Space Chronicles

This isn't a book solely for the nerdiest of nerds, the smartest of the smart, or the ones with the spaciest delusions. This is a book for America. Neil DeGrasse Tyson demonstrates with great style the benefits of space discovery across the board. He begins with why we went to the moon in the first place, then moves to why we stopped, and, naturally, ends with why we HAVE to return. The short of it? We went to the moon because the Soviet Union surpassed us technologically with sputnik. In other words, war was the driving factor behind NASA getting a budget to send the Saturn V rocket to the moon. A stark realization of the forces that have driven this nation for decades. NASA, made up of the most intelligent people in the nation with a thirst for healthy discovery and scientific advancement, at the mercy of a select few whose main motivation is to be the toughest, and not necessarily the greatest. As Tyson points out several times, the nation with the most advanced technology and infrastructure wins. And you better believe that NASA is responsible for everyday technologies that you would be sure to miss if NASA were suddenly wiped from all time and existence.

Tyson demonstrates this cross-pollination that takes place. NASA doesn't just benefit the whimsies of some space nuts, nor is it a welfare for people too smart for the rest of society (according to Wanda Sykes). All facets of science and technology go into the exploration of space and other planets. And those discoveries assist in other facets of the nations industries. The health industry would be in a different place today if it weren't for NASA's assistance with using X-rays, LASIK eye surgery, and even a technology that can detect early signs of breast cancer. That mammogram technology came from the need to improve the blurry images coming from the Hubble Telescope. There are countless other contributions to society credited to NASA and their technological advances.

The most important benefit that is brought up in Space Chronicles, is the motivation to dream. Specifically, encouraging young children to pursue scientific studies so they too can send a rocket into space. Naturally, all children won't make it to be an astronaut. But you benefit no matter what when you have people of all different levels and expertise across the board participating in the overall scientific discovery.

The point of all of this is that we look at the Saturn V rocket used during the 1960s and 1970s with awe and wonderment, unlike looking at the early cell phones the size of bricks. If we start looking back with awe on these technologies, questioning how we ever were able to do that, then we are falling behind. China is moving ahead of us, and other countries will start to follow suit. NASAs entire budget from it's first day in existence to now is that of the military budget for 23 days...not during war time. We may be the country with the biggest stick, but sticks and stones mean nothing compared to the vast benefits of technological advances for the sake of discovery and not destruction. Common arguments will bring up the problems at home, but when the asteroid that is in fact headed our way gets too close, will we have the knowledge and technology to deflect it? We are capable of this feat, but not if we keep regarding space as an insignificant force on humanity. The truth is, humanity is an insignificant force on the universe, and in discovery we can unlock it's secrets and live in mutual respect.