Spaceward ho!

Does anyone know why aesthetics have normally not been taken into consideration for interior spaces of spacecraft, as well as any/all other facets of space exploration?While I understand that utility might demand more direct access to parts, and additional money is not likely there for frills, wouldn't it play better for motivating those within and without the field to see something that looks and feels good?When a person looks at a person in a dumpy spacesuit and a dumpy spacecraft and learns it cost millions of dollars, it is likely not going to be as impressive as seeing a person in a cool looking suit entering a cool looking spacecraft. Indeed one might generate more interest/money by people wishing they could be wearing the gear and being in the ship.Hell you might even get talent for free by allowing trekkies or other sci fi enthusiasts (with valid experience) to craft the nonfunctional design portions.Edited by holmes, : ere for ier

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holmes {in temp decloak from lurker mode}
"What a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away." (D.Bros)

Yes n No. But I guess it all depends on what you mean by computer. Heheh.I get what you are saying that touch screens, and smaller processors in general, can afford more space. But even if we still dealt with switchboards I'd think ergonomics and esthetical considerations could have been possible. Scifi films and things had been around for decades before the space race.Heck, Kubrick's 2001 showed more esthetical considerations while staying true to the nature of necessary hardware, and that was before much of what we went on to do.Look at me crabbing about esthetics. I should be happy enough the US gov't is getting interested in real space programs again.

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holmes {in temp decloak from lurker mode}
"What a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away." (D.Bros)

Your skepticism is noted and you may very well be right. If it is a political stunt, I hope someone at NASA has the foresight to milk it for all it's worth.One may remember that Bush Sr tried to generate the same interest during his administration. It is intriguing to note that back then and now with Jr, the main source of criticism are liberals suggesting how outrageous and useless such programs are.

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holmes {in temp decloak from lurker mode}
"What a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away." (D.Bros)

Oh man, while that isn't the only thing to depress me about this subject, it sure is a pretty large source.Recently I heard someone suggest it would take such a long time to develop today because we had lost the technology (its been decades since we did anything). And that just didn't make any sense. Its not like we lost the files of what we had before, and more importantly the people in the 50's didn't have anything to work from.We have better data and materials. It should be easier and faster.

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holmes {in temp decloak from lurker mode}
"What a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away." (D.Bros)

Is there a major difference in how many people have been lost over the length of space exploration? Have we lost more per space flight in recent times? This is not rhetorical, I'd like to know. And if so, is there a reason for the change?Perhaps I should include all space programs, and not just the US.In any case, I understand what you mean by our increasing safety expectations hampering exploration. Our reaction to the challenger disaster was base cowardice to my mind. This is going to be risky and we should be empowering those (like me) willing to take such risks, until their efforts result in something relatively safe for everyone.Then again we had already gotten sidetracked with the shuttle program, and I'm not exactly sure why that was.

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holmes {in temp decloak from lurker mode}
"What a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away." (D.Bros)

Please don't make a grown man cry.

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holmes {in temp decloak from lurker mode}
"What a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away." (D.Bros)

Well if govts decide to stay on the ground, perhaps enterprising individuals like Branson will push things forward. While still suborbital, his virgingalactic line is pushing tourist limits farther into space.Here's a link to his version of a shuttle for tourists. Note that esthetics have definitely been considered on the interior. Although one might call it somewhat sterile, it looks clean, comfy, and "futuristic"... sort of alien organic chic.Check out the multimedia file at that page to see how the full "ride" is supposed to go. I'm curious how easy it is to barf with those cool helmets when certain tourists hit 0g. Hope the faceplates open a bit.

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holmes {in temp decloak from lurker mode}
"What a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away." (D.Bros)

Although this may be a benefit, I do wonder if this concerned them at all.As far as I could tell Bush and Co became interested after mainland China began its space program with ends that could not be ignored. They were suddenly in a position to out distance us in a technological and strategic sense.It seems to me like the space race all over again, but without some inspirational message from the president to charge the nation.Up until the Chinese stated their goals the Bush administration appeared to want space research cut back, with missions primarily involving political, religious, and military significance.

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holmes {in temp decloak from lurker mode}
"What a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away." (D.Bros)

I don't think I was trying to contradict what you said, but to suggest that "brain drain" issues were not of overt concern to Bush and Co.My opinion is that they would have let talent move overseas to the detriment of US programs, except for the fact that China reached a point where their program could begin posing a military threat. I agree. I just noticed a typo in my earlier post within your quote, it should have said "and/or" instead of "and". I did not mean to suggest all missions were to have all three features. Many were military.The Columbia was a mission with religious/political overtones. It involved the first Israeli astronaut, and he was carrying on board a torah which had survived the holocaust. There was also a devout Xian, can't remember if he was evangelical. These issues were highly touted at the time where I was living in the US. Bush and IIRC Sharon went on about the politico-religious significance of this mission, especially given the problems at the time.This did not change after the disaster with Bush using the event to prosyletize.In another issue. a minor scandal arose when it was found an appointee with no real credentials besides alliance to Bush and Co was pressing for revision of language from NASA research to bring it in line with creationist tastes.

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holmes {in temp decloak from lurker mode}
"What a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away." (D.Bros)

Did you just make that up, or did you get that from somewhere? Awesome. Yep, physical science depts I've been around were usually teaming with Chinese, almost all from mainland. That was cool by me and I had several friends from there. One had moved his entire family over and it didn't look like there was any intention of leaving.A relative of mine married a scientist from there, who is planning on staying here permanently, and it almost sounds as if her family may start spending more time here.Perhaps future space and tech races will be won by the Chinese no matter which national flag gets planted. Just like the Germans won the first space race.

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holmes {in temp decloak from lurker mode}
"What a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away." (D.Bros)

Sheesh am I out of touch. I think its pretty catchy though.

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holmes {in temp decloak from lurker mode}
"What a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away." (D.Bros)

Looks like Bush has decided to turn what I thought was his previous intentions into writing as his future intent for space programs. Check this article. I love how a guy that demands other nations must comply with international will keeps stating how the US must not be bound by such things if it interferes with our own plans.In any case, back to military utility.Edited by holmes, : quote fix

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holmes {in temp decloak from lurker mode}
"What a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away." (D.Bros)