There’s something about human nature that drives us to “go where no man has ever gone”. I think thats why we do things like climb Everest, play extreme sports, and drive 2000 lb vehicles at 70 mph on expressways. The best part is that the devices we are using to view this strip and comment on are probably the result of technology developed for the space program.
Much as I wish the Moon program had kept going, NASA went to the Moon for political reasons – because of the Space Race and because Kennedy committed them to it. It was George Mallory who supposedly made the “Because it’s there" quote, and he was referring to climbing Everest. If anyone in the Apollo program used the quote, they were echoing him.
@shamino It’s not politics, it’s about Arlo prattling on about something or another that interests him while Janis just goes about her day putting up with it.
I think I must differ from Johnson’s view this time. It seems apparent to me that we went to the Moon to beat the Russians. There were other supporting goals, but that was what got us moving.
No one has mentioned the development of laser technology, remote sensing, or applied mathematics advancements. In the academia of the 1960’s, if you didn’t have a NASA related grant for some sort of research, you were a nobody!
“We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.” – JFK, September 1962
People and things can be put in space using zillions in tax money, but it’s not sustainable in the long run. When there’s an economic reason to do it (communication satellites, for example) or a military reason, then it’s justified. It would be good to have an asteroid defense system someday. Space mining (lunar titanium, perhaps) could be made to pay someday; at that point, private enterprise would do it, because there would be a profit; and the poor taxpayer would get a break.
Working from a profit motive means you are doing things others desire enough to pay for and that they have enough money to pay for it and that you have figured out a way to do so for less than they are willing to pay.
If they are wanting something illegal or harmful, that can be banned or the supply punished. (Hit men are still hired, though, so it won’t all be avoided.)
Very large profits usually are gained after the first few provisions by providing the most people the best service the cheapest (more customers is more profitable than a few high paying customers). (Some things people only want because the rich want them too. Among other things, it sells clothes brands and styles.)
Regardless, selling people what they want is seldom a bad thing. Before long, someone will decide it needs to go to the ones who can’t afford it on their own and the government will take over. Unless you get in bed with the politicians, the best thing to do then is move on to something else nobody else has yet and provide that. It’s all good.
Why ever we did it – think of the changes to consumer items. The pen as mentioned. The ever joked about Tang. The expansion of and advances to computers. Women in computers (much more so than even in the recent movie about the black women who worked at such). Mylar…
KenTheCoffinDweller almost 5 years ago
And so we might be approaching Heinlein’s “The Man Who Sold the Moon”.
Anathema Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Wasn’t that the same reason for climbing Mt. Everest?
alasko almost 5 years ago
Wasn’t it more like, “to boldly go where no one has gone before….”
John Smith almost 5 years ago
Actually, we went to beat the Russians. Apollo was all about the Cold War
jarvisloop almost 5 years ago
Anyone care to place a bet as to when Jimmy will leave a comment again? It’s been about three months since the last one.
Richard Nace Premium Member almost 5 years ago
There’s something about human nature that drives us to “go where no man has ever gone”. I think thats why we do things like climb Everest, play extreme sports, and drive 2000 lb vehicles at 70 mph on expressways. The best part is that the devices we are using to view this strip and comment on are probably the result of technology developed for the space program.
fredd13 almost 5 years ago
Much as I wish the Moon program had kept going, NASA went to the Moon for political reasons – because of the Space Race and because Kennedy committed them to it. It was George Mallory who supposedly made the “Because it’s there" quote, and he was referring to climbing Everest. If anyone in the Apollo program used the quote, they were echoing him.
Sojourn almost 5 years ago
I agree Arlo!
Mentor397 almost 5 years ago
On the one hand, I agree, but I dislike that so little science was done in the first place. “Because it’s there” can only motivate for so long.
shamino almost 5 years ago
Three days in a row of political commentary with no humor content. plonk
DaveQuinn almost 5 years ago
Arlo is a very deep thinker. He has very profound thoughts that make total sense.
assrdood almost 5 years ago
@shamino It’s not politics, it’s about Arlo prattling on about something or another that interests him while Janis just goes about her day putting up with it.
david_42 almost 5 years ago
Strictly a domination game JFK was playing.
khjalmarj almost 5 years ago
I think I must differ from Johnson’s view this time. It seems apparent to me that we went to the Moon to beat the Russians. There were other supporting goals, but that was what got us moving.
Tyge Premium Member almost 5 years ago
No one has mentioned the development of laser technology, remote sensing, or applied mathematics advancements. In the academia of the 1960’s, if you didn’t have a NASA related grant for some sort of research, you were a nobody!
kunddog almost 5 years ago
I remember the space program being called welfare for scientist
RonaldDad Premium Member almost 5 years ago
It was about the Rooskies.
Back to Big Mike almost 5 years ago
I’m with you, Mr. Johnson.
Scott S almost 5 years ago
“We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.” – JFK, September 1962
Scott S almost 5 years ago
It would have been quite fitting that the recovery ship for the Apollo 11 been the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) instead of the Hornet.
Shonkin almost 5 years ago
People and things can be put in space using zillions in tax money, but it’s not sustainable in the long run. When there’s an economic reason to do it (communication satellites, for example) or a military reason, then it’s justified. It would be good to have an asteroid defense system someday. Space mining (lunar titanium, perhaps) could be made to pay someday; at that point, private enterprise would do it, because there would be a profit; and the poor taxpayer would get a break.
poopsypoo Premium Member almost 5 years ago
I wish we could all take trip to space just once in our lives!
David Huie Green LosersBlameOthers&It'sYOURfault almost 5 years ago
Working from a profit motive means you are doing things others desire enough to pay for and that they have enough money to pay for it and that you have figured out a way to do so for less than they are willing to pay.
If they are wanting something illegal or harmful, that can be banned or the supply punished. (Hit men are still hired, though, so it won’t all be avoided.)
Very large profits usually are gained after the first few provisions by providing the most people the best service the cheapest (more customers is more profitable than a few high paying customers). (Some things people only want because the rich want them too. Among other things, it sells clothes brands and styles.)
Regardless, selling people what they want is seldom a bad thing. Before long, someone will decide it needs to go to the ones who can’t afford it on their own and the government will take over. Unless you get in bed with the politicians, the best thing to do then is move on to something else nobody else has yet and provide that. It’s all good.
MatthewJB almost 5 years ago
Will you, Mr. Johnson, be mentioning this again next month, at the 50th anniversary?
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] almost 5 years ago
They went there to beat Russia.
Ahuehuete almost 5 years ago
I thought we did it to beat the Russians
mafastore almost 5 years ago
Why ever we did it – think of the changes to consumer items. The pen as mentioned. The ever joked about Tang. The expansion of and advances to computers. Women in computers (much more so than even in the recent movie about the black women who worked at such). Mylar…
phobos over 4 years ago
I wanted to go into space so badly, but being blown up ended that dream.