NASA manned space program: orbital turkey or orbital science?

William Atkins
Tuesday, 25 September 2007 22:19

Opinion and Analysis

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You know, maybe he’s right and the manned space program of NASA produces little (or no) scientific results when compared to its price tag. But, on the other hand, it is usually dangerous to say “nothing,” “never,” “always,”, and other such absolutes when describing something because inevitably somebody can come along and find one example to counter that absolute. (Weinberg does, to his credit, say “I could ‘almost’ say no science has come out of it.”)

I also wrote the iTWire article “Study of space-mutated bacteria helps astronauts and earthlings”, where an experiment onboard the space shuttle Atlantis helps scientists to learn more about bacteria and how they are affected inside the human intestines, which is similar to what happens to them in space.

Well, doesn't that experiment show some indication that science IS being produced within the NASA manned space program? Yes, that experiment probably could have been launched from an unmanned rocket and returned to Earth after the completion of the experiment. But, it wasn’t. It was launched onboard the shuttle—a part of NASA’s manned space program.

We all have our comments and opinions to make, but ‘usually’ comments that include such words as “always, “never, “nothing,”, and other such descriptions are difficult to substantiate because very few things in the world are “always true” or “never false.” Most things are more accurately described as “usually true,” “generally false,” “sometimes accurate,” and “often times erroneous.”

Many of us see and hear on TV or read in a magazne about how this new fad diet “will make you lose weight.” That statement implies the diet will “always” makes you lose weight. Maybe a better statement is “will sometimes make you lose weight.” However, the dramatic impact of this new statement is much less, which is why it is not used by companies trying to convince you to use their diet products so they can make a lot of money off of you.

Commentators and newscasters in the media are supposed to say “the alleged killer” and other similar phrases, when referring to the accused because a person is innocent unless proven guilty and that person should be given the right to be called the “alleged” killer before standing trial. He or she may be the killer or may not be the killer. The trial hopefully should decide the innocence or guilt of the person.

Just remember that usually things are not black and white, but generally are various shades of gray. There are very few issues that are one-sided. Many diverse groups have many varied opinions, and they rarely coincide. That doesn’t make one side completely right and the other side totally wrong. It only makes for two opinions.

So, my recommendation to you is to "almost always" think twice about statements that include absolutes like "always" and "never."

To discuss my own question: NASA manned space program: orbital turkey or orbital science? That is a question that each of us needs to answer. And a question that should be posed by our federal policymakers each and every time all government agencies are provided additional money to spend in the upcoming year. Efficient use of our tax dollars should produce a strong nation.