Astronauts get down to earth

steve smyth — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:39:04 GMT

I agree with the notion of 'sudden awareness', as mentioned RE Earth pic.
The goosebumps haven't gone down since the first time I saw the image.
They just got bigger all over again.
Here's another take on the subject.
http://www.smythspace.tv/gaiatwo.html

Astronauts get down to earth

Trong HCMC, Come from VietNam. — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:16:16 GMT

that is a nice picture when you see from away earth. I love my country and i wish i can see it in space but i can't because i haven't got ..
i learn more about english when i read it in the internet. you know, i want to learn more and more but i can't when i no money. i try it myself so much.i hope one near day i can read and speak english well.i hope....bye bye.

Astronauts get down to earth

Morg, Tombstone AZ — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 23:51:08 GMT

"Insights into Mars' past climate help us plan for Earth's future climate changes." Insight? I think the fact that Mars is deader than a doorknob should be all the "planning" we need to see.

I'm happy they realize Earth is fragile. But I'm totally dismayed they don't realize that it's breaking.

Astronauts get down to earth

Thomas Ashby, Calgary — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:46:00 GMT

I am sure glad the astronauts have got it right when they choose not to attribute the earth to "God" and make no mention of any religious connection. Maybe that would be too political considering those "Godless Commies" that feel exactly as any other astronaut does about the earth. Also, are the Chinese astronauts in on this?

Astronauts get down to earth

Gos, covington, kY — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:48:16 GMT

Rock on earth

Astronauts get down to earth

Alan Boyle — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 01:06:22 GMT

Morg, these folks do realize that Earth has its troubles. In fact, one of the presentations focused on how satellite imagery is documenting those troubles (sea level rise, Arctic sea ice cover, etc.) ... I guess the next step is to figure out how to address those troubles, and that is a lot trickier to accomplish, even for people with the Right Stuff. But they know how serious the situation is, and care about it much more than the average person.

Thomas, I have to say I didn't hear many appeals to the deity this week ... but of course Apollo 8 was all about Genesis and all that, as you'll recall. Sorry, no Chinese astronauts at this year's affair. You can see the full guest list here:

http://www.space-explorers.org/congress/xxiattendees.html

Astronauts get down to earth

Thomas Ashby, Calgary — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 01:58:35 GMT

Alan, I sure do remember the genesis recital. It was poetic and right for christmas '68 and the masses, but that was the only reference to anything directly religious relating to earth from space that I am aware of. All the thought and regard on this subject is an appeal to humanity with no "God" caveats...thanks for the news.

Astronauts get down to earth

Jimmy Johnny Rotten — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 05:41:45 GMT

By the time the overview effect reaches enough people to make a difference it's going to be too late. The conference indicates a couple of the problems with this approach: there are plenty of useful projects that would address the Earth's problems in a practical way. The solution these guys come up with is to shovel more money into the expensive human spaceflight program.

Astronauts get down to earth

Eli,Seattle — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:26:55 GMT

An article starts with the words:" If humans had seen this picture a century ago we wouldn't be in this mess". The Crux is Ancient Humans KNEW! It is due to the Abrahamic Religions and its falsehoods that Mankind suffered/suffers tremendous setbacks in knowledge while perfecting horror and mental retardation as is still seen today. "Theologians" and their god expertise, delusional grandeur, are an insult of human dignity.

"Earthrise" just proves that the forces behind the Abrahamic religions, dominating our planet, with their insane motto: Multiply and Conquer" create and will continue to create enormous damage. A horrific legacy left behind for future generations.

If mankind continues in the mindset of the Abrahamic religions:Multiply and Conquer which essence is a virus, promoting mental insanity, laws of slavery and bondage are considered normal, it will destroy our atmosphere which in turn will destroy life as we know and maybe the Universe as we know.

We should treasure our home planet instead of destroying it.
People need 10 Commandments to live by, try these:
The Earth is our Mother; care for Her
Honor all your relations.
Open your heart and soul to the Great Spirit.
All life is sacred; treat all beings with respect.
Take from the Earth what is needed and nothing more.
Do what needs to be done for the good of all.
Give constant thanks to the Great Spirit for each day.
Speak the truth but only for the good in others.
Follow the rythms of Nature.
Enjoy life's journey; but leave no tracks.

Thanks for sharing this beautiful article.

