# They can't find an artist worthier of the honor of space travel than LANCE BASS!?!?! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 20, 2002, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-cant-find-an-artist-worthier-of-the-honor-of-space-travel-than-lance-bass/124667 "2002-08-20T00:06:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-cant-find-an-artist-worthier-of-the-honor-of-space-travel-than-lance-bass/124667/21 "2002-08-20T10:36:13Z")
Well, their kicking off the new century with a commitment to ca$h anyway. The Russian space program needs money and publicity; and Shuttleworth, Tito, and Bass have the bucks and their taking the trips brings exposure. Each side sees something they want and is willing to do business to get it. That’s commerce, but not quite capitalism. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-cant-find-an-artist-worthier-of-the-honor-of-space-travel-than-lance-bass/124667/22 "2002-08-20T12:29:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MGibson \* > > * * * > > I don’t think any artist deserves the honor of being an astronaut. If NASA ever decides to send a civilian into space again I hope they send another teacher. > > Marc \*\* You have a good point there. If we are giving space trips to civilians, with the purpose of honoring them, there’s probably better choices than musicians. Not that many of them don’t indeed deserve kudos, but people like teachers and doctors and probably deserve it more. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-cant-find-an-artist-worthier-of-the-honor-of-space-travel-than-lance-bass/124667/23 "2002-08-20T14:30:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wearia \* > \*\* The fact that hes going into space really annoys me. Sure we all wish for the day when anyone can go into space, by why the hell are they starting with a member of a manufactured boy band? \*\* Because he paid for it. > [@](#): > > This is a slap in the face to peoples dreams. Its saying to only way your getting into space is if people know who you are and if you have a lot of money. A slap in the face? Hardly. If your dream is to go into space and you don’t have any money you now have two options: 1. Find a way to collect $20 million and go yourself. 2. Work your ass off and become an astronaut. > [@](#): > > Fer christ sake do you want your grand kids to read in their school text book that the second civilian in space was a pop star no one even remembers? I’d much rather have my grandchildren learn a correct version of history. Here are the civilians that have already gone up in space: 1. Dennis Tito 2. Mark Shuttleworth 3. Helen Sharman 4. Tokohiro Akiyama 5. Buzz Aldrin. Yes, he was a civilian during his flight. Technically, Christa McAuliffe, the teacher on _Challenger_, was not the first civilian in space as she never made it. Barbara Morgan, another teacher, is being trained right now for missions. So there are quite a number of civilians that made it into space. Some paid for it. Some didn’t. Some “earned it.” Some didn’t. They all get to go and none of you do. Sucks, doesn’t it? > [@](#): > > Do you want them to read that you can just buy your way into the space program? Yes, yes I very much do. For the aeroplane and horseless carriage used to be vehicular contraptions for the elite. Why should they be able to get from A to B faster than I can? > [@](#): > > And since most of us will never have 20 million to go into space it just says (to me at least) that without a lot of money a trip to space is impossible. \*\* No, not impossible. You still have option 2 above: work your ass off and become an astronaut. If you can’t commit to that level of dedication then maybe you really don’t want to go into space after all. But you can also think of these people as pioneers. Yes, Lance Bass, a pioneer. How about them apples? By allowing this to happen, they show the world’s space programs that it is possible for civilians to go up in space. It is possible for whole groups of us to go to the moon. It is possible for colonists to go to Mars. It is possible for society as a whole to reach past one blue marble and grab hold of the infinite darkness around us. And when those in charge realize this; realize that there are things to do, places to explore, and, yes, profit to be made, then fiction will become reality. We, society, Earth, will be living in those very same science fiction novels we’ve read and cherished these past 100 years. But who the fuck cares, right? He’s just in some sucky boy band. I hope he dies up there. Teach us all a lesson. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-cant-find-an-artist-worthier-of-the-honor-of-space-travel-than-lance-bass/124667/24 "2002-08-20T15:30:41Z")
