October 17, 2008
The First Purposefully Multi-generational Space Mission
Editor's note: I went over to the Udvar Hazy Annex of the National Air and Space Museum this evening for a reception honoring the New Horizons Mission. Specifically, the reception honored the placing of a high fidelity model of the New Horizons spacecraft in the museum - now suspended from the ceiling, aft of Space Shuttle Enterprise.
During the dedication ceremony, we all learned from PI Alan Stern that the spacecraft was carrying a number of items, some of which had previously not been formally announced: some of Pluto discoverer Clyde Tombaugh's ashes, state quarters from Maryland and Florida, two CDs - one with over 400,000 names - the other with family photos of the New Horizons team, the US postal service stamp from 1991 saying "not yet explored", a concept design for another stamp noting the New Horizons mission, and a piece of Burt Rutan's SpaceShip One.
Listening to the various presentations, it was quite clear that this was a family endeavor - as well as an endeavor of families - and generations. The people who worked long hours on this mission needed support from their families - while younger mission personnel are being groomed to be involved in 2015 - and beyond - when New Horizons reaches its prime target - and possibly future targets during extended mission operations. New Horizons is perhaps the first purposefully multi-generational space mission, the twin Voyagers having unexpectedly blazed that trail by virtue of good design and immense ingenuity.
Posted by kcowing at October 17, 2008 9:49 PM
"During the dedication ceremony, we all learned from PI Alan Stern that the spacecraft was carrying a number of items, some of which had previously not been formally announced...."
To many of us, gratifying, inspiring, even heartwarming.
But let me guess that the National Taxpayers Union is having conniptions.
A very expressive report, Keith, that goes to the heart of what all of us want from our space program. Thanks.
I think that any investigation into the costs of these items being flown will find that it was, for all extents, zero. Some balancing mass is often put aboard spacecraft, and every launch vehicle has some unused capacity. I'll wager that not a cent was paid by the US taxpayer, and that the return on that zero investment is quite a lot higher than the US$700Bn recently shovelled down another sort of (non astronomical) black hole!
Bob Shaw
Posted by: Bob Shaw at October 20, 2008 9:20 AMHow difficult would it have been to place aboard information more along the lines of the Voyager Record?
In other words, something for future generations or non-human intelligences in the galaxy that might have an easier time both understanding it and a wider picture of humanity and our Solar System.
Posted by: LongNow at October 20, 2008 3:02 PM