EPISODE 825 REJECTING SPACE EXPLORATION
alan skeoch
may 6, 2023
VOYGEURS 1 AND 2 LOOK LIKE THIS
Voyageur 1 and 2 have been moving through space for more than 45 years. Just for fun let’s assume
you ae a 40 year old astronaut preparing to fly to the outer edge of our solar system and beyond;
Let’s assume you boarded Voyageur 1 which was luanched in 1977. Today Voyageurs 1 and 2 have
gone beyond the limits of our solar system into the darkness of interstellar space en route to
a star closest to us called Alpha Centauri.
40 year astronaut + 45 year trip to edge of our solar system = 85 year old astronaut
Return trip: 85 year old astronaut + 45 year trip back to earth = 135 year old astronaut
pictures send back to earth
I will never be a space explorer. I have come to accept that fact after careful
consideration. I even feel sorry for two of our most famous spacecraft. Voyageur 1
ans Voyageur 2 were launcnhed in 1977 as fellow travellers in the exploration
of the planets of our solar system. only a few scientists expected the space twins to get beyond Jupiter and
Saturn.
Guess what? They reached Jupiter in 1979 and then went on to reach Saturn in 1980.
They sent us pictures of both of both planets.. And kept on flying at 17 km/ second.
Faster than my truck. A lot faster than our tractor. And far faster than most of us will ever travel.
In August 2012 they reached the outer limits of our solar system.
Now this is where I started thinking and came to the conclusion I wil never be a spaceman.
Think about it. The Voyageur twins had been flying for 35 years they exited our solar system.
NASA assures me that the Voyageur twins trAVel 523 million kilometres a year.
And when I consider the prospect of space travel I reject it outright. Why would I want to speNd 46 years of my life
flying no where. If I returned, which is doubtful, I would be 90 years old. What baseball team would want
me? What chance would I have to become an Olympic pole vaulter? Marriage? At 90” You joke.
Our nearest solar system is not really near in our terms. Light-years away. Light ravels at 186,000 miles per second ( 300.000.000 meters per second.)
Carl Sagan (Cosmos, page 289) says it will take a beam of light from earth about 4 years to reach Alpha Centauri, our nearest star.
Travelling at 186,000 miles per second. Then how long would it take the Voyageur Twins to get there travelling at a measly
slow pace of 17 kilometres per second? A long long time. Longer than a human lifetime for sure. With no chance of a return flight.
IMAGINARY VISIT BY A SPACE RECRUTER IN1977
RING RING RING!
“ALAN, There is somone a thee door, didn’t you hear the bell?”
“Whups! Must stop tYping…answer door…very insistent person there.”
“Hi?”
“Mr. Skeoch, I have been sent from NASA to see if you would like to be a passenger on Voyageur 1. There is
just room enough for 1 person.”
“Did you say you were from NASA?”
“Yes”
“Well, take your offer and place it where the sun does not shine.”
“BBBBBut!”
“And get off my front porch now.
COMMENT
Space exploration is perfect place for AI ,,,Alternative Inteligence…..thingamabobs.
alan