SpaceX has finally and conclusively proved that private industry CAN take a human into space and bring them safely home to Earth again. I’m sure most of us assumed it would happen that way (with good reason), but it’s still not the same as having actually done it. More than that, they did it VERY well. It seems that the biggest complaint was that there were too many civilians too close to the splashdown site.
Apparently there were some Trump supporters among the boaters… 😁
Anyway, the page is now officially turned and a new chapter is beginning! The astronauts for NASA’s 1st and 2nd official missions have been announced. The original Crew-1 team of two astronauts have been expanded to four, including a JAXA astronaut from Japan. Crew-2 will also consist of four astronauts, including another from JAXA and a French ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut. Both crews are set to fly next year, with one of the American astronauts of Crew-2 being the wife of Astronaut Bob Behnken who just returned to Earth. She will be acting as Pilot (same job Bob had), and will be flying in the very same Capsule that her husband just flew in. I’m sure after it’s been cleaned up a bit and checked over. No doubt there will be more announcements in the days to come.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine also used the opportunity to make a plea to Congress to approve NASA’s budget for the Artemis Program. He highlighted the potential for accomplishments that could be achieved if Congress will approve their financial needs. I think that it could help if those of us supporting the Artemis Program made some calls or emails to our Congress people and Senators. I believe that the rewards would far outweigh the cost of such a program. I think the cost of not doing it may itself be too high. I’d personally very much like to see the ball get rolling on this.
4 replies on “Achievement Unlocked: Manned Spaceflight by Private Industry”
It certainly was a thrilling experience to watch… I caught the liftoff with some young Tanzanian heart patients I was hosting (until their return home a few weeks later)… and it certainly sparked a jolt in them… and I shared the link for the return with them and others… It was joyous and triumphant moment in history…
I think that Elon Musk was right in his speech after the splashdown, this was something that anyone in the world could take joy from. Space has been one of the few things that has brought more international unity, than not.
I would agree… we all look up at the same moon… and the thrill of outer space touches all generations, genders etc.etc.
I think it was Tim Dodd (Everyday Astronaut) that said, “Space is the border we all share”. I don’t know if he was quoting someone else, but it’s a true statement.