Look Homeward Angel

There are those who believe that technologically we can begin the process of space industrialization, settlement and exploration right now. These people are excited about the future they envision if we would have the courage and commitment to accept this challenge. They do not ignore the problems and concerns inherent in such an undertaking, but their basic attitude is optimistic, and they have little doubt about our ability eventually and successfully to build cities in outer space. Unfortunately they spend precious little time discussing or concerning themselves with the potential effects of space settlement on Earth and her societies. This is an area that must be considered. Not only will we spend most (if not all) of our lives here, but the vast majority of us will choose not to live in space, but to stay here on the Earth. Those staying will have to support the effort if it is to succeed for everyone. Most important of all, whatever our destiny, Earth will always be humanity's hometown.

How would the world be affected if our President were to challenge us to a goal of space industrialization and space settlement in the same way that President Kennedy challenged us to the moon?

Would the results be an improvement of the human condition, or a worsening of it? Will our problems of limited energy resources, pollution, overpopulation, malnutrition, or the destruction of the ozone layer move closer to solution, or will the money invested on this "fantasy" (for that is what many influential individuals have called it over the years) dilute the funds needed to solve these pressing problems of today?

Before I can feel good about this venture, I must feel that the Earth and her children will benefit. If the Earth will not benefit, at least proportionately to the investment, I must question support of the challenge. How about you?

However, if the Earth will benefit in social, economic, medical, scientific and productivity advancements, then we should meet this challenge. Is it possible to predict the effects of a massive program like this years before we could expect them to be felt? I believe it is, and I'd like to share with you three reasons why I believe we should set this goal.

We ask ourselves, will our lives improve because of the advances in technology we will experience learning how to live and work in space? To begin to understand how our lives will improve because of these advances, we need only look at a few of the many ways that our lives are already better because of space research.

In a letter to me a California politician said, "I am pleased to learn that space technology developed for space exploration will be used for water studies on the Earth." I think you would all agree that this is something to be thankful for; and if we in Northern California don't get some rain this year, we will be even more thankful. As far as spin-offs from space research, however, this is only a beginning; we are currently using space technology in ways most of us are unaware of.

In the book Limits to Growth, the authors determine that it is impossible to develop farms big enough to feed the world's population and, therefore, we must limit our growth immediately or suffer a catastrophe. While our growth cannot continue at the rate they mention, and in many countries is not continuing at these rates, they have missed an important factor. We may not be able to produce enough food to feed the millions in the developing countries, but we may be able to teach those millions to produce the food needed to feed themselves, especially in light of new developments in intensive farming. Space technology provides a solution through direct broadcasting satellites that enable teaching programs to be sent via television to small villages in developing nations throughout the world. While still in the early stages, the potential this holds for helping people to help themselves is enormous and includes the means of providing education in many other areas, such as birth control and the improvement of local health conditions.

Do any of you have, or know of someone who has, a cardiac pacemaker? Without the development of miniaturized solid state circuitry for spacecraft, the pacemaker would not be available.

Improved breathing systems for fire-fighters were based on research done on rocket motor casings, and so were the new light weight scuba tanks for skin divers.

A very effective fire retardant material now being used in office buildings, plants, and schools was developed because of the research into heat shields for spacecraft. In addition, advanced forms of this material that provide extremely high levels of fire and heat protection is in wide use in the oil industry as protective coatings on off-shore oil platforms, etc., and in other industries where there is high fire risk.

Ice buildup on the wings of airplanes and on bridges can be a serious problem that has lead to critical accidents and lose of life. This is why the military services, aircraft manufacturers and public safety agencies are interested in new developments in deicing that are the results of research done at NASA's Ames Research Center.

Have you heard of the device called the Optacon which enables the blind to read the printed page? Again, this is a spin-off of the original research done for the space program.

Solar energy devices, improved insulation materials, safer football helmets, warmer and lighter weight outdoor clothing for skiers and hikers, computer analysis of everything from our automobiles to our bodies, medical detection techniques, help for children with cerebral palsy, improved methods for the filtration of water, and spoil-proof packaging and methods to provide nutritious meals for day care centers and the elderly, these are only a small fraction of the many ways that space research has affected our daily lives. The list goes on and on.

