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Author
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Topic: Is space memorabilia collecting on a decline?
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garyd2831
Member Posts: 640
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: Oct 2009
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posted 01-15-2014 11:03 PM
   
Is space collecting on a decline? Was the last big spike for space collecting 2009-2010? I have been collecting space memorabilia since I was kid in the early 80s, and will say my collection hit some peaks around the 40th Anniversary of Apollo like everyone else. Now it seems that the collecting market is slowing down and turning silent. I have even been debating about selling off some of my collection to finance other endeavors, but don't know if it would be worth it. What do other think? Is space collecting on a decline as generations get older? Are collections still worth what they once were? I mainly collected out of the love and excitement regarding human's greatest adventures, but now it seems like my interest are changing. Anyone else feeling the same way? |
J.L
Member Posts: 674
From: Bloomington, Illinois, USA
Registered: May 2005
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posted 01-15-2014 11:25 PM
I tend to agree. I feel the lack of any real U.S. manned space program (never ending plans do not count) has taken a toll on general interest. Time will tell. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 01-16-2014 02:21 AM
Wait until the 50th anniversaty of Apollo 11.  But it's a good question you raise. Aren't space auctions results indicators of the market for space memorabilia? I've never participate in one so I don't know. Just a thought. |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 01-16-2014 02:38 AM
I think JL is bang on. With no American spacecraft or boosters flying, interests drift elsewhere.Continuing presence on the ISS does not count as it's far less spectacular than launches and landings - those get the public's eye. |
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 2212
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 01-16-2014 02:54 AM
Our community will always have an interest in both collecting and spaceflight. But as you say having nothing to look forward to at the moment does dull the subject somewhat.I guess it's what you make it? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-16-2014 03:15 AM
quote:
Originally posted by garymilgrom:
...those get the public's eye.
I would stand to bet that Chris Hadfield's "Space Oddity" music video and even Karen Nyberg's space-sewn toy dinosaur drew more overall impressions from the public at large than any shuttle launch or landing thanks in large part to social media. That would suggest a continuing presence on the ISS does count, if presented in a way that the public can relate to and embrace. If landings are more spectacular though, I'd suggest Curiosity's "seven minutes of terror" drew a larger audience than the final landing of the space shuttle. As for collecting, there has certainly been a strong demand for LEGO's Curiosity, and Hadfield continues to draw lines for his autograph (to name just two recent examples). If space auctions don't draw the appeal as in year's past, it may be because there are so many of them. In any given season, there are four to five auctions being held, such that they are not so much the standout events they once were. But yes, Chris (Tykeanaut) is correct: collecting is what you make of it. If you require U.S.-based launches to keep you drawn to the hobby, then interest will wane (at least until the end of the year, assuming the first launch of an Orion is enough to draw you back in). That said, U.S.-based launches do continue — just this month alone, a Cygnus spacecraft launched on an Antares rocket to the ISS, a Falcon lofted a communications satellite, and an Atlas is being prepared to liftoff with the next TDRS. Personally, I'm still kept busy on a daily basis by the interest in space memorabilia. Besides what you see on this site, I field a daily stream of requests for appraisals and ID help by people of all ages and walks of life. I hear from companies interested in developing new products, authors researching books, journalists writing about the hobby and television shows wanting to raise the profile of space memorabilia to levels it hasn't seen before. So at least from my perspective, interest in space memorabilia collecting is not remarkably waning, though that does not negate any individual experiences. |
Skyforce1
Member Posts: 200
From: Vineland NJ, USA
Registered: Aug 2009
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posted 01-16-2014 03:27 AM
I agree with Robert 100%. All you have to do is look at the collectSPACE website and the different categories which appear. A whole lot of us collect and relish what we have. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 01-16-2014 04:58 AM
Our community will always (well...) have an interest in spaceflight. But what about people outside the community, the general public - assuming that they care in the first place? Sure LEGO and Chris Hadfield can make you think that the public is interested and also that it re-ignites the interest among us. But I wonder if those examples are not one-shots (or last gasps) of space exploration.I agree with J.L. There's nothing new that could boost interest in space exploration. But Robert's points are also valid, even though if you look at space models, nothing has come out for months and space books are becoming rarer (at one point, everything will have been told). And I'm not sure that rocket launches interest that many people. And even "space tourism" is arguable. Might be interesting for the first flights, then after that, no one will care (unless something goes wrong). |
4allmankind
Member Posts: 1043
From: Dallas
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 01-16-2014 06:57 AM
I don't think so. But there are a lot of factors that go into defining the question at hand. One logical indication would be to chart registered bidders in the space auctions referred to above. I suspect the number is going up, not down. Robert, do you have an idea of how many users this site gains in a given year? I'd be curious to learn how the site grew in hits and users in 2003 vs. 2013. |
cycleroadie
Member Posts: 452
From: Apalachin, NY USA
Registered: May 2011
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posted 01-16-2014 07:15 AM
quote:
Originally posted by 4allmankind:
I'd be curious to learn how the site grew in hits and users in 2003 vs. 2013.
