3 ms·
Following this line of thought - this is may be the exact analogy that NASA wanted to counteract.
by csours 1y ago
Following this line of thought - this is may be the exact analogy that NASA wanted to counteract.
- School-Cotton 1y agoWhy? What's the difference between a US spacecraft in international space and a US watercraft in international waters?
- csours 1y agoNASA wants space to feel non-militarized. US Service Personnel don't follow the civilian process for Customs, so making astronauts actually follow the civilian process reinforces the non-militarized feeling for space.
- quartz 1y agoSince the astronauts were up there planting flags... I'd think it's less about the vessel in space and more about making it clear that the land visited isn't considered claimed as part of the US.
- nrb 1y agoIf the distinction is that the US watercraft are military and as such are not subject to customs, then making it clear that returning astronauts are not on a military mission sends a diplomatic signal.