Do you think this effect will increase or decrease as we develop ways to live, work and travel in outer space? The answer has been proven many times and was something I learned in Sociology 1A at the University of the Pacific. As our knowledge increases, the ability to use that knowledge in innovative ways increases at an even faster rate. None of us can really fully conceive of the impact of this far reaching research. This I can tell you, the results will be massive, and the potential for the betterment of our lives alone is worth any investment we will make.

My second point revolves around the potential for the development of an unlimited pollution-free energy source, readily available to all areas of the Earth. Within our region of the solar system, possibly as far out as the asteroid belt, unlimited energy is readily available. This is, of course, solar energy and, within the limits of our technology, it is "free" for the taking. What I mean is, that the investment needed to effectively utilize this energy will only be a small fraction of the value of the energy produced. Once the energy has been produced it will need to be sent to the Earth. Research is being done now to develop effective, safe methods of delivery; early results suggest the use of microwaves or lasers.

Additionally, large deposits of hydrogen 3 have been discovered on the moon. Hydrogen 3 makes it possible to seriously considered fusion as a potential energy source here on the Earth. Fusion is essentially a "clean" method of producing energy that doesn't create the nuclear waste associated with fission. However, initial tests of the process showed that there would be radioactive by-products when "fuels" available here on the Earth were used. Hydrogen 3 could be a solution to this problem. It would be mined and processed on the Moon and then shipped to the Earth for use in fusion power plants. There is enough hydrogen 3 available on the moon to meet our energy needs here on the Earth for hundreds of years.

Four years ago I attended a Futures Seminar where we were asked to try to imagine what could be the most significant development of the next 25 years. What could happen that would most directly affect our way of living and change the course of society? Can you guess what came up as the most dramatic potential development? I'll give you a hint, it wasn't an unlimited supply of energy. (PAUSE) Humanity's acceptance into an advanced intergalactic society. I didn't think you'd guess it. But you do have to admit that it would surely change the focus of our daily lives to a large degree.

Cheap, unlimited, pollution free energy was second. And, at that time, within that group, this was considered to be almost as impossible as the former. Now you're hearing this is one of the great potential advantages of space industrialization. Have you stopped to think what it really means?
What if we were to run out of energy or were forced to dramatically cut back on energy usage? What if political tensions in the Middle East were to escalate to the point that would dramatically curtail oil resources? How many of you remember the long lines waiting at the gas pumps a few years ago? Do you remember the heating oil shortages? Do you know what it costs per month to heat a one bedroom apartment in an area of the country where it gets real cold? What if prices were to double, triple, or more? What if sufficient gasoline weren't available? What if we never had hope of supplying sufficient energy to the underdeveloped nations of the world?

Can you think of a single area of your life that is not affected by energy?

- Transportation
- Communication
- Food Production and Preparation
- Manufacturing
- Heating
- Lighting
- Construction

Can you imagine a world without energy problems? Picture sufficient food for all grown in all parts of the world, heating and lighting available to everyone, adequate housing, efficient mass transit systems in metropolitan areas, unlimited communication potential. What would a world without energy problems be like? I think it would be a different world. I believe it would be a better world. I know that it is a world within our grasp.

Is the development of space technology worthwhile if it will help to achieve energy independence not only for the United States but for the world? Is it? Think about it. Answer this question to yourself. Is the potential of complete energy independence worth the investment needed for the industrialization of space and ultimately for space settlement? It seems so to me. I could support that goal for this reason alone. But I'm not through yet.

My third reason for supporting this program relates to the way that it will affect our image of ourselves and of our future. Stop and think for a moment. Does your image of the future affect your daily life? Does it? Why are you here? Is it because the idea of space exploration and settlement excites you or concerns you? It doesn't matter; your vision of a potential future, positive or negative, has affected the way you're spending today. But that's obvious.

If someone has so little faith in himself that he gets tattooed with the words "Born to Lose," do you think that that image will affect the way he lives his life?

Today we're hearing a lot about people being "born again." They talk about accepting Christ as their savior and how they have been forgiven and are free to start again and build a new life. Has their image of themselves and their future been changed, and has this affected their lives?

Is this true for societies too? Is the health of our society directly related to our image of what we might expect in the future, to the ultimate goals that we have as a society? How important is the image, the vision? Visions of the future are the engines of societies, the energy that drives them to succeed. What I'm talking about is a people's response to a vision of what the future can be. A image of a future that is as far reaching and challenging as any of the great visions of the past, the type of vision that moves a society and the people within it. When the people begin to believe a vision of this magnitude everything is changed and the world is never the same again.

