Thursday, December 14, 2006

Homebuilding


A Discovery astronaut working on the International Space Station this week. In Kubrick's 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY astronauts are depicted repairing the fictional Discovery, a ship assembled in orbit. We also see a space shuttle dock with a half-completed space station. Building and maintaining a home in Space is one Sci Fi dream that is coming true.

Say what you want about ISS, it has given us the experience to build big things in Space. It has also shown how a project can survive through decades of changing administrations and threats to funding. Reaching the Moon and beyond will need a long-term commitment. We will be required to maintain permanent homes at ever-greater distances from Earth.

There is an argument for skipping the Moon and heading straight for Mars. However we reach Mars, it should be to establish a permanent presence. Building a Moon outpost first will give us experience settling another world while staying within a few days of Earth. Travelling to Mars presents many unknowns that will need to be solved. Progress can be slow, but we are taking the steps needed to move into Space.

4 Comments:

Blogger ANNA-LYS said...

Is that a pic of Christer Fogelsang?

Nice weekend,
Anna-Lys

7:46 AM  
Blogger CarlBrannen said...

So, did you have some nasty weather in Hawaii about, I guess, 3 days ago? It arrive here in Seattle and made a dent in the suburbs.

1:23 PM  
Blogger L. Riofrio said...

Welcome anna, and how lovely you look! That is Robert Curbeam in the photo. They all look the same when dressed!

Carlb, it has been raining cats and dogs. Fortunately I was able to get off-island, and will be blogging from another location next.

4:52 PM  
Blogger Kea said...

Hee, hee. I know where.

5:34 PM  

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