I think a more relevant count would be from 2010 till now. We are talking since no human spaceflight launches from U.S. as the relevant time period I think. |
4allmankind
Member Posts: 1043
From: Dallas
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 01-16-2014 07:47 AM
The original poster here indicated his curiosity based on when "generations get older". You won't learn much from 2010-present. A full decade might be another story. |
Steve Zarelli
Member Posts: 731
From: Upstate New York, USA
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 01-16-2014 08:16 AM
I can share my perspective from the autograph field for what it’s worth.Yes, certainly a number of collectors are aging out of the hobby. That said, from my perspective, there is surprising interest from younger collectors in M-G-A. I am in contact every day with collectors who are in their 20s and 30s and they are just starting to collect with a strong interest in astronauts. Is it enough to completely fill the void left by the baby boomers who are exiting? I don't know. Another angle to consider is increased international interest. With growing middle classes in India and China – and a burgeoning space program that just might go back to the moon – there is tremendous potential for a huge influx of collectors. I don’t think I am revealing any “trade secrets” by also noting that RR Auction has told me that the number of new bidders for their last several space auctions has consistently exceeded their expectations. Patches, pins and other space collectibles? I just don’t know. I don’t see these mediums having tremendous appeal to younger generations, but I could be wrong.
As far as autographs go in my opinion, at the worst it will contract a bit, and at best it will boom in the next 20 years. In all, I firmly believe it is NOT dying anytime soon! |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-16-2014 08:28 AM
quote:
Originally posted by cycleroadie:
We are talking since no human spaceflight launches from U.S. as the relevant time period I think.
When the space shuttle program was coming to its end, I had family members, friends and colleagues ask what I would be doing next, as if I would be out of a job. At the time (in 2010), I would respond that because collectSPACE was about history, there would always be history to write about. But in reality, it has been the current events in U.S. and international space exploration that have kept me busier than I ever was during the final years of the shuttle program. In 2010, collectSPACE published 66 news articles. In 2013, the count was 203. (In 2003, it was 56.) That increased rate of reporting would not happen if our readership wasn't increasing as well. Since 2010, we have doubled our on-site readership. I'd have to go back into our logs to check 2003, but it wasn't until 2005 that I made collectSPACE my full time profession, and that was because my "hobby site" was taking up most of my time even then. So by that measure, interest continues to be strong. |
JBoe
Member Posts: 960
From: Churchton, MD
Registered: Oct 2012
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posted 01-16-2014 08:29 AM
From my perspective as a relatively "new" space memorabilia collector and enthusiast I can't really say it's either on a decline or boom. Growing up in rural Minnesota in the 80's during the shuttle program I wasn't exposed to the types of items being offered now and was restricted to patches. Since getting out of the Navy and moving to Maryland in 2002 and in 2012 when Discovery landed at its permanent home my interest in the space memorabilia and program was refueled. In my opinion, I think that there are many artifacts (including hardware) that are being thinned out of personal collections as well as NASA surplus. As others mention time will definitely tell. I know that with my interest back into the space program I will definitely be transitioning to the commercial space program (SpaceX, Orbital, and Sierra Nevada) and Orion as many others will. Missing out when I was a kid, the Orion and others will fuel what others have been collecting for many years. |
SparkR_13
Member Posts: 102
From: Martinsburg, WV 25401, USA
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 01-16-2014 08:43 AM
I do not think it is shrinking, but I think there will be more of gap of collectors. Until our next project starts, be it the SLS launches or a drive back to the moon or something we can set our goal to, the interest will wean a bit. The commercialization will help a bit perhaps, but without a major program to follow, things fade quick these days.What I miss from my early collecting days are the opportunities to trade and attend shows. Military patch shows still exist, but to a large part, they are not geared toward any space patch collectors. And trading patches seems to be lost concept. Used to be all kinds of magazines you could post an add in that do not exist any longer and even here, 99% is for selling or buying. So that personalization is missing, just consumption. I collect, I buy, the joy of making trades is missing. |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1463
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 01-16-2014 11:32 AM
quote:
Originally posted by J.L:
I feel the lack of any real U.S. manned space program (never ending plans do not count) has taken a toll on general interest. Time will tell.
