4 ms·

A space race isn't a sport, it's a technological and scientific challenge. You can't invent the same technology twice, unless the idea is completely forgotten.

A space race isn't a sport, it's a technological and scientific challenge. You can't invent the same technology twice, unless the idea is completely forgotten. Also unlike sports, space races are massively expensive and it's untenable to forever go from one to the next.

eru 1y ago
Well, you could try to raise the challenge. Eg do it on a limited budget, or establish a permanent base, etc. However I agree that manned space flight is a giant money pit with not much to show for. It should come out of our entertainment budget, not eat into our science budget. If you want to do science in space, go unmanned.
jlawson 1y ago
The space race was not just about inventing, though. It was about doing. You can do the same thing twice, and you can also lose the ability to do something. The ability to do the thing is what is really being maintained and demonstrated. Every country has the technology to go to the moon - it's well established now. But who can actually make it happen? That's a huge organizational, human, financial, industrial challenge. And people do notice when only one country can do it.
- fluoridation 1y ago
  Yeah, I already covered that when I said that if you're not able to do it at all it does say something. >But who can actually make it happen? That's a huge organizational, human, financial, industrial challenge. And people do notice when only one country can do it. On the other side of the coin, it's such a huge expense just for bragging rights, that for any country it's not worth undertaking. It's much more preferable to just give the appearance that you could totally do it if you wanted to, but you just don't feel like it. I'd argue that the US is currently failing at this, but until anyone else flies a manned mission to the moon, it doesn't say anything.
croes 1y ago
You have to invent the same thing twice because the original tools and materials aren’t used anymore.
- jcgrillo 1y ago
  And most of the people who actually did it aren't alive anymore. A corollary from some other recent tech news: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45649178 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45649178
anigbrowl 1y ago
"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."

eru 1y ago

Well, you could try to raise the challenge. Eg do it on a limited budget, or establish a permanent base, etc. However I agree that manned space flight is a giant money pit with not much to show for. It should come out of our entertainment budget, not eat into our science budget. If you want to do science in space, go unmanned.

jlawson 1y ago

The space race was not just about inventing, though. It was about doing. You can do the same thing twice, and you can also lose the ability to do something. The ability to do the thing is what is really being maintained and demonstrated. Every country has the technology to go to the moon - it's well established now. But who can actually make it happen? That's a huge organizational, human, financial, industrial challenge. And people do notice when only one country can do it.

fluoridation 1y ago
Yeah, I already covered that when I said that if you're not able to do it at all it does say something. >But who can actually make it happen? That's a huge organizational, human, financial, industrial challenge. And people do notice when only one country can do it. On the other side of the coin, it's such a huge expense just for bragging rights, that for any country it's not worth undertaking. It's much more preferable to just give the appearance that you could totally do it if you wanted to, but you just don't feel like it. I'd argue that the US is currently failing at this, but until anyone else flies a manned mission to the moon, it doesn't say anything.

croes 1y ago

You have to invent the same thing twice because the original tools and materials aren’t used anymore.

jcgrillo 1y ago
And most of the people who actually did it aren't alive anymore. A corollary from some other recent tech news: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45649178 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45649178

anigbrowl 1y ago

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."