Image copyright JEFF OVERS BBC In the London Science Museum opened an exhibition titled “The astronauts – the birth of the Space Age”, which in Russia have brought many unique items from the “golden era” of the space program the Soviet Union.
This is the largest collection of spacecraft and items related to space exploration, has ever exported outside Russia.
However, as it may seem, space romance also stayed in the past – today it’s just a job, in addition to which the state is not too eager to spend money.
Is it fair statement?
Leading “Fifth Floor” Michael Smotryaev and columnist Bi BBC on Culture Alexander Kan talking to academician of the Russian Academy of Cosmonautics. Tsiolkovsky Igor Marinin.
Download the podcast program “Fifth floor” here.
Michael Smotryaev: you, Alex, still have to report on the news culture, but is closer to the end of the program. And now tell me – you yesterday visited the exhibition?
Alexander Kan : Yes, indeed, I I visited the exhibition. You are already in the announcement to tell you exactly what this exhibition will be an opportunity for our today’s conversation about space.
First, I want to offer to display the poster, the poster, the poster of the exhibition. It is in the spirit of romance ’60s, you were talking about, and about the same spirit sustained the whole exhibition. The exhibition is held at the Museum of Science, which implies a very serious, scientific attitude.
In general, and the exhibition is quite serious. On it you can talk a lot. There are plenty of absolutely wonderful exhibits. For example, I have touched such things as camp sweatshirt Sergey Korolev, where he worked in the “sharashka”, where he developed spaceships or cap Vladimir Komarov, in which he was flying in a spaceship “Voskhod” during his first flight jacket Yuri Gagarin, and plenty of other, more serious pieces.
Of course, there’s “Vostok-6″ and “Voskhod” and things like that, which we have never seen. Everyone has heard about space food, but how astronauts take a shower, or they go to the toilet – it was known to very few people. These items are exhibited there too.
So the exhibition from all points of view it is interesting. But I am in the process of studying, examining, exploring this exhibition and during a press conference touched on the same question, which, Misha, you endured the topic of our program: a glorious era of “golden age” of the Soviet space program.
Everyone remembers Gagarin, Tereshkova, Komarova, Leonova. Now, what should happen to the cosmos to humanity regained a sense of romance, a sense of originality and a sense of the incredible rise that accompanied the space to achieve the early 60′s?
MS .: I have an answer to this question, but the answer is a dilettante, an absolute amateur. I think you need more money. Fortunately, we have connected a professional in these matters, the chief editor of “Space News” and a member of the Russian Academy of Cosmonautics Tsiolkovsky Igor Marinin. Igor Adol’fovich, good evening!
Igor Marinin: Good evening!
MS. How much money do I need to once again have new achievements which can be put even on the scientific merit and on the impact they have on the broad masses of workers, in line with the satellite, with Gagarin with “Apollo”? Amounts generally known: 40 billion Americans spent last year on the space program, though this military developments too. It’s not just about money, so?
IM.: My answer to your question would be quite unexpected. It seems to me, no money, no money, no decisions – political or economic – will not repeat what was in the 60-70-ies. Explain why.
Let’s go back a bit in history. You remember – probably do not remember, but, of course, you know – the first flight of the Wright brothers’ first flight from Europe to America, the first flight from the Soviet Union to the United States via the North Pole.
In the 20-30th years caused a furor aviation achievements. What now with this aircraft? Aviation passed the stage of operation. She flies all, one is not surprised. Aircraft records now practically not put, and if put, they are not noticeable compared to those that were in the 30s.
The same thing happened with the rocketry and astronautics in the 60s. It was the first opening of the first achievements: the first satellite, the first animal in space, the first man in space, the first woman, the first docking, the first men on the moon, etc.
It’s all over. Now we have moved to block exploitation and exploration of outer space, when the space program is used for the needs of mankind, for the needs of science. Naturally, such breakthroughs things as they were in the 50s, 60s and early 70s are not possible under any circumstances.
MS.: Igor Adol’fovich allow then to continue this theme. The first flight to Mars, the first flight beyond the solar system, the first landing on the planet Alpha Centauri, or something like that. Clearly, this is not tomorrow or even next year, but it is clear that without this money will not work.
