The Fuel of Life 4.0: The Space Race

The years between 1957 and 1975 is an era known as "The Space Race". The United States and the Soviet Union played a technological tennis match with one another. The USSR builds the first artificial satellite, the United States counters by building the first reusable space craft. The USSR puts the first human in outer space; he orbits the earth for 108 minutes. The United States counters by putting the first man on the moon. This epic battle was over in 1975 when the two countries joined forces and together, launched the first ever multinational manned space mission (SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT – see Fuel of Life 2.0: Strength in Numbers --)

This will forever be known as one of the greatest time periods in human history. Man, through the power of creativity and determination, built machines that took us out of the atmosphere that confines us to this planet, and launched us into a world that we had previously convinced ourselves was untouchable.

Some laws of science were tested, others discovered, and most importantly, the bar was raised as to what the human race thought possible. Technology, physics, philosophy, and the human creative spirit were changed forever.

As with any competition between two parties, there is a prize of some sort. At the time, we weren't sure what we were going to uncover. We knew we were opening a proverbial treasure chest of things we weren't even ready to comprehend, but this wasn't something like finding the cure for a terrible disease. Getting to space was something man wanted to do, not something he needed to do. In one of the grandest examples of human curiosity, two countries spilled millions of dollars and thousands of man hours into space programs (NASA was created during this time period), in an attempt to essentially, "go check out some cool shit". The competition was fierce, dirty, intense, and unforgettable to those that were alive when it was taking place. At the time, the USSR and the United States were busting at the seams with civic pride.

People were proud of their countries. The TVs were tuned in, the radios turned on. Life would be put on hold when a launch took place, or a space craft made a landing. Millions of people were tuned in and listening intently.

When Neil Armstrong said those famous words "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind", it became an iconographic slogan for the creative, curious human spirit. He was no longer speaking to America, he was speaking to the world and he was speaking to human history.

Fast forward 39 years. It's 2008, there is no more Soviet Union, and the United States isn't exactly the "last great hope" in the world anymore.

Let's for a minute, for the sake of my point, take two things out of this conversation. One being politics; whether you are Democrat, Republican, Libertarian or Green Party is completely irrelevant. Two, let's pretend for a minute that our climate isn't changing on a global scale and that the cars that millions and millions of people drive, aren't slowly destroying the environment. So with that in mind, everything is fine and dandy on earth and the human race just co-exists peacefully with the earth. Someone realizes that you can make a car that is run by electricity, from a power plant that is powered by wind or clean nuclear power. At this point, we've realized that there is a next step; there is a chance to take the bar up a few notches in what we believe to be possible.

What a glaring opportunity to be a part of something astronomically big, a new age of discovery and breakthrough and all we keep hearing from the people up top is how it's not necessary and all these whack excuses for why these exciting ideas won't work. We've even been lied to on multiple occasions about things. Stats have been flubbed or hidden, good ideas have been purchased and destroyed and all in the name of remaining stagnant (and of course, the all powerful dollar).

Let's again, put a few things to the side before we continue. Let's, for a minute forget that creating alternative energy solutions would only prove beneficial to us as a people, and a country. First of all, we would do a huge justice to the planet, which I want my children to be able to enjoy as much as I have, and millions of jobs would be created. The industrial age created jobs, followed by the technology age, and now, in this corporate age, jobs are being shipped out of our country and family's are left to fend for themselves. It almost seems canibalistic doesn't it? If we were to begin building a foundation of an industry like alternative energy, we would only strengthen our country mentally and economically in a time where both states are currently very weak.

If we could get back to celebrating that idea of being the first ones to do it, like we had so proudly during the Space Race, we could restore a much needed sense of true civic pride to our country, which is a seed of prosperity in and of itself, and also a new level of pride in the human spirit that I feel many people haven't had a chance to experience in their lifetime.

There are bigger things at play here than jobs and civic pride though.

Where has our sense of exploration and curiosity that makes us the most complex, amazing species on earth gone? Have we forgotten our true potential? Are we afraid to face the fact that while the world is bigger than we can comprehend, there are few things that are impossible? There are only a few people left on this planet that were alive in a time period when getting to space was considered impossible.

Of course for environmental reasons, I think alternative energy is a vital step we need to take, and are taking at a snail's pace (the first solar powered satellite was built 50 years ago), but to hell with the environment for a second. Let's think of bigger, deeper, bolder reasons to evolve into things like alternative energy.
The rewards that humanity reaped for the Space Race age were endless, but the biggest reward was that the human race was reminded once again that our mind is as powerful as anything else in this universe. Creativity, curiosity, exploration, discovery, intelligence, responsibility, progress; celebrating these characteristics is what makes us unique to this planet; from fire to electricity, from the wheel to the telecommunications satellites, from palm tree huts to Frank Lloyd Wright, the worlds biggest breakthroughs happen, not because we decide we need them to happen, but rather, they are a result of that voice in our head that won’t shut up. The voice telling us to investigate and explore the limits of what we’re told is impossible.

I feel confident that I am part of a proud human race that is beginning to hear that voice and listen again. Furthermore, lately, I’ve been very proud of my generation. I see us coming up on a corner here in the near future where some serious shit is about to take place, and more and more every day, I’m seeing people my age stand up and take responsibility for turning the wheel as we approach that corner. Needless to say, it feels exciting to be alive right now.

To me, it looks like we’re all forming quite a pit crew for the next big race. I hope we qualify in the time trials. They’re coming up soon!