I was watching some of the Mars Express/Beagle 2 launch on the news last week and it suddenly struck me why most people find space boring. Because it is boring. Or, at least, it's presented in the most boring way imaginable. And the way to stop people finding it boring is to send fat alcoholics up as astronauts! Oh wait, someone's already done that idea, haven't they?
Where was I? Oh yes, the Beagle 2 launch. What was interesting to see there was the team behind it all celebrating wildly as it took off, actually showing some excitement at the thought of what they'd achieved, rather than the usual po-faced 'well, the launch was successful' that seems to characterise most space launches. Yes, I know it's a highly technical and complicated procedure and the people who are behind it are trained professionals who must keep their attention on potential problems at all times - but do they have to be so damn boring?
I think that's why people find it hard to relate to the whole process - the people involved just don't react the way we expect them to. I think that's why The Onion's Holy Shit, Man Walks On Fucking Moon headline is so funny, especially when the alternative Armstrong's firts words from the moon are 'Holy. Living. Fuck. I'm on the Moon.' Because the idea of someone having such a normal reaction to an amazing event is so alien to people's conceptions of space exploration it becomes damn funny.
That's probably why Beagle 2 has caught a lot of imagination in Britain. Not just because it's a British project, but because the people involved in it are genuinely excited and passionate about it in public and people can relate to that. When people are dispassionate, cold and analytical about technological wonders, is it any wonder that people seem to think 'well, if he's not really enthused by it, why should I be?'
Where was I? Oh yes, the Beagle 2 launch. What was interesting to see there was the team behind it all celebrating wildly as it took off, actually showing some excitement at the thought of what they'd achieved, rather than the usual po-faced 'well, the launch was successful' that seems to characterise most space launches. Yes, I know it's a highly technical and complicated procedure and the people who are behind it are trained professionals who must keep their attention on potential problems at all times - but do they have to be so damn boring?
I think that's why people find it hard to relate to the whole process - the people involved just don't react the way we expect them to. I think that's why The Onion's Holy Shit, Man Walks On Fucking Moon headline is so funny, especially when the alternative Armstrong's firts words from the moon are 'Holy. Living. Fuck. I'm on the Moon.' Because the idea of someone having such a normal reaction to an amazing event is so alien to people's conceptions of space exploration it becomes damn funny.
That's probably why Beagle 2 has caught a lot of imagination in Britain. Not just because it's a British project, but because the people involved in it are genuinely excited and passionate about it in public and people can relate to that. When people are dispassionate, cold and analytical about technological wonders, is it any wonder that people seem to think 'well, if he's not really enthused by it, why should I be?'
Nick got away with this at 1:22 AM
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