As I watched the splashdown and recovery of the Orion capsule and its astronauts, I was struck by an unfamiliar feeling: a deep sense of optimism for the future. As I spoke to many of my friends, I found that my feeling was not unique; many felt the same way, both my right-leaning friends and my left-leaning friends.
Then I remembered what I learned in a high school US history class years ago, that the Apollo missions were not popular at first with the American people. I began to wonder, what changed? While the Apollo missions were a race to beat the USSR and establish American technological dominance by putting the first man on the moon, these Artemis missions seem much less revolutionary. While some budget hawks continue to rightfully criticize the staggering cost of the Space Launch System, the overwhelming public response remains one of awe rather than austerity. I began to wonder, in a time when we are in more debt than ever before, why does the inspiration seem to outweigh the cost?
While a cynic would likely argue that this is because the American government has given up on fiscal responsibility, and the US public is so used to seeing government waste that any useful spending is praised, I believe the real reason runs much deeper. We are willing to accept the financial cost because the psychological payoff is exactly what we need in an era of technological upheaval.
There are many things to fear if we pay attention. There is the worry that AI will destroy the job market, the fear of new hypersonic missiles, and the ever-present danger of nuclear apocalypse. Because of this, when we see the positive use cases for new technology, it gives us hope.
The same AI we fear will take our jobs can check the physics for the missions, keeping our astronauts safe. The same rapid advances in aerospace engineering that drive the development of hypersonic weapons can also propel the Space Launch System. And the same nuclear technology that threatens destruction can be used for the environmentally friendly nuclear reactors that will power the moon base that will be constructed during future missions.
In an age of rapid technological advancement, if all we are exposed to are the destructive applications of technology, we will lose hope. Even if you were to ignore the economic and technological dividends these missions will likely yield, the psychological return on investment, the power of inspiration, cannot be overstated. When our students see the good and amazing things technology can do, in this case, traveling farther away from the earth than ever before, this inspiration will be the most powerful educational tool we posses. It is this inspiration that will create new generations of scientists, engineers, and thinkers.
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