Posted by Championship_Vinyl at l1.wpalaw.org on January 23, 2004 at 15:40:56:
In Reply to: Re: Okay... posted by Strictly Skewed on January 23, 2004 at 15:15:10:
: Now, wait a minute. Very few astronauts do spend time in a space station, most of them go up for a few days. Astronauts on the space station are an entirely different story.
I know, but they're astronauts nonetheless, ones who have undergone the same fundamental training as the ones who have the most menial task on the shuttle.
: So what? How dangerous is it to sail across the ocean? Now, not very. A few hundred years ago? MUCH more dangerous than what astronauts face now. That's my point, we go TOO far in trying to make these things safe. The point is still, the danger they face is completely disproportionate to the hero worship they enjoy.
Point taken. I see exactly what you mean now, and I agree. But media and ploitical sensationalism tends to heap the 'hero' moniker on everyone and everything that crosses our paths. I simply think that at least *some* of that word is warranted in this case, because I think their job is infinitely more dangerous and bold than anything I'd ever want to do.
: Okay, this I don't know much about. Where might I see info about this?
I don't know. Look around the net for any kind of astrobiology info, and you'll probably be able to find something. Apparently there are cases of varying severity as far as otherwise unexplainable damage to the nervous system and cells go, simply from a single week-long flight in zero gravity.
: Who said you did?
You didn't, and I wanted only to make sure that you didn't think I was saying police officer and firefighters were any less noble.
: Nice... very adult. There are millions more like me, so I think it might be hard to call me crazy, just different than you. Or is that the same thing?
No, I know. That was a little much. But I meant it jokingly, not argumentatively, I assure you. I apologize if you took it differently.
: So, what are you saying, that 98% of the people that apply really just want to chicken out?
No, not at all. I'm saying that 98% of the applicants simply don't have to ability to do it, no matter how much they may feel they can. It's like those American Idol auditions - some people just aren't as good as they think. By now, NASA has astronaut selection down to a science (and granted, I'm sure there are an amazing amount of politics involved, i.e. not *what* you know, but *who* you know), and they look for very specific traits that I don't think a lot of human beings possess. Like, some fighter pilots may think they have the "right stuff" because they fly carrier missions, but NASA rejects them in a heartbeat because they're not quite as wonderful as they may think.
: I never said that the missions don't accomplish anything, my point was that the astronauts are doing it out of selfish reasons.
I'm sure the 'glory' and 'hero' aspect of it appeal to many of them, but at the same time, I don't think it makes what they do any less noble, personally. Over the years, our heroes have simply become more willing to accept the title. That fault would lie in the individual, and not necessarily within the profession.
: However, even in terms of their 'accomplishments', the money could be much better spent here on earth. There are research avenues that promise much better results for that much money spent. Just because the research can only be done in space does not justify doing the research. The only worthwhile thing that NASA does is to have a space program at all. The experiments that they do are just P.R. to try to justify their existence, regardless of the results. It's more of a 'since we're going up anyway, we might as well do some experiments'.
I can't say I disagree with you. At the same time, I'm a geek who thinks it's neat, so that tends to make me argue for it.
: Yes, they get paid. Just like astronauts (of course, not as much). But they go into the profession knowing they will be exposing themselves to danger, and accepting that, not for money, but because they want to perform a service.
But, like astronauts, many of them also have no problem humbly accepting the 'hero' moniker for that service.
: No, I'm saying that we get entirely too worked up when astronauts die. Especially considering how quickly we forget the sacrifices others make.
I agree. One hundred percent.