Not 100% on-topic, but I can’t help but wonder a bit anytime there is another lunar or martian exploration mission (or even plans for new manned/permanent space stations) started by just a...
Not 100% on-topic, but I can’t help but wonder a bit anytime there is another lunar or martian exploration mission (or even plans for new manned/permanent space stations) started by just a singular $country’s space agency.
I mean, where does this end? Will the first human settlements not on Earth seriously be divided by originating nation?
We managed to do something well internationally with the ISS, and I’m decidedly not enough of an expert on the topic to determine to which extent the Indian, US, Chinese, Russian, European and other agencies already work together on other projects.
I get that for practical reasons (reusability of some aspects of space/rocket research for war purposes), we likely won’t ever have full “openness” here, and I’m not arguing for “no country should establish new national space programs” either (seems kind of arbitrary or unfair), but naively I think it might be possible to do it more efficiently and effectively if all purely scientific missions were to be planned and executed jointly simply due to a de-duplication of some of the efforts needed.
Then again, there’s probably some strategic advantage to having a moon base for the space wars of the future, so “purely scientific” missions may not be a thing.
This is coming to a head with low earth or it satellite internet providers. SpaceX has a network, now Amazon is jumping on. If nations get involved and deploy their own, Kessler syndrome is a...
This is coming to a head with low earth or it satellite internet providers. SpaceX has a network, now Amazon is jumping on. If nations get involved and deploy their own, Kessler syndrome is a guarantee.
I do tend to agree that the concept of nations is more or less the most damaging part of modernity. I learned about humanism when I was in high school and it's been a core part of my philosophy since. Tuberculosis jumps to mind, it's insane we as a species continue to let that kill millions upon millions of our own simply because the wealthy nations can't be bothered to help (enough).
Not 100% on-topic, but I can’t help but wonder a bit anytime there is another lunar or martian exploration mission (or even plans for new manned/permanent space stations) started by just a singular $country’s space agency.
I mean, where does this end? Will the first human settlements not on Earth seriously be divided by originating nation?
We managed to do something well internationally with the ISS, and I’m decidedly not enough of an expert on the topic to determine to which extent the Indian, US, Chinese, Russian, European and other agencies already work together on other projects.
I get that for practical reasons (reusability of some aspects of space/rocket research for war purposes), we likely won’t ever have full “openness” here, and I’m not arguing for “no country should establish new national space programs” either (seems kind of arbitrary or unfair), but naively I think it might be possible to do it more efficiently and effectively if all purely scientific missions were to be planned and executed jointly simply due to a de-duplication of some of the efforts needed.
Then again, there’s probably some strategic advantage to having a moon base for the space wars of the future, so “purely scientific” missions may not be a thing.
This is coming to a head with low earth or it satellite internet providers. SpaceX has a network, now Amazon is jumping on. If nations get involved and deploy their own, Kessler syndrome is a guarantee.
I do tend to agree that the concept of nations is more or less the most damaging part of modernity. I learned about humanism when I was in high school and it's been a core part of my philosophy since. Tuberculosis jumps to mind, it's insane we as a species continue to let that kill millions upon millions of our own simply because the wealthy nations can't be bothered to help (enough).