Zorac (zorac) wrote,
Zorac
zorac

Should we give up on the space program?

No. We have to stay here and there's a simple reason why. Ask ten different scientists about the environment, population control, genetics and you'll get ten different answers, but there's one thing every scientist on the planet agrees on: Whether it happens in a hundred years or a thousand years or a million years, eventually our Sun will grow cold and go out. When that happens, it won't just take us. It'll take Marilyn Monroe and Lao-Tzu and Einstein and Morobuto and Buddy Holly and Aristophenes...and all of this...all of this was for nothing unless we go to the stars.

Commander Jeffery Sinclair, Babylon 5 - penned by J. Michael Straczynski
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  • 2 comments

Dissent

ringbark

February 1 2003, 23:36:45 UTC 18 years ago

The Intelligent Universe shows quite compellingly that it is very unlikely that we will ever be able to colonise other planets. Yes, ST, SW, B5 and many others give the lie a veneer of truth, but they are all science fiction.
No, Monroe, Lao-Tzu, Einstein, Bob Dyland and the rest have not done it all for naught. They have done it for the present and future generations on this beautiful blue/green planet. Maybe their memory will survive for millions of years, maybe only for hundreds, but their value will be immense to those who have been touched by them.
We don't need to launch into the vastness of the universe to preserve the memory of Aristophanes or James T Kirk.

addedentry

February 3 2003, 05:22:28 UTC 18 years ago

Marilyn, of course, has been on her way into space for decades. Maybe footage of her singing 'Happy Birthday Mr President' isn't what you (or JMS) would have chosen to represent Earth, but it could be worse (thinks: Contact).