(1) I found the OP quite funny and well executed. The Keith Richards bit just slew me, really… (2) As to the more serious bent on who deserves seats in space, does anyone remember these US Space Shuttle crews: … US Senator Jake Garn, April 1985 … US Congressman Bill Nelson, January 1986 Heck, even Glenn’s “victory lap” flight in '98 – sure, they were researching the effect of spaceflight on the aged. Really. These didn’t buy their way up for cash-on-the-spot, like Shuttleworth/Tito/Bass, but didn’t exactly “earn” it on the merit of _expected contribution to space science_. Neither did the unfortunate Christa McAuliffe. There have also been a number of Payload Specialists who are not professional astronauts/researchers but have been in the employ of the contractors who built a system being tested, or the owners of the satellite being launched. Those would be justified, but then you have Saudi Prince Sultan Salman Al-Saud, who was working for ARABSAT when they launched a bird on a 1985 flight. You gotta wonder if the Prince “just happened” to be THE best qualified communications man in all of ARABSAT’s payroll. It all comes down to that we do _NOT_ “honor civilians by giving them trips into space”. Every space “passenger” that has gone up has done so because they are useful to the space policy-makers on account of either: (a) bringing to bear political/financial clout or just plain money (b) being useful to the space program for PR purposes ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-cant-find-an-artist-worthier-of-the-honor-of-space-travel-than-lance-bass/124667/25 "2002-08-20T21:59:28Z")
Am I really the only one that remembers that the reason to have a teacher along was to give lessons from orbit? Ms. McAuliffe just happened to be the teacher they chose for the mission. ---
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-cant-find-an-artist-worthier-of-the-honor-of-space-travel-than-lance-bass/124667/26 "2002-08-20T22:20:01Z")
I don’t wish anything bad to happen to him, I really couldn’t give a crap if he goes or not. Hey Lance if you’ve got a hole burning in your pocket throw some money my way, I could use it. I wonder if the song they go up will be BYE, BYE, BYE. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-cant-find-an-artist-worthier-of-the-honor-of-space-travel-than-lance-bass/124667/27 "2002-08-20T23:47:41Z")
Alright lets dispell some of the ignorance being thrown around here. Lance is not paying for this out of his own pockets because he always wanted to go to space as a child. He’s not even paying for it out of his own pockets! Didn’t it dawn on anyone that this is a stupid marketing gimmick? He has some nice corporate sponsors lined up, and if you don’t think they are going to turn a nice buck off this, then I have a bridge to sell you. From [here.](http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/bass_update_020816.html) \ RadioShack is the only Bass’ sponsor to be identified this far, though MTV, it’s parent company Viacom, Procter & Gamble and an unnamed soft drink company are rumored to be investors in the project. \ \ The 23-year-old pop singer’s trip to the ISS is to be turned into a television special produced by the Los Angeles-based Destiny Productions. The Celebrity Mission: Lance Bass show is expected to be seven, one-hour episodes revolving around Bass’ training and trials leading up to the launch. Then there would be a two-hour launch special. Upon Bass’ return, a two-hour “welcome back to Earth” special featuring a huge concert will be aired. \ The hell else do you think they send him to space? Humanitarian reasons? If you couldn’t see the almighty dollar had something do do with it, then you are blind. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2002, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-cant-find-an-artist-worthier-of-the-honor-of-space-travel-than-lance-bass/124667/28 "2002-08-21T00:13:01Z")
Alright lets dispell some of the ignorance being thrown around here. Lance is not paying for this out of his own pockets because he always wanted to go to space as a child. He’s not even paying for it out of his own pockets! Didn’t it dawn on anyone that this is a stupid marketing gimmick? He has some nice corporate sponsors lined up, and if you don’t think they are going to turn a nice buck off this, then I have a bridge to sell you. From [here.](http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/bass_update_020816.html) \ RadioShack is the only Bass’ sponsor to be identified this far, though MTV, it’s parent company Viacom, Procter & Gamble and an unnamed soft drink company are rumored to be investors in the project. \ \ The 23-year-old pop singer’s trip to the ISS is to be turned into a television special produced by the Los Angeles-based Destiny Productions. The Celebrity Mission: Lance Bass show is expected to be seven, one-hour episodes revolving around Bass’ training and trials leading up to the launch. Then there would be a two-hour launch special. Upon Bass’ return, a two-hour “welcome back to Earth” special featuring a huge concert will be aired. \ The hell else do you think they send him to space? Humanitarian reasons? If you couldn’t see the almighty dollar had something do do with it, then you are blind. ---
