NASA's Curiosity is still trundling around Mars on its epic journey across the Red Planet but you wouldn't know judging by the media here in the UK. There's zero coverage. Nothing, Nada. The same goes for non-existent public interest, particularly among the young.
I had thought that we were on the cusp of a new Space Age but it seems to have stalled. The World appears to be once again mired in countless endless terrestrial squabbles. Its a wonder NASA, ESA and other Space Agencies get anything done at all in this depressingly pot-bound climate. I hope they carry on regardless.
What do you think readers? Am I just space raging?
Just finished watching a film about JFK and how different the attitudes were then about space. My wife is too young to remember even the moon landings but even she could sense the feeling of wonderment that came over.
ReplyDeleteThat feeling seems to be missing these days. It might be simply due to us all being enchanted by the personality of a charismatic leader who was influential even years after his needless death.
Perhaps what we need is a world leader who can inspire us the way Kennedy did.
You're not wrong Woodsy, and as I see it the BBC carries most of the blame, they should not be pandering to commercial pressures (as they have the guaranteed license fee), yet their headlong rush to mediocre 'bread&circus' scheduling has led to a failure to educate and inform.
ReplyDeleteThey are pulling Fukashima-radioactive tuna out of the oceans off California, no coverage.
Ebola has not been contained in 1, 2 and now 3 countries, if it gets on an international flight to a European hub I don't think it's over-exaggerating to suggest billions could die, no coverage.
50,000 people marched against Austerity the other day, no coverage.
Fracking, tar-sands, neonicotiniods....while the coverage of Cameron's pointless exercise in twisted principle this week has been biased, pro-UK establishment and ignored the points that A) a lot of countries swung to the left in the Euro-elections, just because we predictably lurched to the nasty parochial right doesn't mean we're correct and B) 26 counties wanted Junker, and they voted for him, that's democracy!
Until the BBC find the voice they used to have and drag the rest of the media back to news and away from Kim and Kayne the better, but I fear it won't happen.
H
Much of the Space Race was triggered by the Cold War, Russia and America seeking prestige from their space achievements.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I don't know why there is a lack of interest in Space. I do remember as a youngster, losing a lot of interest in Space once Apollo 11 had landed, not sure why. Perhaps there just didn't seem to be any other goals in sight.
There is nothing exciting happening, simple as that. The ISS is very impressive yet dull at the same time. Mars is too expensive and it is all about money. Only politics trumps that, hence Apollo. If it became important for a government to reach Mars, then things would change.
ReplyDeleteGlad its not just me!
ReplyDelete