February 02, 2003
21st Century Pioneers
Coverage contines on TV and across the internet about the tragic breakup of the Columbia space shuttle yesterday morning.
While the loss is most tragic for the family and friends of those lost, they all take some level of comfort that those 7 aboard lost their lives doing something they loved. They worked hard and persevered to accomplish their goals of space travel.
These astronauts really are today's fearless pioneers and adventurers. We seem to take for granted that anyplace can be reached safely and quickly. But it wasn't always the case.
When Christopher Columbus or Ponce de Leon set off by boat, that they faced the great unknown beyond the horizon. Lewis and Clark, as they set off across the U.S., knew of the danger they faced during their journey. Today the entire earth seems to be known and fairly safe -- but space is still today's great unknown. It is today's unexplored frontier.
Those who blaze the new trails know the risks and take them on willingly because the sense of adventure and discovery outweighs those risks. And all of mankind ultimately benefits from their sacrifice.
I think most of us admire this sense of adventure the astronauts display and to som eextend live vicariously through them. Perhaps this is why so much coverage is devoted to them. Why so many people who have never met any of them feel compelled to sign eulogy books and build tributes. Seven lives is not a lot in terms of numbers. That many probably die in accidents in a major city each day. Seven skiers died yesterday in an avalanche in Canada, but that only received a 15 second mention on CNN. But the symbolic lives they lived for all of us make their untimely passing seem so important and sad for all.
- Some Good Weblog Coverage:
- Saltire's Columbia coverage (via megnut)
- Dave Winer's Scripting News coverage
- Nixlog Collection of Infographics (via kottke.org) Posted by blipsman at February 2, 2003 12:29 PM