One of the most interesting facts about the Egyptian Pyramids is the 'scale up and scale down' history of pyramid building. In just 60 years, based on historical accounts, the Egyptians went from a pyramid containing 330,000 cubic meters of material t0 one containing 2,600,000 cubic meters of material(Giza/ 4th Dynasty). In addition the complexity of construction progressed on a similar order. In the intervening time frame only two other pyramids were attempted and they were left incomplete both with less than 50,000 cubic meters of material. What happened that would have made this possible? We know even today that technology does not appear magically and certainly even if it did it would not be applied in a short period of time. The human time frame and change does not allow that to happen. What is of more interest is that shortly after the Giza Plateau Pyramids the Egyptinas seem to have, once again, lost their ability to construct. Of the 22 known pyramids that followed the largest is said to have contained about 275,000 cubic centermeters of materal and most all of the 22 are in worse condition than those of Giza. If one did not know better it would seem that some bit of magic occured during the 4th Dynasty not to be heard from again. Is this like our Space Program that had its 4th Dynasty magic time in the 1960's only to lose its way? Or is it because of some other more profound reason. This is I think worth exploring as within it may lie a key to productivity and progress.
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 NASA, Mars on
Mar 27, 2008
A recent article in Cosmos Magazine related the importance of a trip to Mars in the not too distant future. As they remarked NASA is working toward it but not on a plan that would see man set foot in the red planet in the next ten years. It further went on the suggest that the Mars Direct Plan, suggested by Zubrin, would provides some ideas on how to get their sooner. While it does I think it overlooks the obvious and that is the space ship that is already in orbit(and paid for!). As mentioned in other posts I suggest that we consider using the ISS as the way to jump start out interplanetary journey's.
Posted by: Jim in NASA, Military on
Mar 20, 2008
A recent article in Scientific American posed the threats to the world from the military use of space. I had just read another article in Foreign Affairs regarding the race to claim all or part of the Arctic. To me both of these situations have at their core the same faulty thinking. It comes from our human natur and it revolves around the age old strategies of 'Finite Thinking' and 'King of the Mountain'.
The thought that 'I must have more because I know that all resources are limited and I have to have the bigger share'is finite thinking. What history has taught is that this hoarding mentality will come back to haunt the hoarder. We need quite the opposite strategy and so does the world. We need to see that we get more and the world works better when we learn how to create more and share it in service to all. We succeed because we do not think in limited terms. With infinite thinking we all end up with more.
'King of the Mountain', or the high ground strategy proposed by military strategists over the world, is not appropriate for our next movements into space. Since we have run out of the high ground on earth we now move to space.(Little boys shooting down satellites to show off their prowess.) Where to from there? This is the question that needs to be asked. The civilized countries of the world need to see that this is the key question. The movement to ever higher ground over the centuries has just postponed our addressing this key question. That is why we can't get out of this endless(since the beginning of time) cycle of war caused by our greed, fear and military strategies from the animal kingdom.
In both cases the human race is operating in a way that is insane. To continue to follow flawed strategies and repeat the horrors of war is not the course that a mentally sound society follows. As human beings our greatest capacity(the one that seperates us from the rest of the creatures) is that of reasoning and creativity. We need to use these to see space and the artic as opportunties to develop a new way of moving forward more peacefully as a global civilization and not independent nationalistic bullies(with only the players in the role changing from historical period to historical period).
The arctic and outer space are both regions that have extreme conditions and are sensitive to incurrison by man. We must tread lightly and with respect. These are regions that should not be owned or annexed but rather appreciated for their inherent potential to help us understand ourselves.
One way of moving forward in Space and the Artic is to use the ISS as the International Post for going forward in outer space and the Artic. It lies between the two and should give us a constant perspective on our interdependent relationships here on earth. It seems to be in a perfect position to allow us to work together to add as much value for everyone in the world. Why not expand the ISS mission and its member countries? Why not use the ISS(since it is already in orbit and is in need of a mission) as both a launch pad and possbily a interplanetray space vehicle? This has been suggested before and ignored. In the end we must not allow space to be used as the new high ground for flawed finite thinking. It must become the place where once and for all the human race changed its course for the greater good.
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