4 ms·

I disagree with that cynicism, though. I saw Apollo 11 three times when it came out, and I still get excited when I see the sense of purpose and detail in every

I disagree with that cynicism, though. I saw Apollo 11 three times when it came out, and I still get excited when I see the sense of purpose and detail in everybody involved. It was a singular event that occurred at this conflux of technology and hubris, like Christopher Columbus' landing. It took so long for everybody to sort out their feelings on what this meant, that an entire subculture sprung up based on the idea that it was all faked by a contemporaneous sci-fi director. It's okay to appreciate those kinds of wins from time to time. And anyway the astronauts brought back a moon rock to give to the Soviets.

zabzonk 3y ago
not sure what this means - perhaps 13 rather than 11?
- emchammer 3y ago
  No, Apollo 11 is a thrilling big-screen documentary about the successful moon landing, all original film without narration.
  - zabzonk 3y ago
    thanks, i've just bought it on amazon!
eru 3y ago
> I saw Apollo 11 three times when it came out, and I still get excited when I see the sense of purpose and detail in everybody involved. I think you are proving my point? Manned spaceflight is strictly for entertainment and pissing contests only. So we should finance it like entertainment, instead of making random tax payers suffer for your amusement. > And anyway the astronauts brought back a moon rock to give to the Soviets. Yes? Obviously you are going to be all smug and rub your success in your adversaries face. --- Btw, just to be clear: I also find space flight inspiring, and I hope I live long enough to see the vast bulk of humanity living in space habitats (while still increasing the absolute number of humans on earth). I want to see space elevators (via active support) and all that good stuff. Two things: (1) The early manned space flight barely contributed to these long term goals. It's only recently thanks to the private sector that launch costs are starting to come down. And the other big advances are coming from better robotics and better computing, both of which are being developed on trajectories so far largely independent of space exploration. (2) I don't want to force other tax payers to suffer for my flights of fancy. Just like I don't want to have to finance other people's pet projects with my tax money, either.

zabzonk 3y ago

not sure what this means - perhaps 13 rather than 11?

emchammer 3y ago
No, Apollo 11 is a thrilling big-screen documentary about the successful moon landing, all original film without narration.
- zabzonk 3y ago
  thanks, i've just bought it on amazon!

eru 3y ago

> I saw Apollo 11 three times when it came out, and I still get excited when I see the sense of purpose and detail in everybody involved. I think you are proving my point? Manned spaceflight is strictly for entertainment and pissing contests only. So we should finance it like entertainment, instead of making random tax payers suffer for your amusement. > And anyway the astronauts brought back a moon rock to give to the Soviets. Yes? Obviously you are going to be all smug and rub your success in your adversaries face. --- Btw, just to be clear: I also find space flight inspiring, and I hope I live long enough to see the vast bulk of humanity living in space habitats (while still increasing the absolute number of humans on earth). I want to see space elevators (via active support) and all that good stuff. Two things: (1) The early manned space flight barely contributed to these long term goals. It's only recently thanks to the private sector that launch costs are starting to come down. And the other big advances are coming from better robotics and better computing, both of which are being developed on trajectories so far largely independent of space exploration. (2) I don't want to force other tax payers to suffer for my flights of fancy. Just like I don't want to have to finance other people's pet projects with my tax money, either.