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Author
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Topic: Time lapsed since final space shuttle launch
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LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 09-12-2019 11:00 AM
  
About 8 years and 2 months elapsed between JFK's May 1961 speech establishing the goal of landing a man on the moon and the first lunar landing.If I am not mistaken, about 8 years and 2 months has now elapsed between the final shuttle launch (STS-135) in July 2011 and this month (September 2019). Just an observation.
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-12-2019 11:48 AM
In the same time period: - from May 1961 to July 1969 (including Apollo 11), 22 American astronauts flew in space, with 10 flying twice and four flying three times
- from July 2011 through September 2019 (including Soyuz MS-15), 38 American astronauts flew in space (including five on SpaceShipTwo), with one flying twice (two, if you count Nick Hague's in-flight abort)
Or counting by seats, it is tied, 40 to 40. |
jimsz
Member Posts: 616
From:
Registered: Aug 2006
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posted 09-12-2019 12:15 PM
It's depressing when you compare what was accomplished in the first decade of manned space and what has been accomplished in the last decade. Being stuck in low earth orbit for 47 years simply has not impressed the taxpayer to want to tell politicians to make manned space exploration a priority like it was in the early days. |
perineau
Member Posts: 218
From: FRANCE
Registered: Jul 2007
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posted 09-12-2019 12:45 PM
Perhaps those who decide should watch JFK's Rice University speech instead of just making pie-in-the-sky promises about the future of space exploration that will never be kept. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-12-2019 12:59 PM
Understandably, many space enthusiasts view the first decade or so of space exploration through the glowing lenses of nostalgia and entertainment as a result of it being the beginning of a new activity and the sheer achievement of landing humans on the moon (in addition to many being children at the time). But that enthusiasm should not be confused with what those who were leading the program thought was the best approach for the long-term future of humans in space. From Wernher von Braun to James Webb, many understood that we were, out of political necessity, skipping the decades of basic research that was needed before we could establish anything close to a deep space-faring civilization. In addition, today's enthusiasm for Apollo does not reflect the public opinion of that era. At no time did the majority of the American public think space exploration was a priority between May 1961 and June 1969. The only time that polling showed a small majority favoring space exploration spending was in July 1969. quote:
Originally posted by perineau:
Perhaps those who decide should watch JFK's Rice University speech...
Perhaps just as important is what President Kennedy said in private, about not caring about space exploration and seeking to curtail or cancel Apollo if an alternate, less expensive solution to the Soviet challenge could be found. "We choose to go to the moon" makes for a great soundbite, but it too would have likely been nothing more than a pie-in-the-sky promise had JFK not been assassinated, transforming his words from a political goal to that of the legacy of a fallen leader. |
Kite
Member Posts: 831
From: Northampton UK
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 09-12-2019 01:28 PM
Absolutely spot on Robert on all counts. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 09-12-2019 04:22 PM
Hard to believe it is the same time frame. |
Cozmosis22
Member Posts: 968
From: Texas * Earth
Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 09-12-2019 05:33 PM
Yeah 8+ years, sad. About 5 years and 9 months of no manned launches from the Cape between ASTP and STS-1. Alrighty now KSC folks, whoever hasn't retired and didn't get laid off back in 2012, flight hiatus is just about over. Time to ratchet up that Snoopy focus and prepare for Launch Fever. Good luck! |
Mike Dixon
Member Posts: 1397
From: Kew, Victoria, Australia
Registered: May 2003
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posted 09-12-2019 06:18 PM
Thank heavens we had some unmanned milestones to look back on in the later 70s. |
AlanC
Member Posts: 147
From: Scotland
Registered: Nov 2014
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posted 09-14-2019 06:26 PM
Right on, Cozmosis.  |
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