I might be wrong but I don't think the younger generation have that much interest in real spaceflight unless they start building rockets that look like the Millennium Falcon or develop superhero astronauts. Although a lot has been going on in regards to exploring space and other planets, there's been nothing that comes close to the moon landing. As I said to Woodsy, my generation grew up with the space race as a backdrop, so I guess some of us have a greater interest in it. Maybe things will change if we launch a manned flight to Mars at some point.
As someone of the younger generation (I was born just a few months shy of the 20th anniversary of Apollo 11), I can say there's an interest in space to be sure among those of my age and even younger. I think it's been subdued by the fact that, since Apollo, we haven't really had much of a place to go with the Shuttle (as incredible a piece of technology as it is) essentially being a trucking service to low Earth orbit. Indeed, my encounters with people who think that we didn't go to the Moon (who make my blood boil), especially among those who are younger, leads to the argument that "If we did it why did we stop?" I think those who weren't alive at the time or don't know the history have a hard time wrapping their heads around the idea we'd do something some incredible and then just stop. I think the work being done now, and the rise of companies like SpaceX, have rekindled the flame to an extent though maybe not to the scale of what it was in the Apollo era.
Can I just say as well that I just discovered Project SWORD's existence through an article on the TV Century 21 comics and came across the page in a Google search. I'm spent the last hour or two on this site and have been fascinated by it. Keep up the good work!
Very pleased to read your comments, Matthew, it good to hear that the younger generation still have a good interest in spaceflight. Personally, I think its the human side of things that should keep the interest going. Although there's plenty of satellite activity and unmanned probes to Mars, I reckon the general public are more interested in manned flights and exploration rather than science projects (although, I hasten to add, this is obviously very important work)
The rise of commercial companies taking up the challenges of spaceflight is encouraging, and hopefully the new Boeing Starliner might finally launch later this year.
Glad to hear you like TV21 and are enjoying a new interest in Project SWORD. There might be some new publications in the pipeline as rumour has it that Rebellion comics, the publishers of 2000AD have recently got the rights to the non-TV related TV21 stories including Project SWORD, so you never know.
Thanks again and hopefully carry on enjoying our blog. Cheers Mike (Scoop)
The start of the most momentous voyage ever. Our greatest moment. Thanks for sharing Scoop.
ReplyDeleteA tremendous achievement, Woodsy, and I'm glad I was around during the sixties space race.
DeleteThis should be the ONLY topic to speak of in this days. So sad it isn't... :-(
ReplyDeleteI might be wrong but I don't think the younger generation have that much interest in real spaceflight unless they start building rockets that look like the Millennium Falcon or develop superhero astronauts. Although a lot has been going on in regards to exploring space and other planets, there's been nothing that comes close to the moon landing. As I said to Woodsy, my generation grew up with the space race as a backdrop, so I guess some of us have a greater interest in it. Maybe things will change if we launch a manned flight to Mars at some point.
ReplyDeleteAs someone of the younger generation (I was born just a few months shy of the 20th anniversary of Apollo 11), I can say there's an interest in space to be sure among those of my age and even younger. I think it's been subdued by the fact that, since Apollo, we haven't really had much of a place to go with the Shuttle (as incredible a piece of technology as it is) essentially being a trucking service to low Earth orbit. Indeed, my encounters with people who think that we didn't go to the Moon (who make my blood boil), especially among those who are younger, leads to the argument that "If we did it why did we stop?" I think those who weren't alive at the time or don't know the history have a hard time wrapping their heads around the idea we'd do something some incredible and then just stop. I think the work being done now, and the rise of companies like SpaceX, have rekindled the flame to an extent though maybe not to the scale of what it was in the Apollo era.
ReplyDeleteCan I just say as well that I just discovered Project SWORD's existence through an article on the TV Century 21 comics and came across the page in a Google search. I'm spent the last hour or two on this site and have been fascinated by it. Keep up the good work!
Very pleased to read your comments, Matthew, it good to hear that the younger generation still have a good interest in spaceflight. Personally, I think its the human side of things that should keep the interest going. Although there's plenty of satellite activity and unmanned probes to Mars, I reckon the general public are more interested in manned flights and exploration rather than science projects (although, I hasten to add, this is obviously very important work)
DeleteThe rise of commercial companies taking up the challenges of spaceflight is encouraging, and hopefully the new Boeing Starliner might finally launch later this year.
Glad to hear you like TV21 and are enjoying a new interest in Project SWORD. There might be some new publications in the pipeline as rumour has it that Rebellion comics, the publishers of 2000AD have recently got the rights to the non-TV related TV21 stories including Project SWORD, so you never know.
Thanks again and hopefully carry on enjoying our blog.
Cheers Mike (Scoop)