Megabytes

Fifty years ago today, The former Soviet Union launched the first man-made satellite, known as Sputnik. This Russian word translates as ‘traveling companion’ or ’satellite.’

Many writers describe this event as the beginning of The Space Race, as well as an embarassment to the United States, because American rockets were not large or reliable enough in 1957 to put a satellite in orbit. It’s too bad people put in that context - comparing ‘them’ to ‘us.’ How about saying, ‘it was a great achievement for humanity.” and leave it at that?

Now, Mike Griffin, NASA Administrator in charge of President Bush’s Moon-Mars Project, describes the motivation to go into space as “the drive to extend our reach, human destiny…” The focus is not on competing against another nation for a prize. How refreshing to hear!
However, Griffin is not above using this a motivating factor to get monies into the United States space program. He points out that China has a growing space program, having put three astronauts into orbit on two separate occasions; 2003 and 2005. Further, China would like a space station of its own and is eyeing the moon for a colony.

Rather than fuel a new space race between China and the US, I would prefer to hear talk describing the Earth as a united planet; one that will go to the stars together. When Yuri Gagarin and John Glenn became the first humans to view Earth from space, they viewed one planet, without borders, without lines drawn between nations. They spoke of the beauty of the planet, not countries.

This image of the Earth from space gives me hope for a united global effort to continue the exploration of space.