NASA program does not equate to US space program. There is much more enthusiasm created with newspace companies like SpaceX. |
chet
Member Posts: 1506
From: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 01-16-2014 12:39 PM
It would seem pretty straightforward that one of the best space collecting barometers would be how collectSPACE is doing, so it's good to hear Robert reporting cS is doing just fine.Also, judging by a good chunk of the results of Superior's auction yesterday, prices still seem to be pretty robust (especially for beta patches!) Bottom line, I think there will always be fascination with the magnificent accomplishments of M-G-A (and thus a certain percentage of interested folks looking to collect in the field) as long as people still gaze up at the moon at night. |
SkyMan1958
Member Posts: 867
From: CA.
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 01-16-2014 01:49 PM
First off, I would like to point out one thing... collecting anything, be it fine art or beer bottle caps, is a mixture of OCD and having fun. You should NEVER buy a collectible item because you think it will go up in value. It may, it may not. You should buy it because you like it.For what it's worth, I think that the space memorabilia collecting field will bifurcate. Patches, pins (at least unflown ones) and other "common" items will probably decline in value as the baby boom cohort that grew up during the space race dies off. On the other hand, I strongly suspect that rarer and one of a kind items, both flown and unflown, will increase in value. There is enough "romance" associated with space flight to assure public interest in the field. These rarer and one of a kind artifacts will be recognized to be the historical articles they are, and eventually WILL be seen both as collectibles and as portions of a financial portfolio, just as fine art, jewelry, coins etc. are seen today. |
mode1charlie
Member Posts: 1169
From: Honolulu, HI
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 01-16-2014 02:56 PM
Count me with the (cautious) optimists. I endorse Steve Z.'s points - with the rise of Asian space powers, seeing things strictly from the U.S. side might be a rather limited perspective. It's a big world out there. And judging from the high prices and bidding wars at the space auctions, there doesn't seem to be much evidence for the assertion that the hobby is waning. Yes, it may wax and wane a bit as we transition to a new era of commercial spaceflight and wait for the next NASA program, but ultimately younger generations may find in the "romantic" Golden Era of M-G-A that much more amazing. Humans need inspiration, and this hobby is a good way to connect to that. Heck, I never even knew it was possible to own space stuff (beyond the mundane patch or pin) until 2009 - so there is still a sizeable number of people even in the U.S. who don't know they can participate as well. As Robert implies from the continued rising popularity of this site, this hobby is not going away any time soon. |
neo1022
Member Posts: 281
From: Santa Monica, CA
Registered: Jun 2013
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posted 01-16-2014 09:14 PM
Interesting discussion! But I can't help but think it's all a bit short-sighted. I come at this from the point of view of a new collector and an anthropologist. The question of whether "popular" interest in space collecting will wax or wane is anyone's guess. Probably is on the wane amongst younger people, for whom it simply isn't "on the radar." But I'm always focused on the bigger picture of why M-G-A matters *as an historical human achievement.* Apollo 8 (and everything that led up to it) was a watershed moment in human history — human beings left the planet for the first time, becoming a spacefaring species. That had never happened before, and it will never happen again. And imagine — we're lucky enough to be alive at a time when we can meet and talk to the people who were a part of this unparalleled accomplishment (although they're disappearing rapidly)! We're also around when we can collect "pieces" of this audacious undertaking — flown items, autographs, whatever. Imagine if you could have gotten Columbus' signature. Or owned a piece of his ship. Or purchased a map he used. Or had drinks with Magellan. You get the idea. These flights made history, and looking back at them from the future, imagine just how important these events will probably seem (and how envious people will be that we were around for it all...). Granted, right now there seems to be a funny sort of social amnesia that we ever *really* went to the moon (and did the other things) — but this will fade, and the M-G-A era will be seen for what it was — as the moment when human beings left the plant and joined the spacefarers' club... Perhaps the 50th anniversary of Apollo XI will start this process of reassessment. I also wonder whether interest in Apollo will revive once we enter a "post-moonwalker" world in which no living human has ever walked on the moon, or travelled to another celestial body. The way things are going, this seems like a pretty probably scenario (within the next 15 years or so...). So who cares whether the short-term interest in collecting waxes and wanes... We're talking about watershed moments in the history and evolution of the human species — and we're collecting when the participants in these events are (at least some of them) still around. So sign me up! And from a selfish point of view, the current "lull" of interest in space makes it a good time to be collecting — as boomers age out of the hobby, a lot of great item (that have been sitting in collections) will start to circulate again... And they might even be obtainable for someone of non-boomer means! So for the space enthusiast, this should be a great time to be collecting. Like they say in investing, be a buyer when everyone else is a seller... |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 01-16-2014 09:43 PM
