"Let's put a Brit in space" says the new Science Minister and the first question leapping to mind for some will be OK which one?
There are many candidates for who we personally might like putting into space with perhaps a one-way ticket but this is a serious matter not least it seems for 'national pride'. Beyond any intrinsic scientific worth the new Minister, Lord Drayson, feels it would inspire a new generation with an interest in science and promote businesses.
In the middle of a national and global financial crisis with jobs being lost or in danger of being lost this seems like bad timing. Britain has for a long time supported the European Space Agency, in fact being the biggest funder of the ESA's Aurora Mars project but withdrawing from any planned manned missions.
Drayson continues with his non-science reasons for sending a Brit into space by implying it can't be a bad thing because multi-millionaire business man Richard Branson feels it will be a commercial success - charging fat-cats to be sent out on near space joy rides.
a man raking moonbeams
from the mill pond
No comments:
Post a Comment