Astronauts get down to earth

steve smyth — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:33:00 GMT

Lookin' at the Blue Marble...
It's important to remember that until this image appeared, Earth was a Globe in a classroom, a Mercatur Projection, or some postage stamp sized pic along the border of the Encyclopedia.
The first time out it was referred to as "Earthrise".
Try to envision the sense, and feel of your first "Earthrise"...in 1968...surrounded by conspiracy, dead leaders by the day, Viet Nam, stick your head between your legs and kiss your butt goodbye...the list goes on.
That'll give you some idea of what the excitement RE Human Space Travel felt like before we started littering our surroundings with weaponry.
Key word...littering...
Folks viewed Outer Space as another Ocean.
At the time, many, if not most Folks still viewed the Ocean as too big to pollute...a couple million gallons of some nasty Petro Chem Waste in all that water...no problem...can you say dispersal?
Dump stuff at the shore...tide does its thing...garbage gone...out of sight...out of mind.
From the day of the pic's first publication...Earth was no longer out of sight...out of mind.
Unfortunately, the wheels were in motion, with the same exact attitude as we showed towards Earth's Oceans.
The question now is...can we smarten up enough to see beyond our own noses...just once in Human History...and, again begin to view Outer Space as akin to Earth's Ocean ( with today's enlightened outlook )...and start sending people to explore.
We have all sorts of robotic Ocean explorers at our disposal...the bottom of the Marianas Trench is mapped...the illuminated fish have been observed and cataloged, yet, people get their goosebumps over the wacked Humans who dive in twenty feet of water looking for Pirate Loot...go figger!
Take those thoughts into your day...enjoy!
for more...click the name below...save us by expanding outward...it's in our Nature...somewhere.
Earth's gonna be just fine...we're like annoying gnats in the big picture...even gnats fly off when the host has been drained of lifegiving blood.

Astronauts get down to earth

Glennjamin, Minneapolis,MN — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:41:28 GMT

Alan, Morg, & all cosmic logicians,
Pictures of Earth from satellite are so awe inspiring and beautiful. Basically, we do need to be good stewards and protect the Earth from us poisoning ourselves and the planet. That is the real challenge.
But as I read, watch and compare all the sciences from the past to today all people need to recognize there are basic cycles within cycles of life -daily, lunar, solar, and our galaxy within the whole universe. And mere mortals basically can't change that not counting tech or scientific mistakes we might inflict on ourselves.
We all have books with maps of glaciers past, polar and magnetic shifts that took place and other ongoing physical changes. We need to look at these 'troubles' as they are - life - and a challenge to explore and colonize elsewhere. Thanks for C.L. and presenting these things without trying to scare everyone like some poloticians and various social groupings. Our human spirit and ingenuity will succeed as long as we don't think that we ourselves are the gods.
Does anyone have a spare shuttle ticket to sell me at a wonderful discount?

Astronauts get down to earth

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:08:06 GMT

I have to say that some of the greatest pictures I have seen were done either of space or from space of Earth. NASA is an agency that does research, and that can't ever be discounted. There are some of us here who would love to be able to get close to doing what we have seen in an American staple -- space travel in science fiction. I hope to be able to do that, but we need further expansion of what NASA and other space agencies do.

Astronauts get down to earth

Frank, Dallas, TX — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:37:27 GMT

Anyone under the age of 40 has spent their whole life with this image available to them. As part of this group, I can only say that it did not change my opinion, because I had no prior opinion. However, it is still a powerful image, because it helped form the one-world opinion of the younger generation in the first place.

Astronauts get down to earth

Ryan, Rochester, NY — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:47:03 GMT

Space budget is only 17.3 billion??? And Bush just asked congress for 700 billion to buy up mortgages. Man, I love this country!!! If we spent half of the 700 billion on science and technology, the science breakthroughs would probably solve this dilema single handedly.

Astronauts get down to earth

Chuck Lauer, Lansing Michigan — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:14:47 GMT

Perhaps it is time for the Association of Space Explorers to re-evaluate its membership criteria. Their arrogant attitude that "real" astronauts / cosmonauts are ones that have completed a full orbit while Mike Melville and Brian Binnie have only made a trivial suborbital flight and thus do not qualify for membership is appalling. The fact that 99% of ASE members are government employees who get their spaceflights as a job perk make this attitude even worse to take. Mike and Brian showed more raw piloting skill and bravery than most of the self-loading meat payloads proudly wearing their little gold comet pins.

What will happen in a few years when there are more private suborbital space travelers than government astronauts? ASE should be embracing this sea change in human space flight, but instead they (especially Buzz) only throw out trash talk about the value of suborbital spaceflight.

Astronauts get down to earth

Andy, Houston, TX — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:06:45 GMT

Chuck,

Please provide a cite, or an example, of where ASE has "thrown out trash talk" about the value of suborbital flight. Since you cannot, we will accept your public apology here, in this forum.