I don't think it's on a decline. I do think that if anything, it's neither declining nor increasing. People are getting older and/or dying and their collections come up for sale. Or people are looking for money because of the economy. In either case, new unseen material comes in, and people (particularly those who now can afford stuff, or are looking to replace memories) buy the stuff.Of course, the value of any collectible is what people are willing to pay. Whether that value as a whole is going up or going down is hard to judge. What do you use as an index? Perhaps someone should take (just throwing it out there) a dozen space collectibles from various programs, items that have been sold and that come up for sale relatively frequently, and see how that has done throughout the years. |
garyd2831
Member Posts: 640
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: Oct 2009
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posted 01-16-2014 10:30 PM
Thanks to everyone so far submitting valid and constructive points. I feel my slight decline in interest stems from an uncertain economic future and lagging pause in the current US manned space program (Vehicle). I love my collection as I have been able to collect some wonderful pieces. Its not the biggest nor the smallest, but includes a little some from all of those early day (Golden Age) and early shuttle years.It is absolutely correct that one should collect from the love and interest, not necessarily the value. I think value comes into play when you have a significant portion tied up in individual items and you always want to know that breaking even if necessary if possible. I have sowed down on collecting but still for a great item ever now and again. |
J.L
Member Posts: 674
From: Bloomington, Illinois, USA
Registered: May 2005
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posted 01-16-2014 11:02 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Behling:
There is much more enthusiasm created with newspace companies like SpaceX.
Since the question was specifically about memorabilia, let me rephrase my original comment. I think there will always be a demand for quality items from the M-G-A era of manned spaceflight. Until ANY nation funds a space program capable of stirring serious public interest beyond earth orbit, I do not see modern space memorabilia collecting becoming anything other than something that appeals to a small group. SpaceX, or any private company is not going to spark the imagination of the masses. That dream takes more money than most people want to think about. You are kidding yourself if you think delivering supplies to ISS is something to get excited about. There was more excitement with Skylab than what we have now. Everything that was done now... was done years ago. Call me grumpy, but what I see now is depressing, With the exception of rovers on Mars, I am still hoping for any country to step forward and commit the funds needed to support a "real" space program that involves sending humans to explore space. Get back to me in 15 years. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-17-2014 01:01 AM
A large part of what excited the masses for Apollo was not that men were walking on the moon — the public at large lost a good deal of their interest in that after Apollo 11 — but the promise that they would be able to travel to space themselves in the years that followed.The reason why companies like SpaceX and Virgin Galactic may very well capture the same excitement as Apollo is because of their capability to start transforming space from a spectator to participatory activity. It doesn't matter if it is the wealthy who go first; the same was true for aviation. As more people go from different walks of life, the shared experience will widen and that promises a greater interest in space than even an international crewed Mars landing can deliver. But that aside, I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss the space activities of today. Chris Hadfield is currently more famous worldwide than at least ten of the men who walked on the moon. He was successful at generating excitement for space because he made the effort to (virtually) bring the public with him to the space station. Space as a spectator sport has always been a limiting factor. Space collecting, I believe, was born out of a desire to partially correct for that: if you can't be part of the program, owning a part of it is the next best thing. But the greatest "threat" to the future of this hobby is not a lull in beyond-Earth missions, but the opportunity for anyone to launch off this planet and replace the vicarious thrill experienced through holding an artifact with the actual experience of looking back at the Earth from space. |
spaced out
Member Posts: 3110
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 01-17-2014 06:16 AM
I'm not sure you really need present-day space activity to stimulate interest in the M-G-A era of space exploration.This period represents an unprecedented and unrepeatable historical achievement that won't get any less important with the passing of time. Do collectors of Civil War memorabilia need an ongoing civil war in the US to raise interest and boost the number of collectors? Do collectors of ancient Egyptian artifacts need some new discovery to boost interest in the field? I doubt it. Major historical events remain fascinating to people long after those who took part in them or witnessed them as children pass on. |
