I applaud Obama's new direction for space exploration. It provides NASA with a focus for its mission. It will also help to foster the development of the commercial Space Industry. It brings clarity that has been missing in the past. This will allow the creation of new captial investment in Space thus accelerating progress.
Clarity is one of the missions that I always thought was primary in realtion to an effective goverments role. People like clarity as it brings a sense of understanding and stability. In the case of Space we can now move forward with a greater sense and understganing of the role that each of us should play. No longer need the private citizen sit on the side lines. Rather than just promoting space as the next frontier we can now move with more confidence and in a more deliberate manner. While several entreprenuers have already sought to develop some direction in space it has up until now been in areas that create little value. We have merely been dabbling. Value creation is now not only possible but probable. The first to move will be the first to gain. The new 'west' is calling and the new adventure is about to begin in earnest.
Historically space art has been focused on the lesser of the contents of space. It has almost exclsuively focused on the material aspects of the universe. The ironic thing is that these material aspcets only make up 4% of the visible universe. Why haven't we focused on the other 96%? Because the 4% is more obvious. It is easier to create a representation of material objects than suggest what may be the contents of the other 96%. This leads me to another supposition. If it is true that man is a physical metaphor for the universe then 96% of us may be non material. In both cases I think it is this other 96% that the artist and poet tries to suggest. They suggest that there is 'something more' and it is a lot more! Most of us intutitively feel this to be true. Perhaps it is the artists job to remind us and suggest the way to a partial understanding of the other 96%.
I personally have turned the corner and will begin to explore the other 96% in both my space paintings and those of terrestrial focus. I think this is a better way toward progress and the possible creation of forever paintings.
Why do we spend so much of our time exploring the material aspects of space when they represent so little of the Universe? I think it is because the variety and evolution of the material part of the universe is evident to our five senses. But if all is an integrated whole then one could hypothesize that space(the void) too has more variety and is evolving although beyond our limited sensory perception. Perhaps the 'void' is more than just a stage on which the material universe plays out the story. Scientists have said that there is more zero point(potential?) energy in a small(several cubic centimeters) area of space than that contained in all of the material bodies of which we are aware. Do we need to begin to expand our search and look deeper into exploring the stage instead of focusing all of our efforts on the players?
Posted by: Jim in X Prize, Moon on
May 20, 2008
AA recent article in Popular Mechanics covered the criteria and goals of the Moon X Prize. While interesting they do not require that the rover do any science which is one item that I think they left off of the qualifying critieria for winning the prize. Like the Apollo program they have overlooked the key element or reason for going to the moon which is to learn more about ourselves and our origins. If they had added the necessity for some type of meaningful and successful scientific experiment they would have increased the value of the effort and the prize expotentially. This is not to suggest that having an amateur or private group actually get a rover to the moon is not a challenge but with a science package on board it would have more depth and meaning.
Posted by: Jim in Moon on
May 18, 2008
A recent article in Popular Mechanics discussed the idea of private property rights for the Moon. I for one am in favor as it has been shown historically that it enhances progress and protection. The individual has always been the primary force behind development and protection. Wheter it is in hte arts or sciences the individual comes first as he or she has the internal creative power and built in moral imperative that has seen to best address the needs of new territiores and discoveries. As my previous post regarding the greening of Mars indicates we need a new set of visions for space and privatizing the Moon is one of them. It is man's job to be both a developer and a steward and that does not end with the earth.
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