One postscript on the GPS issue: don't get too used to relying on
your GPS unit. The satellites on which GPS depends are aging and
will need replacement very soon. No money has been appropriated for
any replacement satellites, and you can't send the space shuttle up
to fix them. So, basically, you're just one satellite failure away
from having to get out your road maps and your compass. (The weather
satellites [on which your nightly TV weather forecasts and Internet
weather sites depend] are also wearing out and need to be replaced.)
So maybe it's time to write your congressman and senators, if you
like GPS [or weather forecasts of even marginal accuracy].
You might also remind your senators and your congressman that China
and--surprisingly--India both have space programs and, among other
goals, are aiming for the moon. I don't necessarily want the U.S. to
do a land grab and claim the entire moon, but I don't want China to
do it either. (Among other things, the moon could be a dandy gun
platform, if an unfriendly government got hold of it. And, of
course, the moon is the gateway to the rest of the solar system.) $3
billion, which is a lot of money but pocket change when you look at
the stimulus program, would put NASA's moon program [as well as other
programs] back on track--it's dead in the water right now, for lack
of funds.
I wonder what will be the predominant language of space exploration:
English, or Chinese?
--Constance Warner
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