Gonzo
Member Posts: 596
From: Lansing, MI, USA
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 01-17-2014 07:41 AM
I agree with Chris and Robert. Interest in space exploration, especially M-G-A era will always be there. And what's different in them from today is that they were bold, interesting and new. Everything they did and needed was new. It was ALL new. It was also the "great global space race" between the two superpowers at the time. It was truly indeed historic. And what is different today is that space exploration is not the historic event it once was. It has become much more routine. It has become "been there, done that". We are now in the historic lull between historic and commonplace. It is now up to companies like SpaceX or Virgin Atlantic to make it happen for the masses. I don't think interest itself has waned. Rather, I believe the interest is still there. People still look to the future for a better life. What we lack now is exciting events to make that interest alive. |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1463
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 01-17-2014 08:44 AM
quote:
Originally posted by J.L:
You are kidding yourself if you think delivering supplies to ISS is something to get excited about. There was more excitement with Skylab than what we have now.
You are out of touch with current spaceflight if you think it is just about delivering ISS supplies. It is about re-usability, lowering the cost to go to space and going beyond LEO. And all this without the government involved. Days of government-sponsored programs like Apollo are gone, they aren't going to happen (there is no driving need for governments to sponsor such programs). Space will be exploited by the private sector. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-17-2014 08:55 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Behling:
Days of government-sponsored programs like Apollo are gone...
Jim, that's taking it a bit too far. While the U.S. may have some commercial upstarts, China, India, Japan and other nations' space programs are entirely government-backed. If a Chinese taikonaut walks on the moon someday, it won't be because a commercial Chinese company sent him (or her) there.And the U.S. commercial exploits still very much rely on the government as a customer. Even Virgin Galactic is counting on NASA to buy scientific research flights to offset some of the cost of operating a fleet of SpaceShipTwo spacecraft. So suggesting that the government is out of the space business is premature, at best. |
cycleroadie
Member Posts: 452
From: Apalachin, NY USA
Registered: May 2011
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posted 01-17-2014 09:15 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Behling:
And all this without the government involved. Days of government-sponsored programs like Apollo are gone
Hardly not involved when you consider how much money NASA has "awarded" these companies to develop their vehicles through CCDev, etc. Without those carrots, all these companies would be years behind where they are now. |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 01-17-2014 09:19 AM
But the government is involved. NASA gives hundreds of millions of dollars in money to commercial space companies to help them develop their programs. Regarding what Robert was saying about the increase in his web traffic. Because there is an increase in web traffic on his site it may not mean collecting has become more popular. I think of collectSPACE as more of a mainstream space news website now than strictly a website for collectors. While I am a collector, as often as not I visit Robert's website for the updates on space news because I feel confident his information is accurate and he always has the inside track that mainstream news cannot be bothered to look into. I doubt there is any way of knowing, but I wonder how many people on this site are active collectors, and how many use the site for space news? I know of several people myself included who are not collecting like they use to or are down sizing their collections for various reasons. |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1463
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 01-17-2014 11:14 AM
Ok, ok, ok. The point is don't look for another Apollo type program (or even ISS) from the US. |
p51
Member Posts: 1642
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 01-17-2014 12:01 PM
When Al Bean called me a while back on a book idea I'd written him about, he mentioned that he was "as busy as ever."To me, that proves that space interest isn't on a decline, at all, and collecting would logically parallel that, at least I'd think so. |
Larry McGlynn
Member Posts: 1255
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 01-18-2014 06:47 PM
Robert is right. There are seven dedicated space auctions from four major auction houses that now happen annually. Then there are three other auction houses that have space material in their general auctions at least once a year. One auction house has a monthly auction that includes space autographs and soon will be adding a space memorabilia section to their monthly auction. The average auction used to have approximately 200 registered bidders. Lately, that number has increased to over 500 registered bidders.
