Bit of Space: What’s the point of Tim Peake’s mission?
In less than two days Tim Peake, the unassuming man in that photo, will be going into space. Actual space. The International Space Station. The final frontier. Where no Brit has gone before.
He will live, work, eat, and sleep up there for about six months. But many are asking what’s the point of it all?
Why should we spend taxpayers’ money putting this guy in a rocket so he can measure brain pressure in a weightless environment and do research that could help people who get taken to intensive care? What’s the point of using an electromagnetic levitator to help design new materials that are better at conducting heat or electricity? Why are we even bothering to put bacteria in the vacuum of space that could give us clues about life’s ability to survive on other planets? What’s the point of potentially saving countless lives by testing technology that predicts when people doing dangerous jobs are getting tired? And who cares about the thousands of British children who could be inspired to work a little bit harder at school after seeing someone like them fulfilling a lifelong dream?
It’s not like all of that work is really beneficial to the planet as a whole 🙄
Tim’s mission might not be as eye-catching as the Apollo flights, or as adventurous as an indefinite stay on Mars. But I challenge any beancounter to not feel a twinge of pride when they watch a Union Jack wearing astronaut temporarily leave earth on Tuesday morning.
Videos worth watching this week:
All the weird things astronauts do before leaving earth.
A bit on the rocket he’ll be taking.
The documentary that’s on TV tonight.
Articles worth reading:
Inside Baikonur, the space station that will send Major Tim Peake into space.
10 things British astronaut Tim Peake will do in space.
And finally:
Tim: (Looking out of window) That’s no moon!
