Why Does Space (Outer) Always Have To Be A Race

[Hvizsgyak]

MSN

Why is America back at trying to win the space race? We should have been miles ahead of everyone else. And I admit, we have been doing a good job of getting back into shape lately but we should have never let ourselves get slowed and flabby in the first place.

Timeline of artificial satellites and space probes - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Back in the mid 90's, there was a call to all outer space enthusiasts - NASA should focus more on short manned flights near Earth (possibly more dangerous and expensive) or inexpensive unmanned scientific probes to the ends of the solar system. I was very much in favor of the more expensive and manned flights around Earth's neighborhood. Many manned space enthusiasts lost that election. Less expensive unmanned space probes won out. But they did bring a sense of awe to the space enthusiast with excellent video and pictures of our solar system and beyond. In the end, these unmanned probes may have kickstarted the desire for manned missions nowadays.

But instead of cutting costs by working more with other nations (China India, Japan and Russia), we decided to make a race of the situation like we did with the Soviet Union back in the 1960s and 1970s.

 

[timothyu]

But there is so much more out there to ruin than just here.

 

[Hvizsgyak]

But there is so much more out there to ruin than just here.

You bet! An infinite amount of stuff to ruin .

 

[timothyu]

You bet! An infinite amount of stuff to ruin .

And what's cool is no guilt for taking for personal profit what belongs to all the people like is done here, unless aliens be invisible

 

[Hvizsgyak]

And what's cool is no guilt for taking for personal profit what belongs to all the people like is done here, unless aliens be invisible

I was worried before that once aliens saw how lucrative the mining of minerals would be in space that they would want a big cut (those gold hording Anunnaki). But after all the advancements in exploring distant galaxies and not seeing much life out there, I think we can claim it all for ourselves.

 

[JustaPewFiller]

Well you just need to look at the exploration and setting of Earth for your answer.

Did all the nations work together to explore and settle the planet?
Or, was it every nation for itself in a race to conquer, claim and colonize?

Our toys have gotten bigger and more complex, but mankind hasn't changed very much in all that time.

 

[Nithavela]

Why just a race? Make it a war. Start arming satelites.

 

[Pommer]

Why have a Space Force?

The answer to this one will also be the answer to the OP.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

The answer I would've picked isn't on the list.


That being:

It's a "race to see who can do it first" because it conveys a certain level institutional power combined with technological and intellectual supremacy that lets others know who they shouldn't be messing with, and who's "strong suggestions" they should take seriously, as well as inspiring some national confidence by way of "we can set an ambitious goal, and we can achieve it".

John F Kennedy wasn't a dummy when he put a lot of focus on making sure we didn't let the Soviets beat us in that iteration of the "Space Race". While there was very little in terms of "practical" reasons why we needed to do that, showcasing capabilities and resolve does have some "value added" in extraneous realms.

 

[timothyu]

because it conveys a certain level institutional power combined with technological and intellectual supremacy

Like when Dr Who favoured the British Isles and as a result, Unit became the authourity over even Space Force

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Like when Dr Who favoured the British Isles and as a result, Unit became the authourity over even Space Force

You lost me on that one... while I'm a nerd, I'm not that kind of nerd lol.
(I know, my lack of Dr Who knowledge would disappoint Sheldon Cooper)

 

[timothyu]

nowledge would disappoint Sheldon Cooper

Even Sheldon was not smart enough to realize it was all about money and human greed. Has anyone considered because of that very fact that God may have put scales over ours eyes in the beginning and in actuality, the universe is teeming with life?

 

[Hvizsgyak]

The answer I would've picked isn't on the list.


That being:

It's a "race to see who can do it first" because it conveys a certain level institutional power combined with technological and intellectual supremacy that lets others know who they shouldn't be messing with, and who's "strong suggestions" they should take seriously, as well as inspiring some national confidence by way of "we can set an ambitious goal, and we can achieve it".

John F Kennedy wasn't a dummy when he put a lot of focus on making sure we didn't let the Soviets beat us in that iteration of the "Space Race". While there was very little in terms of "practical" reasons why we needed to do that, showcasing capabilities and resolve does have some "value added" in extraneous realms.

After recent tests, China appears likely to beat the United States back to the Moon

An expert explains why this will be enormously bad for the United States.

arstechnica.com

US in real danger of losing the moon race to China, experts tell Senate

"Unless something changes, it is highly unlikely the United States will beat China’s projected timeline."

www.space.com

Here is the reason I posted the survey. If we had better relations with many world leaders including China and Russia we would have a better chance of getting back to the moon and eventually heading to Mars if we worked together. I'm afraid the US will make this a race again, place a teepee on the moon with an American flag, declare victory over China and call it a day on space commercialization. Just like we did with Russia back in the 1970s. Russia continued their space exploration (Venus, Mars and more) and possibly the same will happen with China. We'll get to the moon first and that will be it and China will continue to build on their commercialization of space.

We don't seem to have the will to follow through commercializing space.

 

[Hvizsgyak]

Why just a race? Make it a war. Start arming satelites.

Coming to a Low Earth Orbit near you .

 

[timothyu]

Coming to a Low Earth Orbit near you .

ATLAS draws near