Post #1353801

Yes, the race back to the moon is driven by competitive nationalism. Yes, most recent advances in space technology have been driven by fascist billionaires. Yes, NASA is funded by the US when many of it's people don't even have health care. But the Artemis II mission was still exciting. We don't need space above all else, but it doesn't have to be either/or. Many advances in renewable technologies have their links to the original race for the moon. "The destiny of Earthseed is to take root among the stars" - Octavia Butler This always felt like a somewhat tacked-on part of the Parable of the Sowers / Talents. The books work fine without it in a narrative sense. However, it seems connected to the feeling of hope that is somehow present in those books, despite the awful reality of most of their day to day. We need big bold vision. It doesn't have to be space. It certainly shouldn't be driven by countries busy bombing civilians, or by billionaires. But also well done to all the people involved in the mission, it's a tremendous human achievement.