NASA Space Tourism Posters(solarsystem.nasa.gov) |
NASA Space Tourism Posters(solarsystem.nasa.gov) |
When pulp sci fi was being written, no one really knew what might be in our own solar system. Some assumed Venus could be a jungle teaming with life, Mars full of caverns with civilization. Obviously now we know that’s not the case.
So the idea that there’s some appeal for people to walk around nothingness in a space suite is off the mark. The reason we want to send people to Mars is not to enjoy the barrens of Mars, but to further our capabilities. (Although there is an undeniable beauty ti geology as well, the beauty of the Grand Canyon for instance)
The barrens are a stepping stone.
If there are planets with alien snakes and bugs, whole ecosystems with intelligent beings, the only way to get there is baby steps in our own barren solar system.
So that’s the appeal. The challenge of exploration to see what’s over that next hill.
Edit: Your points of not appreciating what’s on Earth are right on point. You’ll note one of the posters is an Earth poster. In many ways demonstrating how barren and inhospitable most of the universe is, helps people realize what they have here and how precious it is. So in other words, your exact point of view is what many hope everyone can understand.
Whenever this comes up, it’s weird to me that people seem to not understand that different people have a wide variety of interests and tastes. Also, some people like making the barren into a lush garden.
“Why do people want nothingness” is a sort of earth-centrists’ strawman of what space inhabitation enthusiasts are passionate about, and also super factually incorrect about what space contains.
:-)
i'd quite enjoy bouncing around in 1/4 gravity, or sailing over lakes of hydrocarbons if i could. sure it's equally arbitrary, but it would be more novel than any environment on earth.
what does selfishness have to do with it?
I think you underestimate the experiences available on Earth, but I otherwise agree that it would be awesome as heck.
I've seen this before, and couldn't get over it then.
I got the Kepler 16b poster printed and framed, it looks amazing!
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https://reves-d-espace.com/affiches-spatiales-pour-decorer-v... (unfortunately not available in the original site anymore)
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16Hcdw4lER8t63YgDGm9W...
https://astrography.com/collections/visions-of-the-future-by...
Not affiliated just a customer.
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/galleries/visions-of-the-future
from 2016
"Propaganda" has negative connotations today, because it has been used as a manipulative tool. But that was not always the case.
WPA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Works_Progress_Administration
Or it could be that someone standing on the desk of a dirigible floating in the clouds of another planet chose to wear gear that harkens back to the explorers of yore, like George Mallory.
Or it could be that it was done on a budget and a explorers coat and MSA Millennium mask are what they went for.
So it was intentional and accurate (or, rather, a possibility), not an unscientific mistake.
But really.. I'd expect some hightech fleece instead, maybe with a hexagonal weave pattern in it, or such.
Do you really think they will/should 'ride' there in some rattling rocket, between shaking cargo crates in mesh nets, with clothing from military surplus?
SPACE should look like the highest technology ever. In all aspects PERIOD