SPACE.com -- Commentary: The Value of Human Spaceflight
So writers at adAstra, the Magazine of the National Space Society (disclaimer -- I used to be a member), have written a response to Stephen Weinberg's recent criticism of human spaceflight. I blogged about it, too.
They start off with a dis, referring to Weinberg as "Mr." Well, he has a PhD and is a Professor as well as a Nobel Prize Winner in physics. Good start, guys, trying to bring him down to the mere "Mr." level where you'd like to play. Fine.
Unfortunately, the writers play on this low level where no one apparently needs to know much. Weinberg criticized the scientific achievements associated with human spaceflight, and the opinion piece does nothing to challenge that. The best they can come up with is technological development (not the same thing as science, for those who actually know the difference), and then, secondarily, some science about the effects of space on humans with regards to human spaceflight. Wow. Self-fulfilling there.
Then they go into some better arguments, which are not exactly contrary to Weinberg's criticisms, about the value of human spaceflight on the human spirit.
Way to change the topic.
There's a battle here that is premised on what ought to be a false dichotomy: that money can only be spent on humans in space or space science, not both. That's artificial. That's the result of narrow thinking and convenient budgets, not any law of nature.
We could be discussing whether space science should be funded compared to something else like a bridge to nowhere or cancer research, but we aren't. We're being forced to fight against each other. It's a red herring.
Weinberg criticized how NASA is funded, and how that method puts science missions in competition with human spaceflight. Many people who love science love the adventure of sending humans into space, and vice versa. Attacking Weinberg is missing the real and important points he is making as a science advocate. He's not the enemy. He's a potential ally, but he's been burned by the system before. That funding system, which hides science cuts behind increasing NASA budgets, is the enemy.
I'm not sure how to solve this one, but I do know that attacking "Mr." Weinberg misses the point.