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| Far Horizons ! International space station problem requires safety rethink |
By:
Toi |
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Doomsayers had always maintained the space shuttle was an accident waiting to happen. Then Columbia disintegrated as it returned to Earth in February 2003 killing all seven astronauts on board, the disaster caused by breaks in the craft’s heat shield during launch. Another shuttle, Atlantis, on a mission right now, experienced damage – though of a more minor nature – and is currently being repaired at the international space station.
Now the space station too has suddenly suffered a major glitch in its Russian-built computer systems that control oxygen and water supplies and stability. Although some of the crashed programs have been partially restored, at one point NASA had not ruled out evacuating the entire crew in a worst case emergency situation. Why have space mission related danger levels risen over the years when they should have been falling? One reason is that the shuttles which have been flying since the early 1980s are an ageing fleet now and in fact, due to be retired in 2010. The other is owing to problems with technical compatibility. The space station, for instance is a joint project between five countries. Also, the number of missions keeps increasing. It’s about time such problems were urgently addressed or other accidents too will be waiting to happen.
Having said that, however, it must be kept in mind that the exploration of outer space, both by humans and robotic craft, is a vital factor in the advancement of scientific knowledge. Even if we don’t consider such future science fiction scenarios like colonizing the Moon or setting up outposts on Mars, the long term benefits derived from space related activity are enough to outweigh investments of time, efforts and money. Already there have been many direct spin-offs such as compact blood pressure recorders, microwave ovens, Velcro and scratch resistant contact lenses which have become an integral part of people’s lives.
There have also been indirect technological achievements like the development of modern computers and lasers which would never have happened so quickly otherwise. But over and above such high-tech by-products, space exploration represents humanity’s ancient penchant to voyage to quest of new worlds. In that sense, Atlantis could be any of many ocean-going vessels of history, and the international space station a frontier settlement on the way. |
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