Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Thursday, 15 May 2008 10:19
Opinion and Analysis
Page 1 of 2
Andy Thomas, Australia’s very first man in space, has implored PM
Kevin Rudd to thrust Australia into the space race. Andy says it’s
vastly more affordable than before and Australia’s children should get
serious about science and technology. Is he right?
Ever since the Russians and Americans kicked off the space race, culminating in the Moon landing (that some still question), the rise and rise of satellites, followed by the space shuttle and now the International Space Station (ISS), space has captured our imagination as never before.
Clearly, it captured the imagination of Adelaide-born Dr. Andy Thomas too, the first Australian in space who has taken four flights on the space shuttle into orbit, and still to this day remains in the NASA space flight pool, ready to go back into space if so commanded.
Already, space has started leaving the strict realms of military and government, with the Russians running a space tourism program that has enabled some of the world’s richest private individuals to hitch a ride on a Soyuz rocket to the ISS, with Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic set to bring the experience to even more people, although at a cost of $250,000 per flight, space tourism still isn’t for the masses just yet.
When Andy Thomas spoke to
Radio Australia, he noted that science was crucial in “propelling” his career, (obviously right into space!) and dearly hoped that Australian children would be inspired by his achievements.
He also warned that Australia could see a “massive shortage” of scientists by 2012, and that with all the environmental, financial and security threats, the need for “engineers, scientists and mathematicians” would be greater than ever.
Of course, Andy Thomas is absolutely correct. More merchant bankers and lawyers will always appear, but without engineers, scientists and mathematicians, we would simply be beholden to the discoveries and advances of other nations when clearly, Australia’s status as the clever country dictates that we must make as many of these discoveries on our own – and in co-operation, on an equal footing, with the rest of the world.
So, what about Andy’s plea that Australia do more to develop our own space program? Please read onto page 2.
