Into space

Space travel is back in the news. The adventures of Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos have made it possible for an average person like me dream again of traveling in space. 

The last time I had that feeling was in the late 60’s after moon walks. We believed then that space travel would become common place and we would all be making journeys to the moon, if not Mars. Remember 2001: A Space Odyssey? Well, 2001 came and went, and 20 years later, we are still no closer to travelling to moon. Now, I am getting too old, but thanks to Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin, there is some hope that my dream will be fulfilled.

 

For many people, this is just a stunt by very rich people and they could have used their money elsewhere. Well, yes, and I am not endorsing Bezos or Branson. They are showmen and have accumulated enormous wealth, some of it on the backs of people who work for them. They are also human beings with faults. 

 

But that does not take away from the fact that they demonstrated at their own risk two different systems for commercializing space travel. These are still baby steps but now there is a price attached to make any individual an astronaut. It is still expensive, but the price will come down. Also, this is just one of many possibilities opening up…consider the SpaceX system for example. They have announced an all-civilian crew for an orbital flight later this year.

 

Regarding spending money elsewhere, I have heard that argument many times, for example, when NASA was launching manned flights or when the Indians Space Research Organization was testing rockets in the 60s. If you go with that attitude, there will be no discoveries, no adventures, no excitement. 

 

Now a few explanations and clarifications. 

 

In US, if you go above 50 miles (80 km), you become an astronaut. Another organization (FAI) requires the altitude to be 62 miles (100 km). This is when you cross what is called Kármán Line, and the atmosphere is so thin, you require centrifugal force to remain afloat for a long time. That is how satellites or space station stays afloat. 

 

The space-flight of Bezos or Branson was not quite sustainable. They went up above the 50-mile limit and came down making them (and their fellow travelers) astronauts. In the past, a rocket powered experimental aircraft, X-15, went up high enough to make its pilots astronauts in 1959, long time before Virgin Galactic. 

 

They did experience weightlessness. Weightlessness does not mean zero gravity. Gravity is always around---you experience weightlessness when you do not resist its force by being in a free fall. After reaching its maximum altitude, Blue Origin crew experienced weightlessness because they were in a free fall inside their spacecraft which was also in a freefall. Hence the sensation of floating around in their vehicle. 

 

Now if you add horizontal speed to the vehicle, free fall will not be straight down but a parabola. This is what an airplane designed to simulate weightlessness does…it executes parabolas starting from high altitude. It is nicknamed vomit comet because of what it does to many people experiencing weightlessness. 

 

If you keep increasing the horizontal speed the vehicle will fall further and further away until at one speed, it will not fall and start going round and round earth. This is when it will be in orbit. 

 

Another, easier way to understand weightlessness while in orbit is to observe two forces: gravity (very much present) and centrifugal force. They balance each other out. Also, both the vehicle and the astronauts are in the same force balance situation and so they can float around. 

 

Oh, how I would love to participate these emerging possibilities! 

 

I realize that at this stage it is a competition between my physical ability to undertake such a journey and its financial affordability. 

 

Who will win?

Pandemic of the No-Vaxxers

 So, we are back to using masks in enclosed space after getting used to not doing so over the past few weeks. The new cases are rising everywhere in the country, the virus is making a comeback and there seems to be no end in sight. This time you cannot blame it on any government screwups or lack of understanding on how virus spreads. You can blame it squarely on misguided people who stubbornly refuse to get vaccinated…the “No-Vaxxers.”

I am tempted to say that let them catch Covid and then refuse to provide them treatment if they get it. That, however would be a cruel and unusual punishment. As they say, you provide treatment even to injured enemy troops during war. That is what makes us human. 

 

However, being a human also means that I can get angry. I ask myself, “What the hell (or another four-letter word) is wrong with these people?”

I know some of these “No-Vaxxers.” When asked what are the reasons why they refuse to get vaccinated, I get one of the following responses:

“I am afraid of the side effects of the vaccine.” My response to them would be: Perhaps you prefer the side effects of Covid.

“The cases are rising due to the Delta variation.” Yes, and who is providing home to these variants? 99.5% of the Covid patients are non-Vaxxers and for that Corona virus thanks you. 

“The vaccines were rushed through without much testing.” Ok, do you know the procedure for getting vaccinations approved? Where, in your opinion were corners cut? How about hundreds of millions of people who have been vaccinated? Can you think of a bigger clinical trial in the history of drug approval? How many of them have died?

That will bring up the next objection. “I know so-and-so who died even after taking vaccine.” Yes, maybe there are isolated cases here and there, but have you heard of Confirmation Bias? It means looking for evidence to support whatever your belief you hold. You will hang on to any news report (the source be damned), that provides ammunition to what you believe in. What about the hundreds of millions of vaccinated people who did not die? 

Now it starts getting more and more bizarre. “I don’t like foreign DNA to invade my system.” Hmmm. How much genetics do you know? What do you think these vaccines are composed of and how they work? Where did you get this dazzling insight from? Fox News?

“I don’t believe in science.” I strongly suggest that the next time you have medical problem, go to a snake oil salesman. They are supposed to cure every disease known to men.  

“It is a plot by Bill Gates to plant microchips in our bodies.” As I mentioned, it gets more and more bizarre. 

“It is a free country and I can decide what I want to do.” Sure, I don’t care, as long as you don’t harm the others. In this case, that is not the case. Just see what you have wrought. 

You are allowing the Coronavirus to continue its rampage by providing safe havens. Thanks to you, the virus feels free to develop even more resistant mutations, and someday even the ones that attack people who have taken vaccines. Like myself. And what about kids who have not been vaccinated? How do we protect them from people like you? Finally, what about the cost of treating you? If your insurance pays for it, where will that money eventually come from?

Do you go around driving drunk? How is not getting vaccinated any different? In both cases, by claiming that you can do what you want, you kill not just yourself but others as well. Yes, I know, you don’t drink and drive, because if you are caught, you will end up in jail. For not getting vaccinated, our permissive society does not punish you. In fact, we can’t even ask you if you have been vaccinated, in order to protect your privacy. You are given a free pass. 

So, what exactly is the end game according to you? 

Do you believe that the virus will get tired and just go away?