O. W. Markley of the Stanford Research Institute said, "The development of our societies has been in large part dependent on the creative vision of the great members of the human race, and of the images of the future of the important cultures throughout history." Malachi Martin, a Jesuit priest and student of why societies succeed or fail, in his book The New Castle said, "The greatest heights of culture and civilization were always fashioned, not within the molds of sociological cause and effect, but within a transcendent vision." Finally, the late Ed Lindaman, a past director of program planning for the design and manufacture of the Apollo Spacecraft and President of Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington said, "The believer not only interprets history but, above all, he changes it, because he believes, because he hopes."

The vision, or image of the future is a society's conception or belief in a time that is yet to come. It can be either positive or negative, but, in either case, it must be an exaggeration of what would be reasonably expected. It is either a hope or a fear that lives in the minds of the societal group, both collectively and individually. When the image of the future is projected clearly it is leading the society into a future that is truly their conception of tomorrow. It is a promise of what the future will be like within the life time of the society. It is the hope of what that future can be like within my lifetime. In other words, the society expects to see the actualization of the vision; the individuals within the society believe they will play a part in the realization of the vision, and they, as individuals, hope to live to see it happen.

Citizens react to the image of the future as if it were already here and, therefore, act in a purposeful way that is directed toward this future's goals and expectations. It is the vision that puts the population to work, that increases the productivity of its people, and it is the productivity of its people that is the wealth of a society. Many people, even experts, believe that the wealth of a society is tied up in the amount of gold it has, or the amount of natural resources. This belief continues in spite of the many lessons of history that tell us otherwise.

History shows us three types of conditions that provide the type of vision and energy needed to keep the engines of a society running: 1) War, 2) Religion, and 3) A New Frontier to explore and settle. In addition, there are isolated cases where societies band together with energy and industry because of a common "threat" from without.

In recent history it has been war that has been the most successful in increasing our drive and productivity. For example, the United States entered World War II a poor nation, coming out of the Great Depression. Four and one-half years later the war was over and the United States emerged as the greatest economic and military power on the Earth. This "wealth" was accomplished without stealing any of the "treasures" of Europe or gold and diamonds of the world. At the end of the war we did not demand reparation for what the war had cost us. In fact, we immediately began a restoration program to bring those nations back from their personal devastation, spending additional millions in the process. Also at the end of the war most of what we had built during those years was either at the bottom of the ocean or on a battlefield in Europe, and, most sadly of all, many of the strongest men and women of an entire generation were lost in that effort.

And yet, our economic depression was over and we were a rich nation. Why? What changed in those few short years? The answer is simple, our people went to work. The productivity of our people was at an all-time high.

It was our image of ourselves and the impact that image had on the productivity of our people that made the difference. And the difference was felt by our society almost immediately, only four terrible, war-torn years took us from devastating depression to socio-economic health. We believed, both during and after the war that we were the greatest nation on the Earth, and that was what it took to bring about that reality. War and religion (sometimes both together) have often had this affect on societies. But, war efforts are no longer an acceptable solution to bring about a healthy economy, to support our pursuit of happiness.

How does this relate to space settlement? One of the major issues concerning the exploration of space is the vision that it provides a society. Let me ask you a question. Would a national goal involving energy independence, space industrialization, and ultimately space settlement result in a positive, goal-oriented image of the future for our society? We know that it would. This was shown during the years of the Apollo program when we were commited to landing a man on the moon. The result of that vision played a major role in a decade of economic health, work enough for all who wanted to work, a sense of destiny, of the acceptance of a massive challenge at which we were determined to succeed.

The acceptance of the challenge of the "high frontier" and the commitment to space exploration and settlement is the kind of vision that moves societies, a vision that doesn't leave an entire generation dead on the battlefields of a foreign land. The result of the acceptance of this kind of vision by a society would be a period of economic expansion that would last as long as the frontier lasted or until the universe has been explored and charted from one end to the other.

What would it mean if our society were healthy? There would be jobs enough for those who wanted to work. In a healthy society most are able to earn a living doing what they enjoy doing, they are able to spend a significant percentage of their income on things that make life better, that help them feel better about themselves and good about what they are accomplishing. There are funds enough to support programs that are designed to aid those who are ill, disabled, disadvantaged or retired. Funds for programs to help put those people with capabilities back on their feet so that they can again be contributing members. And, since many worthwhile organizations are funded privately, individuals with the funds are able to financially commit to programs that will ultimately lead to a betterment of the human condition, to the preservation of our world and its ecology.