**Author:** ![Wearia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Wearia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wearia)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2002, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-cant-find-an-artist-worthier-of-the-honor-of-space-travel-than-lance-bass/124667/29 "2002-08-21T05:18:38Z")
**Enderw24** , going into space, as many have said is an honour. And as **World Eater** said they are using it as a marketing gimmick. They are using this amazing and possibly historic event into a way to sell CDs. Don’t tell me you approve of that. And I’ll rephrase. Lance Bass will be the second civilian to buy his way into space. Is that better? Or do you want to correct that too? I don’t see this as the start of civilian space travel. Not at all. There aren’t a lot of people who have 20 million for a flight to space. I don’t think the current space programs will be the first to bring regular folks to space. I personally believe that private companies will be the real pioneers. And please don’t assume that I “can’t commit to that level of dedication”. M’kay? I could do it. I don’t care if you think otherwise. IMO getting someone to space is a big deal, and honour. I just really don’t think Lance deserves it. As others have said, send an author or a poet. Not some teeny bopper entertainer. Thats all I have to say. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2002, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-cant-find-an-artist-worthier-of-the-honor-of-space-travel-than-lance-bass/124667/30 "2002-08-21T16:53:13Z")
NASA tried to resist having Dennis Tito buy his way aboard ISS. However, since even in the Russian’s deplorable condition they are still _needed_ on the team for ISS to run… NASA had to tolerate (so far) two paying space tourists, with much grumbling and huffing. Lance (or any celebrity) going up would itself NOT be amazing or historic, it would be _the commercial/media tie-in itself_ that would be historic. In any case, from the Russkies’ POV prostituting the supernumerary seat on a Soyuz module is a preferrable alternative to having your rocket scientists stand outside the Iraqi embassy with “will design ICBMs for food” signs. If we want to believe that actually experiencing orbit should be _intrinsecally_ a great honour that should be reserved only for those of high merit, that’s one thing. We can also believe the Olympics should only be for amateurs. But it’s a crass world and it’s the only one there is. NASA’s objection to the “space tourists” is ostensibly based not on “honor” but on considerations of safety, of the loss of 200lbs of useful payload in that flight, and of maintaining scientific integrity in the face of private financial sponsorship – and in part on fear that Congress may one day ask, “hey, how come _you guys_ keep asking us for money, instead of getting sponsors?” Like I said, it’s not like WE are above sending up “passengers” for _political_ PR reasons (why should THAT be any more legitimate than for money?) I must insist, at this stage in the game _seats in spacecraft are NOT awarded as “honours”_ (with the likely exception of Mr. Glenn’s last flight) but because they serve the purpose of someone in a policymaking position. A challenge, an adventure and if you play it right a potential source of profit – yes. An honor? Collaterally. Dias, Columbus, Magellan, Lewis & Clark, and a whole lot of great discoverers and explorers… they were all just looking to provide their sponsors with trade routes, strategic advantage, or heck, even plain old land and slaves. So it’s not like exploration is being sullied just now by the pursuit of profit. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-cant-find-an-artist-worthier-of-the-honor-of-space-travel-than-lance-bass/124667/31 "2002-08-22T13:07:52Z")
Question: Was Bass actually chosen out of a pool of applicants? Was someone else, or multiple someone elses, passed over for him. Or was he just the first person to bid? In that case, then I’d say terms like “honor” and “who _gets_ to go” are irrelevant; he got his bid in before anyone else, and the Russians were not obligated to say, “Hold on; we want to see if we can do any better.” ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-cant-find-an-artist-worthier-of-the-honor-of-space-travel-than-lance-bass/124667/32 "2002-08-22T13:32:05Z")
> [@](#): > > [Space Adventures, Ltd.](http://www.spaceadventures.com/suborbital/index.html) > For over 40 years, space has been the realm of the elite few. We watched and wondered when or if we, ourselves, would ever be able to fly. > > And now, at the dawn of the third millennium, the final frontier is finally within our reach. > > Space Adventures invites you to reserve your seat now on the first private spacecraft to take passengers to space. Flights are expected to begin within the next few years. > > Space is available, but it’s filling quickly. > > * * * > > ## $98,000 per person Contact Space Adventures now! > > This ultimate adventure includes: > [ul] > [li]overnight accommodations at designated resort location, all meals and ground transportation [/li][li]Space Adventures sub-orbital flight ticket [/li][li]custom-fit flight training suit [/li][li]flight training [/li][li]commemorative flight medallion [/li][li]personalized travel bag [/li][li]video and photographs from your flight [/li][li]lifetime membership to Space Adventurers Club [/li][li]astronaut wings [/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-cant-find-an-artist-worthier-of-the-honor-of-space-travel-than-lance-bass/124667/33 "2002-08-22T14:00:27Z")
