Space Renaissance Succeeds Space Race

The NASA space shuttle Atlantis was successfully launched Monday afternoon from Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, beginning the latest adventure in the now lengthy story of exploration of outer space. This mission is focused on repair and upgrading of the Hubble Space Telescope, which was put into orbit in 1990 and has provided enormous valuable information.
Striking visual images of outer space transmitted from the Hubble Telescope “…has brought the Universe close up and personal to the average citizen," in the words of Edward Weiler, head of the Science Division of NASA. "Its images have become part of our culture."
Information gleaned from the Hubble has altered and refined fundamental conceptions in astronomy. Scientists have learned that the Universe is expanding at an accelerating rate. Galaxies were formed shortly after the Big Bang, which created the Universe an estimated 13.7 billion years ago.
The current mission was originally scheduled for 2004 but has been greatly delayed because of a series of problems. Most recently, a scheduled launch last fall was scrubbed after the Hubble ceased transmitting detailed information back to scientists on Earth. Repair of this part of the telescope was added to an already lengthy task list.
As part of the current mission, a special camera will be installed to permit Hubble to probe more deeply into dark matter and dark energy. Respectively, these are a barely detectable substance thought to make up about a quarter of the Universe, and a mysterious force scientists believe is a key factor in the ongoing expansion. A new spectrograph, which measures light and color wavelengths, will be installed to gather data on creation of stars and galaxies.
The U.S. space program represents a continuum dating back to World War II, though usually in the headlines only regarding major missions. The most dramatic space policy announcement by far was President John F. Kennedy’s early 1961 pledge – successfully fulfilled – to send a manned mission to the Moon and back. President George W. Bush committed the nation to a manned Mars mission, though with far less public interest.
Space flight generates far less widespread excitement than in JFK’s time in part because we are collectively much more cautious. That attitude is well represented by the public anxiety over the safety of Shuttle flights.
There are two very good reasons for pursuing continuing space exploration. First, while the space program initially was fueled by the competition of the Cold War, current and future efforts could expand global cooperation. Science has always held an olive branch. During the height of the Cold War, President Dwight D. Eisenhower very energetically fostered scientific exchanges across the Iron Curtain.
Multinational space projects steadily expand. For example, Carthage College Professor Douglas Arion and Merit Models in Wisconsin have developed an extremely inexpensive small telescope. The device is being manufactured in China, formerly an enemy. The project is recognized as a cornerstone of the current UN International Year of Astronomy, marking the four hundredth anniversary of Galileo’s discoveries.
Second, space exploration has driven technological advances. Extreme miniaturization of components for the Moon mission increased applications for the computer microchip and other high-tech devices.
The personal computer is an especially important by-product. These now pervasive instruments permit pervasive information flows and spur innovative teaching – and learning.
Whatever your political perspective, whenever you turn on a small computer you are saying hello to JFK.
Arthur I. Cyr is Clausen Distinguished Professor at Carthage College in Wisconsin and the author of ‘After the Cold War’ (NYU Press). He can be reached at acyr@carthage.edu