Defending spaceflight – The echoes of Apollo

This paper defends, and emphasizes the importance of, spaceflight, broadly construed to include human and unmanned spaceflight, space science, exploration and development. Within this discourse, I provide counter-replies to remarks by physicist Dr. Steven Weinberg against my previous support of huma...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Space policy 2016-11, Vol.38, p.68-78
Main Author: Rovetto, Robert J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astronomy
Echoes
Human spaceflight
Manned space flight
Manned spaceflight
NASA
Philosophy of space exploration
Science and technology
Space exploration
Space launch services
Space policy
Space programs
Space science
Spaceflight
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Summary:This paper defends, and emphasizes the importance of, spaceflight, broadly construed to include human and unmanned spaceflight, space science, exploration and development. Within this discourse, I provide counter-replies to remarks by physicist Dr. Steven Weinberg against my previous support of human spaceflight. In this defense of peaceful spaceflight I draw upon a variety of sources. Although a focus is human spaceflight, human and unmanned modes must not be treated as an either-or opposition. Rather, each has a critical role to play in moving humanity forward as a spacefaring species. In the course of this communication, I also stress the perennial role of space agencies as science and technology-drivers, and their function to provide a stable and unified platform for space programs.
ISSN:0265-9646
1879-338X
DOI:10.1016/j.spacepol.2015.05.007