…to Mars:
International co-operation in space was very difficult and in many ways inefficient, the second man to walk on the moon said.
“But I think if we can take the English-speaking people … we can have American science, technology and bring together the UK, Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa … and have a togetherness organisation,” he told AAP in Sydney on Thursday.
For some reason, I don’t think that the White House will be as happy about this as it was with some of his previous statements. It doesn’t sound like he’s quite on the same page as Charlie and the Muslim outreach.
Gotta love Buzz.
Cooperation in space has never accomplished as much as competition in space has accomplished. Cooperation, although a lofty sounding ideal, is wasteful, inefficient and rife with political compromise and corruption.
Yes I do. I’m glad he included India. I think we have made a great mistake in some circles of not realizing the importance of that country in future affairs.
If we have commercial (and cheap!) access to space, then people, companies, and even governments can compete in space, like they do on Earth. In the sense that we cooperate by exchanging things of value, then yeah, we’ll cooperate.
I agree about competition, but the right partners can make a significant contribution. We should recognize countries that share our spirit. Our partners on the I.S.S. were often more of welfare recipients.
At least when you book a flight on JetBlue, you don’t have to hem and haw to the press about whom you’re “reaching out” to in hopes of guessing the (politically) correct answer.
ISRO is a great company to do business with. They buy my components without asking a bunch of impertinent questions. Gotta love that in a customer.
I’ve worked for or with Indians for big chunks of my commercial and academic work life and I would certainly include them solidly inside the Anglosphere!
Meanwhile China is busy renaming lunar landmarks to reflect a Chinese Moon 🙂
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-09/02/c_13475521.htm
China publishes official Chinese names for places on the moon
English.news.cn 2010-09-02 17:21:19
[[[BEIJING, Sep. 2 (Xinhua) — China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs has published the official Chinese names for places on the earth’s moon, in a first that eliminates confusion and will help the nation’s lunar exploration efforts.]]]
[[[The ministry is also drafting technical regulations for the naming of places on the moon in Chinese, according to the official. ]]]
Uh oh. Doesn’t he know that not wanting to work with people who don’t understand your language is racist?
Well, India is nearly 14% Muslim, the third-largest Muslim population in the world. So he can say he was reaching out to them…
Meanwhile the point about commercial cooperation is exactly on target. What is Virgin Galactic but an Anglo-American cooperative venture that required no intergovernmental agreements to accomplish? And if the US reformed ITAR in a sensible manner there'[d be a hell of a lot more such ventures.
Why is Buzz snubbing Canada where most people do speak English?
From your lips to Allah’s ears.
Canadarm is pretty cool if slightly goofy looking.
Cooperation is likely necessary but international organizations like the UN are tricky to deal with.
There is plenty of competition, just look at how fast China is improving their space technologies. One day we will wake up and they will have a space station or a mission to the Moon and no one will have seen it coming because they underestimate the capabilities of the Chinese.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/sep/1/inside-the-ring-418710963/?page=1
“One day we will wake up and they will have a space station or a mission to the Moon and no one will have seen it coming because they underestimate the capabilities of the Chinese.”
No, the USG sees it coming. What they do about it, if anything, is another matter.
I’m surprised the PC-police haven’t hung, drawn and quartered him actually, but it sounds good to me.
I can see the non-US countries offering to settle disputes by playing sports, and slyly suggesting rugby (league/union), football (soccer) or maybe even … cricket (score a helluva lot of boundaries on the moon…) Mind you the way my lot (England) played against the US in the World Cup, I think we’d be better off with tiddlywinks!
I’ve thought this for years, although not so much the language angle. Instead of some “gimme gimme” UN effort, we should go by ourselves and invite our friends (England, Canada, Australia, etc.) to come along. Thing is, I’d invite Israel, India, Japan, SK, Germany, and some of the other European countries individually.
—
“It’s a fear that somebody clearly out of their depth gets put in a position of responsibility.”–Chris Gerrib
I’ve thought this for years, although not so much the language angle. Instead of some “gimme gimme” UN effort, we should go by ourselves and invite our friends (England, Canada, Australia, etc.) to come along. Thing is, I’d invite Israel, India, Japan, SK, Germany, and some of the other European countries individually.
That’s exactly how international space projects like ISS are done.
Meanwhile China is busy renaming lunar landmarks to reflect a Chinese Moon
Oh, for Pete’s sake, Tom. If you’re terrified of the big bad Chinese naming parts of the Moon, just contact the “Lunar Registry.” For a few dollars, you can “buy” your favorite part of the Moon and name it “Mare Matula.”
That will be just as productive as anything else you’ve called for — and several hundred billion dollars cheaper.
I’m glad he included India. I think we have made a great mistake in some circles of not realizing the importance of that country in future affairs.
Ken, I think this administration does realize that India would be extremely important as an ally. That’s why the current administration has been snubbing them.
“Why is Buzz snubbing Canada where most people do speak English?”
Oh, I’m sure it wasn’t a snub, Mark. It’s probably just that Buzz only wanted to include real countries.
I’d invite Israel, India, Japan, SK, Germany
Note that all those countries were occupied, liberated, or both by either Britain or America.
They are already part of the Anglosphere, at least honorary.
“Why is Buzz snubbing Canada where most people do speak English?”
Canada already is an international partner with the USA in both the ISS and shuttle programs through the Canadarms. Also, Canada has been deeply involved with NASA since the A.V. Roe guys went to work on Apollo. I think we’re already on board, no need to reach out to us.
Waitaminnit … Are you guys trying to tell me that Strine is somehow related to English?
;^)
Is the Moon now part of the Anglosphere? Mission accomplished.
It has been my personal experience — having professionally interacted with Buzz on just three different occasions — that he’s only lovable to himself.
Spatially adept; socially inept.
Far worse still would be if Neil hadn’t been first.
“Cooperation in space has never accomplished as much as competition in space has accomplished. Cooperation, although a lofty sounding ideal, is wasteful, inefficient and rife with political compromise and corruption.”
If it takes cooperation to get us into space on a permanent basis I’m all for it cause we ain’t there yet. Once we’re there let the competition commence. There’s gotta be some equatorial micronesian nation willing to become the portal to the stars…
“If it takes cooperation to get us into space on a permanent basis…”
It doesn’t, and it isn’t.
I apologize for not responding sooner.
@sjv: “Note that all those countries were occupied, liberated, or both by either Britain or America.
They are already part of the Anglosphere, at least honorary.”
I concede your point regarding Israel and India, but I don’t think I’d agree on South Korea or Germany.