What's New Robert L. Park April 16, 2010

WHAT=92S NEW   Robert L. Park   Friday, 16 Apr 10   Washington, DC

1.  SPACE: LOSS OF HABITAT THREATENS HOMO ASTRONAUTUS.
Virtually all of the 1,891 species protected under the 1973 Endangered=20
Species Act owe their endangered status to loss of habitat.  Although the=
=20
U.S. astronaut program is not officially classified as endangered, it=20
should be.  Putting people in space was one-upmanship by the USSR at the=20
height of the Cold War.  The Cold War ended in 1991, by which time the=20
Soviet Union had spent itself into collapse.  By then a powerful industry=
=20
had built up in the U.S. around putting people in space.  The primary=20
space habitat of astronauts for almost 30 years was the space shuttle. =20
Sold to Congress as an inexpensive way to launch things into space, it=20
turned out to be by far the most expensive method for reaching orbit ever=
=20
devised.  Nevertheless, it built a monstrous ISS in low-Earth orbit.   IS=
S=20
operation is shared by the space agencies of five nations, but with the=20
rickety shuttle now retired, access to the ISS is controlled by Russia. =20
The lobbyists went to work.  In 2005 George Bush had a Vision for Space=20
Exploration.  His vision began with a program to return to the Moon.   =20
The program was called Constellation.  Two boosters are already in the=20
process of design by NASA.  Ares I would put crews in space, while Ares V=
=20
would launch hardware.

2.  CONSTELLATION: WHY RETAIN THIS OLD FASHIONED PROGRAM?
This is the 21st Century.  To send humans on long voyages long voyages in=
=20
environments for which we were not evolved is terminally miguided.  On=20
February 1, 2010 President Obama proposed to cancel Constellation in the=20
FY 2011 budget.  Most scientists cheered, and when he scheduled a major=20
space policy speech at Kennedy Space Center for yesterday, it was widely=20
assumed that it would be to enlarge on his February 1 decision to scrap=20
Constellation.  Every op-ed and TV commentary in anticipation of his talk=
=20
began with a recital of technological benefits of putting humans in=20
space.  They cited everything from Hubble to GPS; they had no connection=20
at all to putting humans in space.  What the heck, it's April,=20
Persephony=92s soft footsteps have covered Washington with blossoms; this=
 is=20
the season for resurrections, but it was a serious mistake to resurrect=20
Constellation.  Whoever sold Obama on this has weakened his Presidency. =20
The idea of sending humans into space is hopelessly old fashioned.

3.  CELL PHONES:  TRUST ME, IT=92S NOT CUMULATIVE.
I read another article this week in which a physician warns that the risk=
=20
for each use is minimal, "but over the years repeated exposure could=20
produce genetic damage leading to cancer."  I=92ve been trying for years =
to=20
throw a rock across the Potomac River.  So far, they don=92t go half way,=
=20
but I=92ll keep trying in case it=92s cumulative.

4.  PROGRESS:  CHINA HAS BECOME A NET IMPORTER OF COAL. According to=20
Financial Times this includes both thermal coal used in power plants
and coking used in steel making.  This is the first time in recorded=20
history that China has been a net importer. It has serious implications=20
for carbon emissions.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.
Opinions are the author's and not necessarily shared by the
University of Maryland, but they should be.
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