Astronaut Dreams: One Man's Quest for Space Exploration

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the aspirations of a man with a disability to experience space exploration, touching on themes of personal dreams, societal contributions, and the value of scientific celebrity. Participants explore the implications of such endeavors, both personally and in terms of broader societal impact.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express support for the individual's dream of space exploration, emphasizing his right to pursue it despite his disability.
  • Others question the value of such endeavors, asking what tangible benefits arise from individuals like Stephen Hawking or space tourists.
  • Concerns are raised about the safety and practicality of zero-gravity experiences, with some participants clarifying that the individual will be flying in an airplane rather than going to space.
  • There are contrasting views on the societal contributions of figures like Hawking, with some arguing that his celebrity has raised awareness of physics, while others contend that practical contributions from teachers or doctors are more valuable.
  • Participants discuss the impact of celebrity culture on public perception of science and the arts, with some suggesting that artists may bring more joy to society than theoretical physicists.
  • Some participants defend Hawking's contributions, arguing that his work has inspired many, even if the immediate societal benefits are debated.
  • There is a discussion about the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and how that may affect their contributions and public perception.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the value of space exploration for individuals with disabilities or the societal contributions of figures like Hawking. Multiple competing views remain regarding the significance of scientific celebrity versus practical contributions to society.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include varying definitions of "value" in contributions to society, differing perspectives on the impact of celebrity in science, and unresolved questions about the safety and implications of zero-gravity experiences.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those exploring the intersection of disability, celebrity culture, and the value of scientific contributions in society.

tehno
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http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/56068.html

Seems he is serious about it.
Without doubts,he deserves to go if he wants to.
So far it's just zero- G training,but I remember reading he dreamed
about longer living in an Earth orbit some day.
 
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Physics news on Phys.org
That's great! I hope he stays safe. It has always been his dream to visit space.
 
what possible good can come from that ?

marlon
 
marlon said:
what possible good can come from that ?

marlon

Let the man have his fun: he sits in a wheel chair all day but has done more for the world than all of us here combined. He has earned the right to do whatever he wants.
 
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What possible good came from Tito or Shuttleworth going to [strike]space[/strike] a weightless environment?
 
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marlon said:
what possible good can come from that ?
Pleasure !
 
Just to make sure no one got the wrong impression, he's going to fly in an airplane. He's not flying into space.
 
russ_watters said:
Just to make sure no one got the wrong impression, he's going to fly in an airplane. He's not flying into space.

I didn't. But I couldn't get a better example for comparison than Tito/Shuttleworth. :)
 
Cool, I think that virgin's aspirations to bring 'outer space' down to an accessible level to average every day people is pretty cool. I hope hawking gets to do that one day (supposedly he wants to).

I have seen videos of these 'zero g' airplane manouvers and if your head is in the wrong position, it meets the cabin at 10g, lol. Hope he enjoys himself :) He does deserve it.
 
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  • #10
dontdisturbmycircles said:
I have seen videos of these 'zero g' airplane manouvers and if your head is in the wrong position, it meets the cabin at 10g, lol. Hope he enjoys himself :) He does deserve it.
Deserve what? Hitting the cabin at 10g? :-p
 
  • #11
Lol, no! :)
 
  • #12




It had to be done.
 
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  • #13
:smile: So wrong, Cyrus. So wrong.
I figure SH must laugh all the depictions that are done of him, though. He seems to have a really good sense of humor.
 
  • #15
cyrusabdollahi said:
Let the man have his fun: he sits in a wheel chair all day

Ok, whatever. But why is this in the news. Nobody cares.

but has done more for the world than all of us here combined.
:smile:

Yeah right :rolleyes:

What exactly has he done for the world. Now, don't you come over here with this Hawking radiation stuff because that has NO value for the world what so ever. A doctor or a teacher has done much more for our society than some estranged theoretical physicist.

marlon
 
  • #16
So, you really cared about Ms.Spears shaving her head? And did that get rid of draughts somewhere in Africa? If THAT can be in the news (and it is, ALL the time), then so can this. :-p
 
  • #17
neutrino said:
So, you really cared about Ms.Spears shaving her head? And did that get rid of draughts somewhere in Africa? If THAT can be in the news (and it is, ALL the time), then so can this. :-p

I would say that Ms. Spears has brought much more joy and hapiness to the world than Hawking ever did. Just think of what any artist means to his/her fans. Just look at yourself and assess how your preferred kind of music, book, film has a positive influence onto your life. You have not cared about Hawking and neither have I. I just say that we need to STOP this hypocritical behaviour of admiring this useless "genius".

marlon
 
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  • #18
marlon said:
Just look at yourself and asses...

