Space
has always been an object of fascination and intrigue for humans because it is
vast and unknown. Its exploration became a race [the so-called “Space
Race”] during the Cold War between Russia and the US.
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| Space Race |
https://history105.libraries.wsu.edu/fall2014/2014/08/30/global-effects-of-the-space-race-between-the-u-s-and-soviet-russia-1955-1972/
Although Russia was
the first into space with a satellite [1957] and later a man [1961], America
was the first to walk on the moon [1969]. As I watched the lecture
videos, I found it quite stimulating to understand the details about how
America and Russia constantly developed new methods and technologies to expand
space exploration. Today, on the other hand, it do not seem humans are
racing into space, nor are we energized to capitalize on what the moon may have
to offer for problem solving.
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| Time Magazine Cover Art |
http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-was-the-point-of-the-space-race-jeff-steers
The exciting developments of space exploration that occurred in 2004 added new
dimensions to the notion of human effort to expand our horizons. The US
landed rovers on Mars and reached Saturn with a probe. The most
interesting aspect was the launching into space of privately owned manned
crafts. These developments were significant and exciting, but they did
not seem to be big news. Why? Has human kind lost fascination with
space exploration?
The
last lecture video made interesting arguments about the moon possibly becoming
the Persian Golf of the 21st century. The surface of the moon
contains vast amounts of Helium-3 isotopes, deposited over billions of years by
solar wind, which could be used to provide abundant fuel for fusion energy
without radioactive waste.
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| Helium 3 Isotope |
http://android-universe-fan.wikia.com/wiki/Helium-3
Helimu-3 is not available on earth in
sufficient amounts to provide fuel. Also, using water from the asteroid
belt is an intriguing idea I could not have anticipated. Overcoming the
distance and time would be a unique challenge. I think these sorts of
solutions to the challenges humans face can only be achieved as we continue the
aggressive pursuit of space exploration technologies now and in the
future.
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| NASA Moon Base |
http://pics-about-space.com/future-nasa-plans-moon-base?p=1
In
2006 NASA announced its intention to establish a permanent base on the moon by
2024. Achieving such an objective would be exciting and a logical
extension of Neil Armstrong’s historic 1969 moonwalk. 2024 is just eight
years away, not many years distant. Since then plans have changed, and it
is not so clear what we will do. Still, why have we not heard more about
this development if it is still underway? Is this next step?
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| Neil Armstrong |
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Race
Sources:
Wikipedia. “Space Race”. 29 May 2016. Web. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Race
TED Ed Lessons Worth Sharing. “Who Won the Space Race”. 29 May 2016. Web.
Herbert, Evan. “How did the space race between the U.S. and Soviet Russia
affect American Politics.” 29 May 2016. Web. 30 August 2014. https://history105.libraries.wsu.edu/fall2014/2014/08/30/global-effects-of-the-space-race-between-the-u-s-and-soviet-russia-1955-1972/
Pics About Space. “Future NASA Plans Moon Base.” 29 May 2016. Web.
Wikia.com. “Helium-3”. 29 May 2016. Web.
