Comment by kitd

6 days ago

I've often thought world leaders, upon election/selection, should get a free few orbits of the earth, to give them some perspective on the job they're about to undertake. Maybe offer the first one on Artemis II, a deferred one for the current US administration?

22 comments

kitd

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bayindirh  6 days ago

James May of Top Gear has flown with a U2 spy plane once [0][1]. When they reached to the edge of space, May said "If everybody could do that once, it would completely change the face of global politics, religion, education, everything".

I can't agree more.

Another thing I believe needs to be watched periodically is Pale Blue Dot [2].

[0]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-COlil4tos

[1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtsZaDbxCgM

[2]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wupToqz1e2g

  • antonvs  6 days ago

    I think you overestimate the effect that would have on the kind of people that most need that sort of humility.

    Look at what happened with William Shatner and Jeff Bezos when they came back from space. Shatner started to say something about what an impactful experience it was, but Bezos cut him off and was like “Woo! Partay!” and switched his attention to a magnum of champagne.

    • Terr_  6 days ago

      There's probably a strong self-selection factor going on, in terms of the kind of person that typically seeks out that kind of experience.

    • notahacker  6 days ago

      And if the actual U2 pilots (air force pilots and CIA operatives) had come back profoundly changed, someone might have cancelled the programme...

      Astronauts are regular smart people capable of making good and bad life decisions too.

      1 reply →

    • extraduder_ire  6 days ago

      Jeff went up two flights earlier, in July 2021 on NS-16. Shatner was on NS-18 in October.

      I don't know if it's a thing that wears off, if Bezos was just in business-mode the entire time, or just didn't want someone monologuing right after getting back.

  • mlrtime  6 days ago

    "If everybody could do that once, it would completely change the face of global politics, religion, education, everything".

    You could have the same effect with LSD/Psilocybin for quite a bit less $$$$.

shiroiuma  6 days ago

>I've often thought world leaders, upon election/selection, should get a free few orbits of the earth, to give them some perspective on the job they're about to undertake.

Perhaps, but they should also get a few free orbits of the Earth *after* their term ends, on a launch system built by whichever contractor has given the most "campaign donations" to politicians. Surely they'll trust it to be safe, right?

  • Ekaros  6 days ago

    I would also say give them a year of free vacations in various places. Say a maximum security prison in general population, any type of dark camps, hospitals, mental institutions and care homes.

    Give them the rest and recreation they need in these wonderful places.

kakacik  6 days ago

Do you think sociopaths like current 'leader' would change significantly upon such experience? I unfortunately don't share such optimism.

  • bregma  6 days ago

    "Houston, this is Golden One. I'm looking down on the big, beautiful, blue world. They love me down there. They all love me. I'm the greatest astronaut ever in the history of mankind. No one has ever orbited like this before."

    Yeah, you may be right.

  • bayindirh  6 days ago

    You don't have to be an optimist. You have to try.

    Trying and seeing what happens is also science, after all.

    • discreteevent  6 days ago

      Scientists don't try everything. First they run it through expert critical review. This candidate wouldn't make it past the theory stage.

    • InsideOutSanta  6 days ago

      I mean, we can probably predict what will happen based on existing data.

      "I've seen things up there that are huge, absolutely huge. And let me tell you, astronauts, they came up to me, they were crying, big men crying. Earth, it's a good name, but it's not big enough, not grand enough. So, I'm thinking we rename it. How about 'The Trump Sphere'? It's got a nice ring to it, doesn't it? And let me tell you, nobody would argue with that name!"