Category Archives: Science/Engineering

Physics Nobelist Steven Weinberg–or Big Steve as his graduate students at the University of Texas call him–is down on human spaceflight, particularly NASA’s latest goals of sending humanity to the moon and Mars. Down as in against it. Weinberg, who is quite the Austin party animal, makes some sense on it, at least on not sending anyone to Mars until robots like Spirit and Opportunity have thoroughly explored the place and found all the potentially-interesting sites. He does think it’s worth considering Mars as a Lifeboat for humanity. But he doesn’t consider the moon in this lengthy but worthwhile interview with The Space Review. Possibly because better arguments can be made for sending people there, such as trying to mine oxygen, doing hydroponics for future Mars flights, building a deep space telescope, etc.–and, frankly, just for the hell of it. Be lots cheaper than Mars, too. Anyway, read what Big Steve has to say. Afterall, his field, particle physics, invented the Web you’re enjoying. Just too bad he doesn’t discuss a moon colony.