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To boldly go: what is the point of space exploration?
When Neil Armstrong made his first steps on
the moon on 21 July 1969, he was watched by over 500million people. Many
stayed up through the night to witness it, and those who were children
at the time often recall being woken up to see the momentous occasion.
Today, numerous scientists, engineers, writers and others cite
witnessing the moon landings as an inspiring moment that influenced
their choice of career. While achieved by Americans, the positive
reaction was international – there was a sense that what had been
achieved was on behalf of all mankind, and had opened up a sense of
unlimited possibilities.
But it is the moon landings’ backdrop of the Cold War space race that
perhaps dominates how we view them today. Increasingly, we are given to
viewing the Apollo missions as political, with dubious scientific merit
– certainly, at least, some argue that the money could have been better
spent on less glamorous but more worthy missions like probes or
telescopes. Those who are even less charitable see the moon landings as a
colossal vanity project, wasting millions that could have been spent
alleviating problems here on Earth.
Today, the worth of manned space missions is under discussion again, with the Chinese Chang’e 3
lander seen as the start of a push to place taikonauts on the moon
within a decade. India has followed suit, making its own plans for a
manned landing. The Americans, too, have begun to talk again about
returning to the lunar surface. More generally, manned spaceflight seems
to be coming back into fashion, as exemplified by the rise to celebrity
status of Canadian astronaut Commander Chris Hadfield.
Are we witnessing the return of the space race? Are these plans any
more than just propaganda missions, aimed at projecting the power of
rising countries like India and China? Do the missions have enough
scientific merit, and should we celebrate them even if the benefits are
slight? Should we have gone to the moon in the first place, or should we
have been focusing on more earthly concerns?
Speakers
Professor Ian Crawford
professor of planetary science and astrobiology, Birkbeck College, University of London
Ashley Dove-Jay
PhD researcher, University of Bristol; programme member on NASA/ESA-related projects
David Perks
principal, East London Science School; author, What is science education for?; co-author, Sir Richard Sykes Review of school examinations and A defence of subject-based education
Dr Jill Stuart
visiting fellow, London School of Economics; editor-in-chief, Space Policy
Will Whitehorn
chairman, Transport Systems Catapult and Speed Communications; former president, Virgin Galactic
Chair
Craig Fairnington
online resources manager, Institute of Ideas
View all episodes
By academyofideas
3.9
77 ratings
When Neil Armstrong made his first steps on
the moon on 21 July 1969, he was watched by over 500million people. Many
stayed up through the night to witness it, and those who were children
at the time often recall being woken up to see the momentous occasion.
Today, numerous scientists, engineers, writers and others cite
witnessing the moon landings as an inspiring moment that influenced
their choice of career. While achieved by Americans, the positive
reaction was international – there was a sense that what had been
achieved was on behalf of all mankind, and had opened up a sense of
unlimited possibilities.
But it is the moon landings’ backdrop of the Cold War space race that
perhaps dominates how we view them today. Increasingly, we are given to
viewing the Apollo missions as political, with dubious scientific merit
– certainly, at least, some argue that the money could have been better
spent on less glamorous but more worthy missions like probes or
telescopes. Those who are even less charitable see the moon landings as a
colossal vanity project, wasting millions that could have been spent
alleviating problems here on Earth.
Today, the worth of manned space missions is under discussion again, with the Chinese Chang’e 3
lander seen as the start of a push to place taikonauts on the moon
within a decade. India has followed suit, making its own plans for a
manned landing. The Americans, too, have begun to talk again about
returning to the lunar surface. More generally, manned spaceflight seems
to be coming back into fashion, as exemplified by the rise to celebrity
status of Canadian astronaut Commander Chris Hadfield.
Are we witnessing the return of the space race? Are these plans any
more than just propaganda missions, aimed at projecting the power of
rising countries like India and China? Do the missions have enough
scientific merit, and should we celebrate them even if the benefits are
slight? Should we have gone to the moon in the first place, or should we
have been focusing on more earthly concerns?
Speakers
Professor Ian Crawford
professor of planetary science and astrobiology, Birkbeck College, University of London
Ashley Dove-Jay
PhD researcher, University of Bristol; programme member on NASA/ESA-related projects
David Perks
principal, East London Science School; author, What is science education for?; co-author, Sir Richard Sykes Review of school examinations and A defence of subject-based education
Dr Jill Stuart
visiting fellow, London School of Economics; editor-in-chief, Space Policy
Will Whitehorn
chairman, Transport Systems Catapult and Speed Communications; former president, Virgin Galactic
Chair
Craig Fairnington
online resources manager, Institute of Ideas
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