Remember Gus Grissom's Words

[giza]

"If we die, we want people to accept it. We're in a risky business, and we hope that if anything happens to us it will not delay the program. The conquest of space is worth the risk of life."

- Gus Grissom, responding to a reporter, at a press conference for the first manned Apollo mission.

After making that statement, Gus died in the Apollo 1 tragedy.

Space travel is still in its infancy, and inherently dangerous. Many years ago, Magellan set up on a voyage around the world with 270 men. Only 18 survived, and Magellan was not among them. Now look at things today, we have an entire shipping industry that voyages across the sea, for both business and pleasure.

Just like the Apollo 1 and the Challenger accidents, the space program will recover. More missions will be undertaken. More things will be learned. We may even make space travel as safe as ocean travel... someday.

Comments

[unciaa.livejournal.com]

It will be if it's ever funded enough... Alas, these days, unless it promises instant-return come next quarter, it won't get funded. We should have been on Mars by `85 damnit. :/

Lost Astronauts

[khakiwolf.livejournal.com]

In all fairness, they have a good track record. I didn't know about the Apollo 1 disaster, must do some research, but apparently they've never lost an American in space. The 2 shuttle disasters happened inside the atmosphere.

But kudos (proper context?) to those who have paved the way for those to come.

~Khaki