

2: Should we give up on a mediocre space program? Why?

3:Would you call a space program which remains in low Earth orbit mediocre?

4: What would you define as a mediocre space program?

5: What would you define as a exceptional space program?

6: Do you feel as if NASA and other space agencies broke a promise by not providing the future that they envisioned in space (Space habitation, space mining, a space based economy, ect.)

7: Any other comments you would like to add

8: Do you feel your support for a space program waning?

9: Do you give me permission to quote your comments and link back to your site?

Thanks for your time!

User Comments

7/05/09

wehireu

Commercial space is starting to open up. We will probably see a commercial space station before we see a new international space station. It will be very interesting watching companies like Bigelow Aerospace www.bigelowaerospace.com/news/ and Virgin Galactic
www.virgingalactic.com/ The government space program is in a dip.

[reply]
1. 7/06/09
  
  AronSora
  
  Yes, I see the space industry going through a transformation. But, this transformation means that the space industry will be in a lot of pain for the next few years.
7/05/09

dcarroll

I think poor "reasearch" has caused a dip in science. But it is reassuring.

[reply]
1. 7/06/09
  
  AronSora
  
  I failed there, sorry.
7/05/09

celticmusicfan

I don't think it's really going down. but then again i feel that there should be more progress than just waiting for another 20 years for something to show up. sure they have uncovered 'extra solar planets' and stars that seemed habitable but it just stops there.i think it is the responsibility of people who are into astronomy to blog about it. also getting kids interested in astronomy would help. people have this romantic notions of astronomy until they get in the course and realize scientists spend endless hours looking at the computer than just actually holding a giant telescope.

[reply]
1. 7/06/09
  
  AronSora
  
  Can I quote you on that. Your insight was really good.
7/05/09

acousticguitarist

A lot of the money that has been stolen from countries around the world has gone to the space program research, so that the elite will have an exit strategy when the world becomes uninhabitable. The problem is they'll all turn to jelly if they venture too far out.

What we hear about the Space Programs is B*** S***

[reply]
1. 7/05/09
  
  harveyavatar
  
  Interestingly, a few of the leading figures of the "truth movement" in the US are ex NASA. Did not Lenin say, "the best way to control the opposition is to lead it"?
2. 7/06/09
  
  AronSora
  
  That's why I think the green movement should become allies with the space habitation movement. Plus, space is easier to live in if we have Earth.
7/05/09

PetLvr

I've never heard of "Seth Godin's The Dip" .. what is that? Maybe that might help others (people oblivious to knowledge) like me assist with some insights?

[reply]
1. 7/06/09
  
  AronSora
  
  To sum up his book
  
  -You should put all your efforts into projects that are exceptional and they will have a period that will be painful to work through.
  
  -You should give up on all projects that are mediocre, that are going down despite and that have hit a brick wall.
  
  Then the book going to how to detect whether or not your in a dip or if you've hit a brick wall. I want to suggest to the space community to give up on these mediocre visions of space programs and to make our space programs exceptional.
7/05/09

wehireu

There is a lot of good that can come from a space program if it is done correctly. It is just that the current program is pointed in the wrong direction. There is less military justification for space now and that was what the old space program was about, icbms to the moon basically. Star wars and other junk.

It needs to change focus to more commercial useful applications, low earth orbit blimps for better communication, manufacturing of medicine, computer chips, and other materials which are better made in vacuum. Improved image technology for weather prediction and climate research. Possible near earth mining of asteroids for iridium and other metals that are hard to find on earth. Also sealed environment reserch to understand ecology and biology better. More basic research and commercialization. I would rather see Google than government in space.

[reply]
1. 7/06/09
  
  AronSora
  
  I think Apollo's justifications was what prevented us from having a Mars base today. They were all short-term fear based reasons. Once people got sick of fear, the space program died off. I think the space movement should take the next 3 years to reinvent it's self, even if it means we do not access space for 3 years.
7/06/09

AronSora

Any more input?

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