Thank you. This totally changed my perspective. I guess I’m nostalgic. But it’s true. Much of the government projects, even under private contract, are self-licking “fiefdoms of NO” ice cream cones. Not to mention they have a relatively high level of leadership turnover/switching at multiple levels. Maybe it does take a wacky self-obsessed-but-capable billionaire, with the need for spectacularly public ego-stroking, to overcome this organizational norm.
One might argue being weird is an asset when it comes to space travel. Back in the day when Russia sent Laika the Husky into orbit, the U.S. one-upped them with the adorable if heroic Ham the Astrochimp. And then when Russia countered with Yuri Gagarin, it only made sense for America to be like, that's the best you got? And then launch a real American hero with brass balls into orbit.
When it comes to dealing with what spending extended time in space actually means for the human psyche and body, we should all get behind the guys who seem to be least tethered to the realities of Planet Earth.
Thank you. This totally changed my perspective. I guess I’m nostalgic. But it’s true. Much of the government projects, even under private contract, are self-licking “fiefdoms of NO” ice cream cones. Not to mention they have a relatively high level of leadership turnover/switching at multiple levels. Maybe it does take a wacky self-obsessed-but-capable billionaire, with the need for spectacularly public ego-stroking, to overcome this organizational norm.
One might argue being weird is an asset when it comes to space travel. Back in the day when Russia sent Laika the Husky into orbit, the U.S. one-upped them with the adorable if heroic Ham the Astrochimp. And then when Russia countered with Yuri Gagarin, it only made sense for America to be like, that's the best you got? And then launch a real American hero with brass balls into orbit.
When it comes to dealing with what spending extended time in space actually means for the human psyche and body, we should all get behind the guys who seem to be least tethered to the realities of Planet Earth.
Hilarious.
I'm all for it. The more weirdos we send into space, the more normal the Earth's population becomes.