We are seeing sales of individual flown artifacts reach six figures such as the Apollo 15 cuff checklist at $360,000. In general, an average increase of 15% has been seen since the legislation was passed in September of 2012. The media has gotten wind of this increase and as Robert says, they are doing stories in print and on the web about space collecting. The London Financial Times and the Robb Report have done articles on space collecting and space art. I might add that the Robb Report caters to the billionaire next door.
Now a TV production company has shot a pilot and pitched a network about a TV show on space collecting. It would be interesting if the network picked up the show. That would bring space collecting to the masses.
Space collecting has become a hot topic and doing extremely well. |
Joel Katzowitz
Member Posts: 808
From: Marietta GA USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 01-19-2014 07:45 AM
After reading through the thoughtful posts I realized I have a slightly different barometer for gauging the issue of current collector interest. I consider myself fortunate to be part of a group of collector/friends/buddies in the southeastern US (Georgia, Alabama, Florida) that for years have stayed engaged in all things space. We would meet, chat, joke, tease, go to or put on the occasional event together and generally have a great time. The closing of the shuttle program has taken a lot of steam out of our little network. It seems like our common binding thread is now missing and we're floundering as a group. We used to share our new acquisitions and discuss options for displaying them. Lately there's been very little action which is disheartening to me and maybe indicative of the current state of collecting. |
J.L
Member Posts: 674
From: Bloomington, Illinois, USA
Registered: May 2005
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posted 01-19-2014 10:15 AM
That is a great barometer Joel. As I have stated before, I still feel there is a strong market for good quality items from the M-G-A era. I don't see that fading any time soon.As Joel has stated, when the Shuttle Program came to a close, I believe it did take the wind somewhat out of the hobby. The regular anticipation (and attending) of the launches indeed kept many groups in touch with each other. The interest is still there, but it has been hard to watch NASA slowly go into a type of "sleep" mode. I know there are unmanned launches and such, but the manned program is what generates the real interest in space flight and the hobby. |
Larry McGlynn
Member Posts: 1255
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 01-19-2014 04:50 PM
Trick to a group is to have other common interests to discuss. When one topic fades for a while, there are other topics to talk about with each other. I suppose something unusual to this, my true Band of Brothers like sports, women, sex and unmanned spaceflight. |
stsmithva
Member Posts: 1933
From: Fairfax, VA, USA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 01-19-2014 05:10 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Larry McGlynn:
sports, women, sex and unmanned spaceflight
Now THAT'S a weekend! |
datkatz
Member Posts: 176
From: New York, NY
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 01-20-2014 02:10 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Chris Hadfield is currently more famous worldwide than at least ten of the men who walked on the moon.
Could there be stronger evidence for a decline in interest in space exploration? quote:
Originally posted by J.L:
With the exception of rovers on Mars, I am still hoping for any country to step forward and commit the funds needed to support a "real" space program that involves sending humans to explore space.
Very well stated. And quite true. We've been in low earth orbit for half a century. Wake me up when we're ready to get off the merry-go-round and actually go somewhere. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-20-2014 02:48 PM
quote:
Originally posted by datkatz:
Could there be stronger evidence for a decline in interest in space exploration?
Okay, so for you personally (and maybe others), the current activities in space are not that interesting. You are, of course, more than welcome to that opinion. But that doesn't negate what others find interesting.Chris Hadfield and Mike Massimino, to name just two astronauts who have drawn worldwide interest in their missions, did go somewhere, contrary to your assertion otherwise. Hadfield lived aboard humanity's most complex engineering achievement and the largest international peacetime project in history. Massimino upgraded what has been called the most important scientific instrument ever created, an orbiting tool that has rightfully captured the imagination of millions, if not billions worldwide. And both did so while actively working to engage the public back on Earth by simply sharing what makes us all human: curiosity and creativity. |
datkatz
Member Posts: 176
From: New York, NY
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 01-20-2014 03:00 PM
"Maybe others"? J.L. feels that way. Do you think it's possible that we are the only two?Why, Robert, is Hadfield better known than 5/6 of the men who actually explored another celestial body? Has the public's interest in space exploration come down to weightless guitar-playing? quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Hadfield lived aboard humanity's most complex engineering achievement...
The LHC (Large Hadron Collider) is at least equally complex, if not more so. And it's provided far more unique fundamental scientific data (e.g. the confirmation of the existence of the Higgs boson) than the ISS ever will.Who would care how complex the ships might have been during the Great Age of Exploration if they never went farther than their European harbors? |
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