From its first liftoff, the U.S. space program has been a source of pride and technological innovation. Yet it has flown beyond the point of (beneficial) return and should therefore be grounded.
We’ve been learning more about the universe from the Hubble than a galaxy of NASA missions. And the only real game-changing spinoff contribution — and it’s a biggie — was the development of satellite transmissions. But that was 50 years ago. Sure, there’s Tang, Velcro and Teflon, but these were developed independently of the space program even though they were popularized by it (although I think it does get credit for the pen that writes upside down).
America’s next frontier is closer to home — in fact it is right under our feet. Our infrastructure is crumbling — literally crumbling. We have dire human needs that need not only our dollars but our focus and energy. For instance, do you realize that as we soak and as the Midwest flooded, nearly 25 percent of our country is suffering the worst heat and draught since the “dirty thirties” Dust Bowl? The whole state of Texas has been declared a natural disaster area, and more are sure to follow. Why not focus our efforts on creating a water pipeline all over our great nation, so that we can move water just as we move gas? Surely, this necessity will spur innovation just as much or more than the space program — all while tackling a need that will benefit Americans right here on earth.
We already have all the technology we need. In fact we have too much of it, more than we can responsibly handle. Until we can keep the likes of Fox news owner Rupert Murdoch from running a company that for many years committed the most heinous criminal abuse of technology in our modern history, we have no business making more of it.
The space race we’ve won. It’s the human race we’re losing.
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