When a society is economically unhealthy much of this is not possible. Government funds dry up when income tax dollars drop off, and all the money from taxes goes to support the structure that has been built up over the years. In addition, individuals don't have as much disposable income, so privately funded programs find the sources of their funding reduced. As jobs become scarce more and more people are out of work, increasing their dependance on the government or private organizations already strapped for funds.

What happens when we spend money, as a society, on something like the space program? Studies done by independent agencies show that one dollar spent on space research ultimately becomes seven to eight additional dollars for our economy and results in at least $1.50 in corporate tax revenue for the federal government. This doesn't include the additional personal income taxes that the government receives from individuals employed in the program. In other words, when the Federal Government spends one dollar on space research, the costs seem to be more than recovered through taxes alone. That's a pretty good investment! And, look at the stimulation to the economy in general.

Now look at what happens when the Federal Government spends one dollar on a welfare program. Outside of taxes on government salaries and government employees' spending, the money gets very little return; and welfare money is a "give-away" while space research money provides jobs and a feeling of self determination not only for space scientists, but for sales clerks, gas station attendants, pottery makers, etc.

This is one of the reasons why positive, challenging goals lead to socio-economic health; they spark the imagination, put people to work, and create wealth beyond that needed to support them. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't spend money on welfare programs, only that we need the investment return from a program like the space program to create the funds needed for programs that support people during their times of need.

How many of you have seen the desert around Salt Lake City, Utah? I don't know how you feel, but I have never seen one more desolate. The legends say there were only seven trees in that whole valley when Brigham Young chose it as the site for the Morman community. These settlers had no money and very little in material goods. Most of them didn't even have horses. But they did have a vision, a vision of a city by the shores of the Great Salt Lake. Only seven years after the first person stepped foot in that area, the foundation to the temple was being laid; and today you can visit Salt Lake City, a thriving, green and well planned city, a jewel in the desert.

Of the three reasons I have presented for accepting the challenge of space settlement as a goal for our nation, the effect it will have on our image of ourselves and our belief in the future is the most important one. All else will come from that image. The vision of a positive, challenging future for all of humanity will create the wealth and knowledge to accomplish all we can dream of and more. This vision is essential to the health and future of our society.

Humanity has been given a warning by the closeness to which we have come to destroying ourselves and our planet, that we must work in partnership with nature and forget any thought of conquering it. We must go into space with a new consciousness, one that has concern for all of creation, including our fellow humans. We must develop a new attitude in harmony with the universe as we find it. This, too, must be part of our vision of the future.

Additionally, think about the potential impact on the attitude of people on the Earth toward ecology when the total ecology mind set of the space colonist is fostered in those people still living on the earth. In space we must conserve, we know that we are living on a spaceship. That attitude of conservation may well spread back to the Earth with people more readily accepting the concept of "Spaceship Earth" with the limited resources that implies.

One final thought I'd like you to think about deals with the impact of seeing the Earth as a globe from space. We know that some people, if not all, are greatly inspired by this view and come away "knowing" just how fragile our environment is. There is a good chance that as more and more of us get this view, the impact on how we should be treating the Earth will be spread to others and, again, the concept of "Spaceship Earth" will spread and have an extremely positive impact on the issues of ecology, and conservation.

I've tried to show you why, for Earth's sake, we must work for space industrialization, exploration and settlement. I am not convinced, however, that these will be the reasons for our acceptance of this challenge.

You all will remember what was said during the early years of flight, and I quote, "If man had been meant to fly, God would have given him wings."

I believe that God did mean for humanity to fly, but he ran out of wings just before it was our turn to get a set. We were really very lucky, the penguin got the last set, and you know how far off the ground thats gotten him. God wondered what to do and then decided to give us something better, something that would get us farther off of the ground than any other creature on the Earth. He gave us an inquiring, creative mind that would one day invent the methods needed to fly anywhere we would want to go. And then He left us a universe to explore.

There is no question that the technology developed will benefit humanity in ways few of us can imagine today, that within this dream is the best possible solution to our energy problems, and that the vision given our society by a goal such as this can only lead to a positive, challenging future.

I believe that we will accept this challenge, that we will ultimately go into space because it is our destiny, and the pull of that destiny is too strong to be ignored.