Essay-let: To Infinity...
Recently, I have seen a spate of commentary critical of plans for further manned space exploration, particularly to Mars or otherwise past Earth orbit. Some cite the recent and continuing economic exigencies, and I do agree that this is a time for other priorities. Others go a great deal further, and contrast the cost and danger of human spaceflight against the successful science that has been done by purely mechanical missions, drawing the conclusion that a human presence in space, or at least beyond low Earth orbit, is needless and wasteful. One even satirically proposed, in Swiftian fashion, that any Mars mission be one way only, that if it were so important to go ourselves, someone surely wouldn't mind not coming back.
In the absence of strong artificial intelligence, I highly doubt the uselessness of the human capacity for repair and improvisation, and am even more sceptical of the idea that these are just as useful on the far end of a radio link. However, this is not my main contention. I contend that, in addition to its scientific value, space exploration is one of our highest cultural achievements.
Every civilisation that has the resources undertakes grand projects to express what it considers important, at least symbolically by all and for all. Often, this is no more than its own pride and greater glory, but other examples transcend this, instead marking some aspect of that culture's character and aspirations. In the past, these have usually been in the spiritual realm, resulting in monuments to one sort of religious faith or another. Though our faiths are still important, this is not what defines us. The modern West has one particularly remarkable characteristic, though. This is an unprecedented, if still too limited, willingness to do new things, be it changing our ways or going new places. I do not claim that it is the only thing that defines us--however, when not exploited to reinforce the too-common patterns of greed and conquest, it is among the noblest of our traits. But for beneath the sea, a destination subject to many of the same hopes and criticisms as our outward sailing, there is almost nowhere left to go on this planet that would be truly new, and fewer places yet where that exploring impulse was, when we first went, untainted by the lust for others' land and treasure. So, the only way to go is up, and our truest equivalent of the grand temples and cathedrals of old is that flag on the moon. It would be tragic if we never surpass it.
In the absence of strong artificial intelligence, I highly doubt the uselessness of the human capacity for repair and improvisation, and am even more sceptical of the idea that these are just as useful on the far end of a radio link. However, this is not my main contention. I contend that, in addition to its scientific value, space exploration is one of our highest cultural achievements.
Every civilisation that has the resources undertakes grand projects to express what it considers important, at least symbolically by all and for all. Often, this is no more than its own pride and greater glory, but other examples transcend this, instead marking some aspect of that culture's character and aspirations. In the past, these have usually been in the spiritual realm, resulting in monuments to one sort of religious faith or another. Though our faiths are still important, this is not what defines us. The modern West has one particularly remarkable characteristic, though. This is an unprecedented, if still too limited, willingness to do new things, be it changing our ways or going new places. I do not claim that it is the only thing that defines us--however, when not exploited to reinforce the too-common patterns of greed and conquest, it is among the noblest of our traits. But for beneath the sea, a destination subject to many of the same hopes and criticisms as our outward sailing, there is almost nowhere left to go on this planet that would be truly new, and fewer places yet where that exploring impulse was, when we first went, untainted by the lust for others' land and treasure. So, the only way to go is up, and our truest equivalent of the grand temples and cathedrals of old is that flag on the moon. It would be tragic if we never surpass it.