My assumption is this. Some marketing schmuck came up with the idea to send a celebrity to space. They ran it through numerous focus groups, and poured over the demographics. I’ll guess that they came up with Justin Timberlake first, but he was scared to do it. They finally decide they they can still get sponsership and be able to pull it off with the second most popular personality in the band, Lance Bass. I’ll extrapolate further and say that I’m sure the choice of celebrity was made before they Russians were even approached. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-cant-find-an-artist-worthier-of-the-honor-of-space-travel-than-lance-bass/124667/34 "2002-08-22T15:30:47Z")
To some extent, this is a good thing. Honestly. I don’t think kids get excited about space travel like they use to. Sending up a pop star whom kids relate to may change that. Especially young girls. The demographic whom I suspect are Lance Bass’ biggest fans (pre-adolscent girls) are just about at the age where young girls start losing an interest in science. ---
**Author:** ![Zazie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Zazie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zazie)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-cant-find-an-artist-worthier-of-the-honor-of-space-travel-than-lance-bass/124667/35 "2002-08-22T16:32:24Z")
I am saying, whoever he is, he is paying for it and the space program said ok, so be it! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-cant-find-an-artist-worthier-of-the-honor-of-space-travel-than-lance-bass/124667/36 "2002-08-22T17:50:54Z")
Am I glad another person is paying his way to space? Heck yeah! Here’s the thing: Suppose I have some payload I want taken to space. Maybe it’s a communications satellite. Maybe it’s a cosmic-ray experiment. Maybe it’s a bunch of tomato seeds that a second-grade class is going to plant when they land. If I pay one of the space agencies the cost of launching the thing, they’ll launch it. Nobody complains at all about this. Now suppose that the payload I want launched is myself. If I’m willing and able to pay for the costs of launching myself into space (which includes training and the like), why shouldn’t I be allowed to? Well, OK, I don’t have that kind of money, and I’m not likely to be able to raise it, but that doesn’t mean that someone who can raise the money shouldn’t be allowed to. As I see it, this flight will have several effects: The space program (unfortunately not ours, but part of the human space endeavor nonetheless) gets some money. Several companies get good marketable advertising material. Precedent is set for commercial space travel, prompting development of cheaper methods. Public awareness of science and space is raised. And incidentally, some lucky schmo who unfortunately happens to not be me gets to have some fun. Frankly, I don’t see how any of these are bad things. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-cant-find-an-artist-worthier-of-the-honor-of-space-travel-than-lance-bass/124667/37 "2002-08-22T18:16:09Z")
For what it’s worth, I started this thread with the hope that people would suggest what artists they would like to have honored with a trip in space, and why. Kinda forgot to mention that explicitly in my OP… :smack: Anyway, who do you think would be a good choice to be rewarded with a trip to space? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-cant-find-an-artist-worthier-of-the-honor-of-space-travel-than-lance-bass/124667/38 "2002-08-22T19:12:52Z")
I would send **G. Nome**. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-cant-find-an-artist-worthier-of-the-honor-of-space-travel-than-lance-bass/124667/39 "2002-08-22T20:19:23Z")
Marlon Brando. We could put him into low Earth orbit. On the other hand, he might affect the tides. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-cant-find-an-artist-worthier-of-the-honor-of-space-travel-than-lance-bass/124667/40 "2002-08-22T22:38:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cmkeller \* > \*\*Marlon Brando. \*\* We finally have a rocket that might be able to do it: [http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/space/08/21/atlas.launch.hfr/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/space/08/21/atlas.launch.hfr/index.html) “In the future, more robust Atlas 5s are expected to take almost two times the payload of past Atlas 3s, or slightly more than four tons of cargo into geostationary orbit, which is about 22,241 miles (35,786 kilometers) above the Earth’s surface.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-cant-find-an-artist-worthier-of-the-honor-of-space-travel-than-lance-bass/124667.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-cant-find-an-artist-worthier-of-the-honor-of-space-travel-than-lance-bass/124667.md?page=3)