Shatner going into space is everything that is right AND wrong with the Universe

[genxlib]

On one hand, it is a heartwarming story for a cultural icon to bring his illustrious career full circle at the delight of his fans.

On the other hand, it is a grotesque waste of resources. Or at best, a publicity stunt attempting to hide the insidious nature of a bunch of billionaires wanting to leave the planet that they have helped screw up.

I know..."lighten up Francis",

I can't help when my cynical side takes over.

[Wounded Bear]

1. In Capitalism, anything that makes money is not a "waste of resources"...

Space tourism is becoming a growth industry for the 1 and 0.1%-ers.

[luvs2sing]

2. I would have been much, much happier..

if Leonard Nimoy had lived long enough to do it.

[hlthe2b]

3. Yes. That's what I've been thinking. Nimoy is sadly missed.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

18. Didn't he?

[luvs2sing]

22. Ok..you win the internet today.

[Corgigal]

4. Im Just calling it

squid games for Billionaires. They will kill people, sooner or later.

We need nations to grab this back.

[Irish_Dem]

5. Right, billionaires building their escape pods for when they have trashed this planet.

But it is fun to see Capt Kirk blast off into space.

[PCIntern]

6. I understand....

I’m of two minds here but I’ll tell you what REALLY gets on my nerves: the canned remarks from Mission Control during the flight are so puerile and vais that I can’t listen. Otherwise, remarkable technology.

[Corgigal]

8. CNN

just said, Welcome Back astronauts.

Lord, no. I’m sorry real astronauts.

[MuseRider]

23. Did you hear the interview with Mark Kelly?

It was essentially agreed upon because John Glen was also along for the ride he said so since they crossed the barrier into space they qualified. Now I do not know how much that cost him personally to say that but it certainly was the reason that they started calling them astronauts. There was another astronaut there and I cannot remember his name for the life of me who also mentioned a bunch of times the hours and years of training it takes to pilot something into and in space. The press now has their "gotcha" to use for every single rich asshole to gain the title that has always been revered for so much more. I did not remember that much use of the word before that interview. I do remember a few "space tourists" used but was not listening much long before so maybe they were all already doing that. "Crew" really blew my mind. Only crew ever whose job it was to sit back, try not to shit yourself or fling yourself at the windows pre launch then fly around a bit and crawl out of the capsule.

[nolabear]

7. I'm utterly delighted. Think about who might be watching.

All morning I’ve listened to people who couldn’t go into space (ish) themselves but were inspired by watching both real launches and sci-fi. A whole lot has been accomplished as an outgrowth of these programs that will help us imagine, and create, great things. We need delight right now. We need to remember there are things to reach for.

[spinbaby]

9. It's so utterly bizarre

Imagine going back in time and telling people that someday Captain Kirk would be the oldest person launched into space.

[Hugin]

10. Look at it this way...

We're running out of chimps.

Plenty of billionaires and aging celebrities, though.

[MuseRider]

24. OMG

too funny and too true.

[a kennedy]

11. and please DO NOT CALL THEM ASTRONAUTS.......🤬 🤬 🤬

[Nixie]

12. Jeff Bezos girlfriend trying to steal Shatner's limelight.

Squealing and running around trying to be in every camera shot. No thanks.

[Zorro]

13. Getting a little emotional listening to Shatner go on

[nolabear]

15. Oh he and I are both in tears. I hope he goes on talking

particularly about that feeling of how fragile we are. How fine the blue and how we have to care for it.

[NightWatcher]

17. that was profound as hell.

[Xoan]

14. Idiocracy Lives!

[PRETZEL]

16. Personally I have no problem with this,

yes, it's publicity for Bezos, Branson, et al who are doing this.

No, these people should not be called astronauts in any way shape or form.

But, look at the advancements in technology for the space programs that these endeavors have produced. The biggest ones in my mind is seeing the technology that produced re-useable launce rockets that have the ability to land on their own. The computer technology that literally allows the rocket to land where they want it to.

I don't see the issue on having private groups doing that that will advance our knowledge of space travel.

[MuseRider]

19. I love Shatner and had to watch this

but unless someone else goes up that I see more than just money and ego involved I will not watch another.

The only good thing I can hope comes from this is an interest in science like the big science boom the first shots into space inspired. Hopefully we can do more with this with the increased interest without the competition of having to "beat" another country.

[jimfields33]

20. I'm glad he's doing it

The more mainstream this gets, the better it will be for the future generations to go into space. Airlines were prohibited when they first started for a long time in fact. Now look you can go across country for a couple hundred bucks. Progress is hard but a must.

[Swede]

21. It advances the technology of spaceflight.

Mankind has the urge to explore and so this is a good thing.

[sanatanadharma]

25. I remember ignoring "Star Trak" tv nights in the college dorm common room

Back then, in the mid to later 1960's, it seemed so many possibilities for a glorious future were suggested and reflected by fact, fiction, feeling and folk all around.

Sub-orbital and orbital flight had been achieved; we were shooting for the moon.
Science and society with the feminist, anti-warrior, anti-racist, alternate American history, justice -for-all, pro-all-lives-matter movements, seemed to be pointed to a fine future.

True we had Nixon and his republicans, but this was all before the oil-crisis, the worst of Vietnam, Reagan and all the republicanism now poisoning USa.

It feels as though all the 2nd-half 20th century optimism and gains are reversed; previously fought for rights are under attack and being denied.

We are celebrating spending money to repeat 1962. We need to spend money to repair everything ignored since the 1980's and "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous".

[USALiberal]

26. They're not breaking the law so lighten up.

[hunter]

27. Anyone who drives a car has no moral standing to talk about wasted resources.

Participating in automobile culture is one of the most environmentally destructive things anyone can do.

I'm guilty of that. I own a car.

Space exploration is a positive thing. So are improvements in rocket technology.

But I don't think humans will ever have a significant presence in space beyond Low Earth Orbit.

If we manage to survive as a world civilization then this Solar System will belong to our intellectual children, engineered beings who can walk around on the surface of places like Mars naked.

I also think Faster-Than-Light space craft are purely a fantasy. This universe doesn't work like that so alas there's no Star Trek in our future.
Eventually we humans will go extinct or build our own universe that's more accommodating of our dreams. That's my answer to the Fermi Paradox.

[IcyPeas]

28. Limerick for today...

Jeff Bezos’s rocket flew far;
Inside it was Shatner, a star
Beloved for his work
As the Trek captain Kirk,
Which was useful to Jeff as PR.

Link to tweet

[Hekate]

29. The search for goods & profits & trade routes (capitalism, so to speak) has been the driving force...

… for exploration for millennia. Military motives as well.

I am not disturbed by the Billionaire Boys’ Club Race to the Stars. Up to this point space travel has been funded by and controlled by the federal government & its military arm, & those chosen as crew have had to be in the absolute peak of health and condition.

When civilians finally got involved, it took money— piles and piles of money— which meant a self-selected group of billionaires.

But something else happened. When they started choosing passengers, they chose people who could pay, not young military jet pilots in the peak of condition. They chose, ultimately, an overweight 90 year old man.

Boldly going where no nonagenarian has gone before, William Shatner just proved that anybody can go to outer space now. Frankly, I am stoked. Talk about a great leap for humankind.