DAVE ROSS

Ross: Why we should be spending money on space travel

Jul 17, 2019, 6:17 AM | Updated: Jul 18, 2019, 9:08 am

space...

Astronaut Scott Kelly works outside of the International Space Station during a spacewalk on November 6, 2015 in space. The spacewalk lasted for seven hours and 48 minutes. (NASA via Getty Images)

(NASA via Getty Images)

One of the questions I’m hearing this week is: “Why did we stop going to the moon?” I remember exactly why. People started questioning sending billions of dollars into space when we had problems right here on earth.

There was poverty. There was Vietnam. And soon, all the kids who were inspired by the space program to immerse themselves in physics – as in my case – were hearing that we’d probably end up making napalm instead of moon landers. So budgets were cut and I switched my major to English.

But of course that money never really went into space. Money goes to people – pretty smart people – who taught us how to do big impossible things. The secret being to break them up into smaller possible things and to work though the setbacks.

Puget Sound region is primed for the coming space economy

I think nations need impossible goals. Today, sports tend to fill that role. Winning the big game seems to have become the ultimate human achievement. Except sports are governed by artificial man-made rules enforced by fallible referees.

The rules of space are written, and enforced, by the universe. And the stakes are very real.

A space program gives countries a way to compete – and maybe even cooperate – on the greatest stage of all. And to be remembered for what they built instead of what they destroyed.

Plus, when we’re not busy trying to do something impossible, we spend way too much time calling each other racist.

How Jeff Bezos came up with the name “Blue Origin”

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to dave rossTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

Dave Ross

car culture...

Dave Ross

Ross: Are we killing car culture? Or is car culture killing the US?

I don’t think the question is whether we're going to "kill" our car culture. The real question is can we stop our car culture from killing the U.S.?

3 days ago

drivers data insurance...

Dave Ross

Ross: As cars release driving data to insurance, is your driving my business?

Every move you make, every swerve you take, every lane change you fake – someone’s watching you. Do drivers have a right to keep driving data private?

10 days ago

rent control...

Dave Ross

Ross: Rent control was never the answer in Wash.

The rent control bill died in the Washington State Legislature this week, even though Democrats control both houses.

30 days ago

end of democracy...

Dave Ross

Ross: Conservative activist earns applause for pledging an ‘end of Democracy’

The theme from Jack Posobiec's speech is that Jan. 6 was a righteous attack not on democracy, but on those who threaten democracy.

1 month ago

Image: Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, is seen on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2023. (Photo: Alex Brand...

Dave Ross

Ross: Voters can help cull bad politicians from the herd early

Let's remember that just about every occupant of a higher office once occupied a lower office, and was put there by us, Dave Ross says.

1 month ago

Super Bowl celebration...

Dave Ross

Ross: The NFL does it again

The NFL once again put on a show that was able to keep me tuned in for four hours even though I had no stake in either team.

1 month ago

Ross: Why we should be spending money on space travel