I’d set aside this afternoon to gleefully sit in front of my TV with my laptop to follow the launch and first flight phases of Artemis I. Alas, the launch was scrubbed yet again due to a fuel leak. You’d think I’d learn. Given my new-found time, I started reviewing numerous in-progress blog posts on several depressing political topics. I’m now wondering whether the universe is providing Artemis as a not-so-subtle allegory for the current state of America…
- Both claim to be shooting for the moon but neither can seem to get off the damn ground.
- Despite institutional histories of remarkable innovations, neither are currently displaying exceptional advancements.
- Both seem to be content repackaging the same old crap with new paint jobs.
- Both are extremely powerful structures being brought down by dime store parts.
- Both have many incompetent leaders who think the current state of affairs is normal.
- Both are epic disappointments given their incredible potentials.
- Both are massively wasteful of available resources.
- Both have a history of marginalizing women. *
- Both have an overly large orange component that is causing many of the current problems.
- Both have major issues that are largely centered in Florida.
- Both are seven letter words starting with “A”.
- Both have a very good chance of blowing up.
Yeah. I’ll be better by tomorrow.
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* Back in 2009, former NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver strongly opposed the SLS program (the Artemis rocket) and instead favored increased funding for the then-nascent commercial space industry.