As Promised...
Added 2020-05-31 20:19:26 +0000 UTCOh hai again.
As threatened yesterday ( https://www.patreon.com/posts/37695658 ), I'll set this post to charge if that's quite all right with you all.
If you missed it, the SpaceX capsule docked with the International Space Station a few hours ago and it was fantastic. Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley floated out through the Crew Dragon hatch, hugged the other astronauts already aboard, and had a little chat to the ground.
You can watch it here if you're curious: https://youtu.be/K9PtxnyLWco
A few of my friends were a bit confused why people are making out it was such a big deal. The only answer I can give is that today was likely the beginning of the space age. Not the wonderful stint we had going to the moon 50 years ago (and it was wonderful), but the reignition of actually being excited to explore our solar system again. And having the means and the will to do so.
During the 70s when folks were still flying out to the moon, lots of Americans seemed convinced humans would be on Mars in a few years, then Venus, Jupiter, etc. In the 70s. It seemed likely. We had the moon licked. Why would we just stop?
But we did stop. Not for technological reasons, but political (or lack of political) reasons. There wasn't much to be gained at the time in going further; the Soviet Union had been bested and the contest was over.
I think we watched the exploration machine come to life again today. The fact that the US now has the means to go beyond Earth orbit again thanks to NASA and SpaceX, and the financial and scientific incentives to do so, there's a strong chance that myself and all of you folks reading this will see human footprints on Mars in our lifetimes. Perhaps inside the next few decades. I don't know about you, but that gives some nice respite from all the awful shit going on at the moment.
There's a line I really like in Jonathan Safran Foer's book Eating Animals from when his son (I think?) had just been born. He looked down at his new baby and thought to himself, "Everything is possible again." And watching the astronauts hugging their new mates hello on the ISS today, I couldn't help feel the same.
As I hope I hammered home yesterday, thank you again for your support, much love, and I'll let you know as soon as anything is finished.
Ex.
Comments
Add another to the list ^^
Alexandru Catalinoiu
2021-04-16 14:14:22 +0000 UTCAfter years of a lively existential crisis dose and bringing emotions into a dead and boring life, my first ever Patreon is yours. Cheers. Random sick fuck from Romania
Paul Pokorny
2020-07-17 03:51:46 +0000 UTCYour videos have brought us awe and wonder. We hope you're doing well for for yourself Ex.
Matthew Reynolds
2020-07-07 20:32:11 +0000 UTCMiss you Ex. Hope your making out ok.
Logan Eads
2020-07-03 19:31:00 +0000 UTCTally Ho, that docking was quite something eh?
Scott Young
2020-06-05 02:04:59 +0000 UTCA few friends started to get into during the first attempt, but gave up after the scrub. It happened and I've just been quietly fucking shitting myself because it's happening, I honestly think within 15 years we'll see a human walk on Mars. It's gonna suck being the person who has to follow "one small step" into deep history books. Also, just about finishing Fifth Science, it's been a beautiful weird wild ride, loved it mate
Zach Ferrigno
2020-06-02 20:57:32 +0000 UTCHopefully so. The future seems bleak for Youths like me. From the 2000's and above its just been changes after changes. Now doing my diploma and yet I have to fear if I've gotten it for nothing if AI takes over. Im scared and afraid.
Okwss
2020-06-02 15:55:22 +0000 UTCOn that note, watching a Tesla car get into orbit was one of the strangest moments of my life by far
exurb1a
2020-06-02 06:52:35 +0000 UTCThis worries me quite a bit these days too, if we achieve futuristic goals but with modern stupidity still intact. I try to keep in mind that we shrugged off a lot of dumb Victorian ideas (though it took a while). Hopefully our descendents will let go of our dumber inclinations too. (Ey, cheers for the support by the way.)
exurb1a
2020-06-02 06:51:59 +0000 UTCFingers and toes crossed on this side. The US knocked it out of the park in the 70s, I think we're all waiting for them to do it again this decade. Can't wait. Cheers for the support, Norm. All the best!
exurb1a
2020-06-02 06:50:43 +0000 UTCI've got my shoes and socks on, just tell me where the rocket hatch is and I'll get in. (Cheers Sairagav!)
exurb1a
2020-06-02 06:49:48 +0000 UTCWell thank you very, very much for the kind words. I admit I only watched the TV series when it comes to The Expanse, but it completely blew me away - especially the way they switched it all up with the most recent series. The tension just never calms down, amazing stuff. (Glad to hear another space enthusiast is out there too!). Cheers Mr Elizondo, and all the best. Will let you know as soon as everything's finised.
