I found this week to be very interesting. The technology that is created to explore space is incredibly fascinating. Even the idea of just being able to survive in a spaceship and machines outside this planet is mind blowing. What most of us learned in U.S History the space Race was created during the Cold War between the US and Russia. 
I also found it interesting the amount of money and resources it requires to reach space. It is an enormous investment. However, President Trump has expanded funding for the Space Force. In 2020 the Defense Department is expected to receive $270 million dollars. This money will create a Space Force headquarters, Space Development Agency, and U.S space command. 
I found the story in regards to Laika the dog to be a bit sad. Also the testing on multiples dogs seemed a bit cruel. In fact they had run tests of simulating what a dog might encounter in space. These conditions were such as locked in pod for week at times, as well as loud and frightening noises with minimal food. Laika is believed to had died shortly after launch due to extreme heat.
Sources
Foust, Jeff. “US and Japan to Cooperate on Return to the Moon.” Space.com, Space, 29 May 2019, www.space.com/us-japan-cooperation-moon-return.html.
George, Alice. “The Sad, Sad Story of Laika, the Space Dog, and Her One-Way Trip into Orbit.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 11 Apr. 2018, www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/sad-story-laika-space-dog-and-her-one-way-trip-orbit-1-180968728/.
Thesheetztweetz. “SpaceX Is the No. 1 Rocket Company by Revenue, with $2 Billion Last Year, Jefferies Estimates.” CNBC, CNBC, 20 May 2019, www.cnbc.com/2019/05/20/spacex-revenue-2-billion-from-rockets-last-year-jefferies-estimate.html.
Vesna, Victoria, director. Space part4. YouTube, YouTube, 30 May 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5ClKO6AJPo.
Vesna, Victoria, director. Space Pt 3. Space Pt 3, YouTube, 29 July 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WOqt_C55Mk.
Hi Blayne,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that you included the topic of animal use in your blog post this week. I, too, found the content surrounding the exploitation of animals in space research to be uncomfortable and cruel. I think this week's assignment integrated so many aspects of what we have learned throughout so far, including the discussion of the use and manipulation of animals in research (like Alba the glowing rabbit). I talked in my post about the use of Ham the chimpanzee and how it just doesn't seem right that we place ourselves in the hierarchy above animals and sacrifice them knowing full well their lives are unwillingly on the line.
Do you think we will always use animals as "guinea pigs" (for lack of a better term) in studies? Or do you think there will come a day when laws will be implemented that protect animals and require that they be treated equally, making humans the ones being tested on first?