?

:smile:

10characte[/color]
 
  • #19
neutrino said:
?

:smile:

10characte[/color]

:smile:

yep that's a typo

sorry

marlon
 
  • #20
Hawking sold 9 million copies of A Brief History of Time. Even if you doubt his contribution to science, if nothing else, he helped raise the level of exposure of physics via his celebrity more than any regular teacher could.
 
  • #21
russ_watters said:
Hawking sold 9 million copies of A Brief History of Time. Even if you doubt his contribution to science, if nothing else, he helped raise the level of exposure of physics via his celebrity more than any regular teacher could.

Actually, 9 million copies really is not that much if you consider that such books are read by a limited audience and their interest is mostly very temporary. How many of these people actually become physicists ? That is the number you should have been giving me. The level of exposure of physics is raised by his work, yes, but what does this really mean to society ? You tell me that, please. A teacher that instructs 10 people and helps them on their way to acquire good jobs is far more useful. I would prefer to help "creating" 10 working people in stead of raising some awareness of physics.
 
  • #22
marlon said:
I would say that Ms. Spears has brought much more joy and hapiness to the world than Hawking ever did. Just think of what any artist means to his/her fans. Just look at yourself and assess how your preferred kind of music, book, film has a positive influence onto your life. You have not cared about Hawking and neither have I. I just say that we need to STOP this hypocritical behaviour of admiring this useless "genius".

marlon

Why do you have such a bone to pick with Stephen Hawking? He's useless?
 
  • #23
Beeza said:
Why do you have such a bone to pick with Stephen Hawking? He's useless?

Fine, fine, i will shut up now. I just wanted to get my opinion "of my chest"

marlon
 
  • #24
Even P diddy loves Hawking, Marlon. D to the I to the D to the D to the Y that's Diddy.

Let the king have his whoppah, man.
 
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  • #25
naw, that would be didy

lol, you edited ^^ :smile:
 
  • #26
marlon said:
What exactly has he done for the world. Now, don't you come over here with this Hawking radiation stuff because that has NO value for the world what so ever. A doctor or a teacher has done much more for our society than some estranged theoretical physicist.

marlon

Okay, if we are eliminating his contributions to his field, then we should also eliminate his handicap from the equation as well. If he was able to walk, talk, write on a blackboard, type, use a computer as easily as the average teacher would his contributions to the world have been greater?

Stephen Hawking from his website said:
My dreams at that time were rather disturbed. Before my condition had been diagnosed, I had been very bored with life. There had not seemed to be anything worth doing. But shortly after I came out of hospital, I dreamt that I was going to be executed. I suddenly realized that there were a lot of worthwhile things I could do if I were reprieved. Another dream, that I had several times, was that I would sacrifice my life to save others. After all, if I were going to die anyway, it might as well do some good.

http://www.hawking.org.uk/disable/dindex.html"
 
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  • #27
marlon

Eventually you will be afflicted, and then you will appreciate how hard it is to accomplish anything if you were even a fraction as disabled as SH.

Most people diagnosed with Lou Gherigs disease die (of a broken heart) in less then 4 years. SH is one of the most successful disabled people of all time, and anyone who made comments like yours is immature, insensitive, and looked upon with disrespect by anyone who has seen real life.
 
  • #28
even if it wasnt safe..

you don't think Hawking would give up his life to go to outer space? If ANYONE deserves to go its him.. no matter what his condition.
 
  • #29
marlon said:
Actually, 9 million copies really is not that much if you consider that such books are read by a limited audience and their interest is mostly very temporary. How many of these people actually become physicists ? That is the number you should have been giving me.
Actually, no. You compared him to a teacher. I've had physics teachers, English teachers, history teachers, psychology teachers - and I'm not a physicst, writer, historian, or psychologist. By your own logic, those are all useless as well.

Your analogy, not mine.

And that is setting aside, of course, the fact that Hawking is a teacher. :rolleyes: (even if by now he only gives a few lectures a year)
 
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  • #30
I admire Hawking not only becouse of his contributions to theoretical physics .
Can you imagine under what circumstances he works and made most of his discoveries marlon?I'm relatively healthy person and it's hard for me to imagine
all the difficulties he encounters during the work, at such level of a body disability.



neutrino said:
you really cared about Ms.Spears shaving her head?
Hmm...I cared much more when she shaved something else. :blushing:
 

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