exurb1a
2020-06-02 06:48:51 +0000 UTCI don't mean to demean what's turning out to be a year of hell, and the people experiencing the hard end of it, but as long as we can get through these crises with compassion intact, I just hope we'll be okay in the long run. We've made it through terrible scrapes already, hopefully we can find the energy to do it again.
exurb1a
2020-06-02 06:47:11 +0000 UTCNo, quite right. I'm afraid one always runs the risk of being laughably conservative in their predictions, or hilariously over-optimistic, there's no real inbetween. When it comes to space tourism for the rest of us, probably only a decade. For the rich of course. When it gets to, say, 30,000 USD for a seat, THAT will be quite something. I hope it's soon! (Apologies if I didn't reply on discord, would you mind sending it to exurb1achannel@gmail.com and I'd gladly give it a read if I haven't already.)
exurb1a
2020-06-02 06:45:33 +0000 UTCYeah, I'll admit it's very hard to imagine which way this is going to go, the situation only seems to be escalating at the moment. Anyway, hope all's well on your side, Taylor
exurb1a
2020-06-02 06:42:53 +0000 UTCI sure hope so. We'll get to watch the beginning at the very least!
exurb1a
2020-06-02 06:41:53 +0000 UTCNot at all, hope you're excited!
exurb1a
2020-06-02 06:41:40 +0000 UTCtime to militarize it and place controls on it like the FAA did to the air. Not that it's a bad thing. If i had the resources id launch things into space just for the lolz.
Grishka Lobo Raskolnikov
2020-06-01 20:34:02 +0000 UTCi do love the new space frontier. But im afraid of toxic ideas following to say if we colonized mars
Okwss
2020-06-01 15:44:35 +0000 UTCHi Ex! Thank you for your explanation of why *you* were excited on why my fellow American's work though Team NASA|SpaceX was exciting to you. It swayed me to be happy for their efforts as well. Now let's keep our fingers crossed for good luck, and hope they later 'stick the landing' back on homeworld. Your grateful Patreon Supporter, -Noel.
Norm
2020-06-01 03:04:53 +0000 UTCSpace age is coming space turtle! Get your ready! Mean while take my monies for making excellent shit for us to watch as we wait for the future to arrive :)
Sairagav .
2020-06-01 02:13:56 +0000 UTCHey Ex! I loved the last video and I'll love the new one, I'm sure, it just makes me happy to know I contributed to it, even in a small way. The launch was awesome, the highlight of my month for sure. I hosted a small stream with some friends where I tried to explain some of the core concepts, I think it went well... About the book, as far as I'm concerned, you have until I finish the The Expanse series and The Prince of Milk to finish it. If it's anything like your other stuff, I'm sure it will earn a privileged place in my bookshelf, if you get to print it out. Take care of yourself and of your feline companion, stay safe and healthy, and I hope to see that new video soon. Keep up the good work.
MrElizondo
2020-05-31 21:44:05 +0000 UTCEverything that has been goin on lately with the global fucking pandemic, protests and some messy shit here in Poland as well I just kind of started to lose faith in humanity. This SpaceX launch gave me just a little bit of hope, that we might just not be completely doomed. And now this post helps to stay positive, at least a bit longer. Perhaps change is possible, perhaps we'll no go extinct. Maybe
Gurumaru
2020-05-31 21:28:36 +0000 UTCHow long do you think it will be before civilian travel? I tend to believe that people have an overly optimistic idea of the timescale for these things; I know it's nice to be hopeful and such, but with the way the world seems to be move in terms of time, I'm not holding my breath. I'm such a downer, I know, I'm sorry. (Hey ex, I'm the guy that sent you that script over discord a while back, lets write a short film together.)
treev
2020-05-31 20:55:59 +0000 UTCI cant help but feel motivated seeing the potential of us humans. I dream of one day visiting a foreign planes. Our potential is endless.
Nici
2020-05-31 20:26:16 +0000 UTCThank you for the update, it is much appreciated and I hope you are having a good of a day as you can despite the current events, as you may know the states are on the brink of civil war, so it may be a little bit more time before we get up into space again, but we can hope for it to come soon. Greetings from the West!
Taylor Hillhouse
2020-05-31 20:24:49 +0000 UTCИ да ни пожелаеш късмет на матурите! <3
Daniel Valchev
2020-05-31 20:22:16 +0000 UTCThank you for helping me explain this to people, turtle boi
Immo Hoogerwerf
2020-05-31 20:21:40 +0000 UTC
