For Sale: One Space Suit, slightly used (best offer)BOSTON 29 April 2009 - NASA has an opportunity to explore the
farthest reaches of space with capabilities far beyond their current
reach if they abandon manned spaceflights and turn their
attention completely to the development of robotics. This crucial
change will simultaneously improve our lives here on Earth and could
create a new economic goldmine for the U.S.
Space exploration is one of the greatest and most important scientific undertakings humans have ever undertaken. The advances we have made in all areas of science and medicine cannot be overstated. However, there is a high cost to this exploration.
439 humans total have flown into space and
twenty-two have been
killed on spaceflights. If you then factor in space training
deaths and ground personnel killed that total number jumps to 104 human
deaths. It is painful to realize that sending 439 humans into orbit worldwide, we have suffered a 25% rate of death. To put that number into perspective for you: If we accepted the same
level of risk on commercial airline flights as we do on spaceflights a
staggering 1,250,000 people would die in a plane crash (or as the
collateral of a plane crash) every single day.
Before you go thinking I’m one of those people who questions why we
need NASA, I’m not. I love space, space exploration, and it is clear
that space exploration has been the driving
catalyst behind many of the
most beneficial inventions of our time as well as a significant
generator for jobs.
We need NASA and space exploration now more than ever.
However, the days of sending manned missions into space is probably coming to an end. First, because it is too costly to the incredibly bright
minds that we lose and that cannot be replaced. Second, because with
our attention on human spaceflight, we undercut the crucial development
of robotics, which has far greater potential in today’s changing world. And it is this second point on robotics that has real potential.
The potential advancements we would make engineering robotic
spaceflights and missions would outweigh what we gain by manned spaceflight. We are, in effect, limited by our own bodies
abilities and safety concerns. We are limited by the fact that our fingers are
perfect at many tasks, and so the price we pay is that someone who has lost their
fingers does not
benefit from a robotic hand never engineered. We take
for granted what our bodies can accomplish naturally as compared to
what we can currently with robotics (
commercial sector). I think many of us would agree that the study of the human heart in orbit should take a
backseat to advancing robot assisted laparoscopic
surgery in the heart
here on Earth. To make that advancement space is the perfect
problem/opportunity.
The challenge of sending robotics into space that will preform the same
functions as a human will bring us to incredible new scientific achievements. If 100% of the money (currently over $10,000 per Lb in space), resources, efforts and collective intelligence of NASA
were going into the development of robotics for unmanned spaceflights,
I guarantee we would have far greater achievements in space exploration
than today, but with the addition of rapid development in our
healthcare, as well as other sectors, even the economy.
For healthcare we need robotics in our day-to-day from
surgery,
prosthetics,
eldercare, medical education, infectious disease control
and
general healthcare. This growing worldwide need for robotics
could be one of the next great economic stabilizers for the United
States. Instead of making GM cars that struggle for a market, we could
be producing a wide array of robotics for applications in
manufacturing, transportation and energy production, all spun from
space exploration. In World War II, we went from making cars to bomber
aircraft in months, we could do the same here.
Finally, I couldn't write anything about robotics without some mention of projects like
FIRST or
Lego Mindstorms. With FIRST Dean Kamen and John Abele have done a tremendous service to the world. They have inspired young people from all walks of life to become engaged in participatory competitions focused on the development of robotics. They have created an entire generation of young people who might not dream of being one of the 439 humans in space, but now have the very real dream of sending their robots as far as we have ever gone, accomplish what we never have. When these student competitors make their way through higher education and into the workplace they will be looking for some place to use their robotics skills. These young people will spearhead in new markets, companies and products. We would all be wise to start preparing for that shift now.
Bottom line, we are not trying to colonizing another planet, instead we are focused on improving upon our own. Yes, I would miss the image of humans in space, it holds a special place within all of us, but I have to think of the better outcomes possible. Lets use robotic space missions as
the catalyst for a new age and a great leap in our everyday lives.
Best,
Mike
CIMIT blog is a part of The Center for Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology -
CIMIT.org
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