Could a New Generation of Space Nuts Revive a Declining Environmental Movement?

The environmental movement has several progenitors. Its origin rests in books, people, pictures, and events in the not-too-distant past. The early conservation era occurred between 1836 and 1960 and is characterized by Henry David Thoreau who wrote Walden; or, Life in the Woods. This book characterized his life for two years, two months, and two days, in a forest around the shores of Walden Pond. Thoreau was our first conservationist.

From 1960 to present day, the modern environmental movement came to fruition. Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson and photos of earth from space all served to draw attention to the world around us. Wikipedia states that for the past thirty years, current public focus points include ozone depletion, global climate change, acid rain, and GMOs, but the original foundation of “saving the rain-forests” has not changed(1). The environmental movement, although unified on multiple fronts in its initial phases, has now become a behemoth with little cohesion on any single issue. Like GM and the Dinosaurs, behemoths rarely survive.

So now we are in the age of diffuse environmental non-profits that all seem to be fighting for some cause native or foreign. Pleas are now falling on desensitized ears. The environmental movement needs to revive itself, and I doubt a new “Panda” will suffice. Yet, there is hope. This gleaning ray comes from the most unexpected of places.

On October 4th, 2004 SpaceShipOne rocketed to the history books as the first private piloted spacecraft to reach an altitude of 100 kilometers (62.14 mi), and then repeat the feat using the same spacecraft within two weeks (3). This height is defined as suborbital, however it offers a glimpse of the earths curvature in the backdrop of space. Ultimately it was scaled composites that came away with the $10 million dollar X-prize, however it was only 1 of 26 companies competing for the title (3).

The first commercial space flight through Virgin Galactic is currently scheduled for 2009. Although the price tag of $200,000 is hefty, it’s still 100x cheaper than its next closest alternative (2). Virgin Galactic and its fleet of SpaceShipTwo class spaceships currently being constructed is the first of several new concepts that are gradually coming to fruition (4). Over the next 20 years new companies will begin to populate our spaceports increasing competition and lowering prices. By 2040, almost every kid will have the opportunity to become an astronaut within their lifetime. Instead of pictures that can never seem to capture the moment, people will have the experience. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but our words usually cannot embody our experiences.

Seeing the world from outer space has been said to change people. Its like your first trip across the country, or finding that through road that causes an epiphany. You realize every things place, and gain an understanding of an areas finiteness. It is this realization with respect to earths place in space, that can revitalize the environmental movement. The effects of this realization could start with the first 100 space tourists in the burgeoning space industry. After all, they are the ones with excess weight to throw around. What would happen if McDonalds only purchased non bovine growth hormone meat, if starbucks only purchased shade-grown coffee, or if every energy company offered cost-effective energy alternatives? This is an exciting time for the environmental movement, lets use it wisely.

(1)“Environmental Movement.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. March 11, 2007. Wikimedia Foundation. March 5, 2007.
(2) Thomas, Cathy. The Space Cowboys. TIME. March 5, 2007. Time Inc. March 11, 2007.
(3) ”X Prize.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. March 11, 2007. Wikimedia Foundation. March 5, 2007.
(4) “Virgin Galactic.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedis. March 11, 2007. Wikimedia Foundation. March 5, 2007.