IM.: It is also not It is so sensational, because before, in 60 years, all of these projects were in the Soviet Union completely secret, and so any achievement when it took place, caused a sensation. It was way out of secrecy.
The Americans every achievement caused a sensation because they defeated the Soviet Union in a certain direction. It also caused a sensation and interest. There was a competition, and was a surprise to the public.
Who were long-term projects. For example, the new landing on the Moon will require more than a decade. Landing on Mars did not say representatives of any particular country, and all mankind, will take thirty years. All of these thirty years, people will sit and wait, sit and wait. Then they finally fly, and fly they will be nine months. Then hoist, finally, the flag of the United Nations or even any. It would not be a sensation, will not cause much interest. This is a routine development.
Here’s what can happen? The probability is very small, but it should happen sometime that our scientists are somehow open up new physical laws that will move in space and time at speeds comparable to the speed of light. Then you can somehow think about the sensations on the way to Pluto, Uranus, etc. At the present level of technological development is almost impossible. Chemical engines do not allow us to move with the necessary speed.
MS.: Here, Alex, it turns out, the answer to your question is: when will again “golden era “- never!
AK.: Once badly hurt!
IM. It is my personal opinion.
MS.: We do not know exactly, but some events as they develop the last 10-20-30 years, Igor Adol’fovich probably prove your case. If it was still so romantic, we would have with you now, this did not lead the conversation. It really has become a routine.
AK.: interesting, I would like to combine the two issues: your question, Mike, about money and Igor Adol’fovich. You say that in order to carry out a mission to Mars, even the concentrated efforts of all mankind, will take 30 years. It is at any cost?
What if double or triple the cost? It is understandable that people are now not up to the world and the problems that amount of money that they are not enough. But still, if hypothetically assume that these costs will be doubled, tripled, does it mean that the deadline for the implementation of this goal may approach, or is the problem purely technical nature?
IM. : Technical problems especially now I do not see. But we say in Russia, so that no amount of money a woman does not give birth to a child is not in the first nine months and two months. It takes time.
But out earthlings there. You can spread the direction of development and financial difficulties among different countries and carry out work in parallel, rather than sequentially. This, of course, reduce the time. But this to happen, it is necessary that all participating countries have adopted for themselves a willful decision that is the primary task – participation in the project for flying to Mars, and that they are major investments for the project.
When a group of this decision will be, then the project will move. But it’s a great project, and we need that for a change of government in each country (and for five or ten years it will change more than once) to any government, any government in these countries continued to maintain funding at the same level. This is also a big problem.
A short project easy to finance, and 10-15-20-year project finance is guaranteed by all the participating countries very hard. In addition, now the crisis. But it will definitely be the rise. But it is not certain that the majority of the participating countries, those that are currently involved in the International Space Station will be a priority to enter the cooperation of landing a man on Mars.
Why? And because there is no problem for a man – no such problem on Mars, which would not be complied automaton. That’s the problem. Therefore, the cost of sending ambitious expedition to people now can not be justified in any way.
MS.: Immediately suggests several reasons. Let’s order. I wonder, referring to the amount of the costs NASA mentioned that this is the cost of space: as the cost of the NASA, which make up less than half of those 40 billion over the past year, and the cost of the military department.
I think that other countries that are further down the list, the largest spending on space direction – China, Russia and India – a similar scheme. The military component is also high.
In this context, suggests that Americans are able to negotiate even with fellow Europeans, not to mention potential adversaries like Russia and China, it is a little real. Do you think it could happen? For example, the experience of “Large Hadron Collider” may in one way or another be incorporated or is it the military authorities will impose on it a heavy thing unpleasant resolution?
IM .: I think there is only one choice: either the project is not at all, or it will be the same, with the participation of many countries, such as the International Space Station. There is no third. No country financially not pull this project.
From the defense ministries of those countries must, of course, depends on – they attract a lot of funding. But at the same time, if each country targeted funding will be allocated to the Martian project, it …
MS.: But it is not only targeted funding. This is the so-called dual-use technologies. The military will want to keep them secret.
