I fully agree with you, Richard and Sterling. It is definitely a Golden Age we live in, which is even more exciting than any period of space exploration before. Just think about all we have learned in the last ten years...how much our horizons have widened...
To me it is incomprehensible how anyone can seriously want to put these remarkable missions, triumphs of human ingenuity, and future ones in danger. It can only be based on lack of information, ignorance or wrong priorities. Just think about the (future) triumphs of Messenger, New Horizons, Dawn, Cassini, the Mars rovers etc. ... Next to this have a look at the ever increasing US federal military budget: $ 685.100.000.000 !!!!!!!!!! in 2010 (by far the largest military budget in the world) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/55/U.S._Defense_Spending_Trends.png Can you even imagine this amount of money? 1 in 5 dollars of the US Federal spending is only for this. Next to this the NASA budget has decreased (in % of Fed budget) almost continously between 1991 and 2008. In 2010 it was $ 18.724 billion. That is a mere 0,5 % of the Federal budget in 2010. I believe we can do without new weapons and new wars but we can't do without dreams and experiences which stimulate the BEST in us: our curiosity and even philosophical thoughts about what we are and where we are. Weapons are invented and produced to kill. It is as simple as that. How creative is that? Does this stimulate the best in us as a species? You are right, Richard. The space missions must to be talked about more than before because they have an incredible potential to stimulate the dreams of millions of people in the world. Talk to your grandchildren and children (the decision makers of the future) about the missions and show them the breathtaking images of the planets and moons. I believe no one can remain disinterested when being faced with the beathtaking beauty they reveal. Go to schools and tell the students for example about meteorites and where they come from. Richard is right, talk to your local politicians and representatives and stimulate their interest and their fascination. Maybe no one has ever done this ... Lamenting about what is going on does not change anything. Be active, talk to people and share the passion and awe that you feel. Be passionate and people will listen...and hopefully change. Martin -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- Von: "Richard Kowalski" <damoc...@yahoo.com> Gesendet: 19.03.2011 08:26:13 An: "Meteorite List" <meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com>, "Sterling K. Webb" <sterling_k_w...@sbcglobal.net> Betreff: Re: [meteorite-list] The Human Presence in the Solar System >Sterling > >A Golden Age INDEED! > >A number of years ago I was discussing a dear friend and mentor's career over >another fine dinner and many bottles of fine wines. > >I lamented how exciting it must have been to be involved in Planetary Science >through the 70s & 80s and that I had missed it. He immediately responded that >we were now in a much more exciting time and the future was more exciting >still. > >I've come to appreciate his perspective and agree that we are in an incredible >period of the exploration of our Solar System. Unfortunately one that could be >in severe danger. As was reported recently, major missions are at risk of cuts >and cancellation. I hope most of you on this list, regardless of your >political stripe, believe that this exploration is important and should >continue. The only way to make this happen is to make your opinions heard, and >I don't mean on this list. > >Contact your Representative, Senator and the President. They are the ones >putting this Golden Age at risk... > >-- >Richard Kowalski >Full Moon Photography >IMCA #1081 > > > >______________________________________________ >Visit the Archives at >http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html >Meteorite-list mailing list >Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com >http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list ______________________________________________ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
