Column: Regarding the space race

By Scott Walker, M.D.

Dear Neighbors,

I wrote some time ago about the benefits to be derived from a mandatory national service.  The idea ran into several preconceptions and mostly drew yawns; but the problem persists.  We are two nations, sharing the same stolen land and trying to work out the problems as they arise.  

I think a reasonable definition of a “nation” is that it’s a large, contiguous group of people who share a world view and a national view that is common among themselves, but different from their neighbors.  Two such  nations currently occupy the land we call The United States, and right now we’re not getting along very well.

We have opportunities to get along because both sides like a reliable infrastructure, and we have to work together to maintain that infrastructure, whether it be roads, sewers, power lines or Meals on Wheels.  

Some find it easy to put partisanship aside when there is community service to be done, but others not so much.  How can we improve the skills of future generations of our two nations so that we can rise above partisan division?  How can we increase the percentage of our young people who have the communication skills and values to move our species forward, while protecting the planet that sustains us?  

History gives us a pretty clear idea:  the best way to unify a nation is to be invaded.  That’s extreme for most of us.  Next best is fighting a “just war” abroad.  Still objectionable.  The “War on Poverty” never quite got launched (and with the passage of the “Big Bill” in Congress, would become “War on the Poor”).  

There was an aspect of the Cold War that seemed brighter than most others:  The Space Race.  Yes, the Soviet program was run directly by the military, and NASA was almost fully staffed by military veterans.  But we were both in space, we didn’t have to shoot at each other there, and there  were (we were told) achievable milestones to which we meet “beat the Ruskies.”   

Outer space is inherently exciting.  “Apollo 13” remains a popular movie.  Elon Musk tapped a vein of deep interest when he announced plans, or plans for plans to go to Mars.

Neighbors, we cannot live as a house divided, two nations on the same ground. Let’s find the things that unite us now, and invest in those things our time, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.  We need to  build trust and unity. In the past this has largely been done with wars,  and sensible people have by now said all that needs to be said about the illogic and costs of war.  The idea of a mandatory national service is off-putting to some.  So how about a space race?  Expensive, but cheaper than a war, and we get more spin-offs.  

For a time the U.S. led the world in math and science; this corresponded with the Space Race.  

China is now aggressively pursuing low orbit and lunar objectives, and no one trusts that they will not militarize space further.  Russia wants to abandon the I.S.S., and let it burn up.  Instead, let’s buy out the Russians, and move the I.S.S. to a higher orbit, where it may be available for recycling or emergency shelter for the people we will put into orbit, to prep and service missions to Mars and the asteroids.  

“To infinity, and beyond!”