Speaking as an ex-NASA type, and therefore representing perfectly each and every one of the 100,000s of government and contractor personel, “NASA’s” feeling about space tourism is:
They’re untrained, and if something bad happens, they’ll get in the way.
You have to be a real golden girl or boy in NASA or the military to have a good chance at being accepted into astronaut training. We’re talking extreme talent that all of your co-workers recognize. People who buy their way in are displacing somebody else who’s very, very qualified. That doesn’t go down well with NASA.
On a personal note, I’m with Weiria. Apparently seeing the Earth from space is a sensational experience that cameras don’t capture. It’s something billions of people can only enjoy vicariously. Americans who’ve paid taxes for 45 years now to put people in space should get something more for their money than a rock star saying what a great time he had. Launch a famous poet, writer, photographer, film director up there. Let them speak to us about what they’ve seen through their art.
Pointo Numbr Einze: The Space Station was mostly funded by the U.S. Exact proportions I’d need to look up, but it’s something like 70% U.S., 30% everyone else.
Pointy Numerr Duu: Just because it was the citizens of Russia who underwrote that particular launch vehicle, doesn’t change the basic relationship. The public, Russian or American, should not pay for a show-off joyrider. IMHO.
Poeeent Numnber Tree: The Russian space program wouldn’t have anything to do with an American pop star in space, if they weren’t against the wall, financially. Still no reason we couldn’t get the Nobel committee, the Ford Foundation, Paul McCartney, or somebody to fund a worthwhile artist going into space.
** Wearia** thats Wearia
Sorry, my name getting spelt wrong is one of my pet peeves. It happens far to often with my real name…
And yes, it is the Russians sending him up not NASA. I don’t think that matters too much though. Its to boost popularity here. Not in Russia. (Although popularity there will probably increase to).
BTW, is he still going up? Or are his lack of payments keeping him grounded?
Extremely true, that first part of this paragraph. I can imagine General Leonov must be quite pissed off at the whole situation.
The second part illustrates my earlier comment about “it’s a crass world”. I’m waiting for UNESCO, the Rockefeller, McArthur, Ford, foundations, the NEA, Sir Paul, the Pope, Bill Gates or any equivalent worthies to lead a stampede to line up sponsors to bail out the integrity of the space program. (Then again, apathy from potential supporters is not new – the US space program has known it since the early 70s)
And thank you, partly_warmer , for bringing in an inside perspective.
As to potential artists-performers-writers-in-space, if we wanted to send any?
Why, Cecil Adams, of course. He’s tell us the straight dope on what goes on. We could even send Mrs. Adams too, and thus solve one Straight Dope question…
