Conference 7.286::space

371.0. "PARADE's "Explorers"" by DICKNS::KLAES (This place has got everything!) Sun Nov 22 1987 13:09

    	In the Sunday, November 22, 1987 edition of PARADE magazine,
    which I believe can be found in most Sunday newspapers (it is in
    THE BOSTON GLOBE), there is a cover story by Carl Sagan entitled
    "Explorers", on the need for humanity to continue exploring space.
                             
    	The article emphasises how the United States has not launched
    a single space probe to the planets since 1978, while the Soviet
    Union continues to do so, and now Europe and Japan are getting
    into the act.  Naturally Sagan wants to see a US presence in space
    exploration again.  He also makes another pitch for sending humans
    to Mars, instead of setting up a colony on Earth's Moon first as
    a stepping stone.  While I know that Sagan is sincere about exploring
    space for humanity's benefit, I think he is pushing the manned Mars
    bit mainly to get into the history books (as if he hasn't gotten
    enough fame already) by being one of the most visible supporters
    of such a historic journey.  I think we should send people to Mars,
    too, but when the time is *right*, not as another APOLLO stunt (See
    SPACE Note 358.6).
    
    	Overall I found the article well-written and informative, if
    somewhat naturally general.  Putting it in PARADE, with the flashy 
    cover photo of the VOYAGER montage of the planet Saturn and its moons, 
    will certainly help to get the message across to the general public
    as to the current US situation regarding space exploration.
    
    	The one quote I really liked in the article came - from all
    people - former US President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1958:
    
    	"Men who have worked together to reach the stars are not likely
    to descend together into the depths of war."