IM.: This is a serious matter, but somehow he got up in the last two or three years, when they started work authorization. Prior to our experts – American, European, Russian – found ways …
See the International Space Station have modules and Russian, and American and Japanese, European, and one from each other does not hide any things there.
According to the same well-trodden path that began “Soyuz-Apollo” seventy-fifth year, and then the station “Salyut-6″, “Salyut-7″, is now the International Space Station, all in cooperation is quite possible to do a secret any development will remain for use on space vehicles for military use. Let there be used.
AK.: We are talking about military devices and military purposes that go along with the space program. Everyone knows that the first companions were also actually a side effect of the development of ballistic missiles. Launch of satellites was a continuation of the strategic development of missile technology.
It is understood that the military component plays an important role, but this component inside our planet. You say, why send humans to Mars, why go to such expense, it can make all the machine. Really, in order to occur to some major new leap in the development of space technology, there should be a new challenge? Apparently, this new task can be a struggle with some extraterrestrial civilization?
IM.: I am afraid that the fight against extraterrestrial civilization is not very relevant because …
MS., AK.: In the absence of an extraterrestrial civilization!
IM.: Not only extraterrestrial civilization, but because of the lack of any signs of life beyond Earth. Nowhere any sign of life, no bacteria were found. Only the following hints may …. Nowhere is detected. This is the first.
Second, a good thing that our military is that we’re talking about, keep themselves within the framework and do not take an aggressive offensive weapons in space. This is very important. No one wants to use the moon as a military base for aircraft carriers, which can conduct reconnaissance, aggressive actions against other states. This is the most dangerous way, which is by all means necessary to deter all countries.
MS.: Do not want to arrange a military base on the Moon, or simply can not yet?
IM.: Most do not want to. If it was decided that all countries would have rushed to grab the territory on the Moon would be beneficial for these bases.
MS.: to seize territory and place the boxes can be and on the moon, and in the bottom of the Arctic Ocean, and to keep the area – is another question. Let us not fall into militarism, and talk about the practical problems whose solution is now more suitable machines. It is in the spirit of what you said a little earlier.
In order to breathe in the spirit of the space program, so that it continues to invest money sufficient for its active development, maybe to put other tasks? In the first place, it is now the task research telescopes, various ways of observing, studying the distant regions of the universe, test cosmological theories – have something to do.
Another thing that is not so romantic, sublime. Cosmological theory will not show on TV, you do not have brought people to the rally with placards “Give the Higgs boson”. How to be here?
IM.: In my opinion, this situation is hopeless. Do not return to the enthusiasm of the 60s in any way. Achievements of modern science, of course. In the last few years: the European unit landing on Titan and the panorama from the surface of Titan – a unique situation; the recent passage of Pluto with the beautiful images of the satellite Charon, of Titan, small satellites – a unique thing; flight “Hubble”, especially his first discovery, when he began to shoot those things that scientists do not even guessed.
But between these events take place decades. It is so extended period of time and so people get used to it – wait for the next run, the next lab, the next opening – it ceases to be a sensation, no matter what the result has turned out. The only sensation could be that stirred up the whole of humanity – is the detection of some forms of life, and, serious levels, in our solar system, for example, in the polar caps of Mars or under them, Titan, or even under the ice somewhere is.
It would be stirred up and interest in space exploration and manned equipment for construction, because for such research is already present needed people who could flexibly change the program that is right on the spot. All of humanity, I think, to cooperate for the study of extraterrestrial life.
MS.: In general, of course, yes. Another thing is that the presence of some, the more sufficiently developed forms of life – is not just a boost of modern astronautics manned or unmanned, it is a revolution of so many basic human relationships with the universe.
It’s not a dozen, more than one hundred philosophers break his head in an attempt it anyway decipher. As for the overall diagnosis, which Igor Adol’fovich put the “golden age” of space exploration – that he has not come back back.
We, Alex will remember (you are not a technical person), the latest news from the world of outer space, which was a lot of important and interesting. But perhaps the simple average citizen now remembers that when landing on a comet one of the scientists was wearing a funny shirt. He then punished for it on the internet and had to publicly apologize.
The news we are fed up.
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