Well, I decided to break my conventional media omerta on #Artemis II this afternoon, & spent ten minutes on LBC Radio with Ali Miraj.
He's clearly sceptical about space exploration, including the billionaire bros & the wider geopolitical context.
I was invited on to "big up" space, to talk about the science, & probably to be gushy & enthusiastic, but as I actually agree with most of his concerns (even if some are not particularly well-informed), I'm not sure there was much point.
But at least I got to explain that Europe & the UK are key players in Artemis, which he evidently didn't know, & that the lunar south pole is a scientifically interesting place given the water there in shadowed craters.
And I also explained that Artemis II is a lunar flyby test, Artemis III is a LEO docking test, & Artemis IV will be the first crewed landing, but he still seems to think that if you're going to the Moon now, why not just pop down to the surface for a stroll?
@markmccaughrean wrote:
«if you're going to the Moon now, why not just pop down to the surface for a stroll?»
Right.
Apollo 10's lunar module was only partly loaded with fuel...
(If I recall correctly.)
@vnikolov It was a remarkably stupid question that he kept asking to each listener who phoned in.
I mean, I had the feeling that he's an intelligent man, but this kind of wilful insistence on proclaiming a strong opinion on a subject which you know relatively little about ...
... well, it's the ridiculous world we live. The best I can do perhaps is to counter each stupid comment respectfully (although I don't think he appreciated being corrected on several things he said.)
I'm just impressed NASA didn't trust its own astronauts...
Otherwise, you are right, and I understand, but I don't know what a good effective way of dealing with this is.
Perhaps, indeed, keep and keep and keep repeating what is right.
After all, as an old proverb goes, water drops make holes in rock not with their force, but with the frequency of their falling.
Mark McCaughrean
Vassil Nikolov | Васил Николов