|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#21
|
|||
|
|||
"Space Race" on Wikipedia
On Mon, 21 Nov 2005 23:26:50 -0600, in a place far, far away, Pat
Flannery made the phosphor on my monitor glow in such a way as to indicate that: It's interesting how that first treaty is phrased - national ownership of the Moon, or any part of it outside of a scientific base is a no-no, but there's a big loophole (unintentional?) in it that suggests that private ownership might be okay. I assume that at the time it was drafted private means of getting to the Moon seemed so unlikely that no one thought that a treaty regarding that possibility was even necessary. Basically, yes. One of the purposes of the treaty was in fact to shut down the space race, by rendering the rest of the universe not worth racing over. |
#22
|
|||
|
|||
"Space Race" on Wikipedia
From Jorge:
"Stuf4" wrote I haven't seen anyone at sci.space post a reference to this "Space Race" article from Wikipedia, so here it is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_race I will be interested to see any constructive feedback you may have. "After its successful landings on the Moon, the U.S. explicitly disclaimed the right to ownership of any part of the Moon." The US had already explicitly done so when it ratified the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, well before the first landing. For that matter, the article makes no mention of any of the space treaties, their role in the space race, nor their role specifically (the Outer Space Treaty and the Rescue Agreement especially) in leading to Apollo-Soyuz. I would consider the Moon Treaty of 1979, and the L5 Society's successful effort to block US ratification of same, as beyond the intended scope of the article. Lots of good inputs from everyone. I agree that the article could use the addition of key events, along with improving the accuracy of what it does contain. I didn't see anyone mention the error in that outrageously mistaken quote of JFK, "I'm not interested in space". Here is the context from that Wikipedia article: ___________ In conversation with NASA's director, James E. Webb, Kennedy said: Everything we do ought to really be tied in to getting on to the moon ahead of the Russians... otherwise we shouldn't be spending that kind of money, because I'm not interested in space... The only justification (for the cost) is because we hope to beat the USSR to demonstrate that instead of being behind by a couple of years, by God, we passed them. ___________ But the audio tape clearly captures JFK's statement, "I'm not that interested in space", which fits with JFKs actions (unlike the erroneous quote). [The official transcript with the correct quote can be found he http://history.nasa.gov/JFK-Webbconv...transcript.pdf And if you'd like to listen to JFK yourself, the audio can be found he http://history.nasa.gov/JFK-Webbconv/pages/audio.html ] ~ CT |
#23
|
|||
|
|||
"Space Race" on Wikipedia
Here are a set of quotes from that Wikipedia article that I'd like to
highlight: _________ The term [Space Race] originated as an analogy to the arms race. Space technology became a particularly important arena in this conflict...because of its military applications... Early military influences It took war to catapult rocketry into notoriety. This proved a harbinger for the future, as any "space race" would become inextricably linked to military ambitions of the countries involved, despite its mostly scientific character and peaceful rhetoric. Cold War roots of the Space Race ....space-faring accomplishments could serve as propaganda to tout a country's...military potential. The same rockets that might send a human into orbit or hit a specific spot on the Moon could send an atom bomb to a specific enemy city. Much of the technological development required for space travel applied equally well to wartime rockets such as Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Space research had a dual purpose: it could serve peaceful ends, but could also contribute to military goals. Artificial satellites start the "race" Sputnik Because of its military and economic implications, Sputnik caused fear and stirred political debate in the United States. Lyndon B. Johnson, Vice President to President John F. Kennedy, expressed the motivation for these American efforts as follows: In the eyes of the world, first in space means first, period; second in space is second in everything.1 The American public, initially discouraged and frightened by Sputnik, became captivated by the American projects which followed. Lunar missions Landing a human on the moon While the Soviets beat the Americans to most of the Space Race's initial firsts, they failed to beat the U.S. Apollo program to land a man on the moon. ... The Apollo Program met many of their objectives and promised to defeat arguments from politicians both on the left (who favored social programs) and the right (who favored a more military project). Apollo's advantages included: 1) economic benefits to several key states in the next election, 2) closing the "missile gap" claimed by Kennedy during the 1960 election through dual-use technology and 3) technical and scientific spin-off benefits. ___________ ~ CT |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
editing Wikipedia entry of Archimedes Plutonium's Atom Totality Theory | [email protected] | Astronomy Misc | 2 | July 1st 05 06:36 PM |
This is depressing news...Google wants to 'host' Wikipedia... | Greysky | Misc | 95 | March 7th 05 03:53 PM |
Wikipedia article on Huygens Probe | Wayne Farmer | Misc | 0 | January 18th 05 06:52 AM |
TSTO Article at Wikipedia | Mike Ackerman | Policy | 14 | March 12th 04 06:44 AM |