“We know that we don’t have much air, we need to protect what we have.”
So says astronaut Eileen Collins, Shuttle Discovery Commander, on her Fourth mission.
“We would like to see, from the astronauts’ point of view, people take good care of the Earth and replace the resources that have been used,” said Collins, who was standing with Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi in front of a Japanese flag and holding a colorful fan.
Collins, flying her fourth shuttle mission, said the view from space made clear that Earth’s atmosphere must be protected, too.
I guess astronauts know more than the rest of us idiots down here on earth.
Does this mean the space program is now tied to Kyoto or something?
(Just asking.)
Comments
3 responses to “New space mission: Save the air?”
The best way for an astronaut to “save the air” is to stop going into space. This dude figured out how much pollution the space shuttle dumps into the atmosphere per launch. Basically, each launch is the equivalent of ALL THE POLLUTION PRODUCED BY CARS IN THE US FOR TWO MINUTES!!! 78 (or maybe more?) launches by now…
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/oct2000/973014746.Es.r.html
Cheers!
Wait, sorry, there were 78 space launches altogether in 1999… whoops. There have been 107 space shuttle missions, i think…
er… anyway… that could be wrong too.
cheers!
I haven’t noticed anybody breathing all the air. Yes, I’m breathing but there’s plenty left over for all the rest of you. What is she worrying about?
I love that name Eileen Coliins. Beautiful Irish name. Astronauts — ascending into space. The total passion for total height.