Radio Commentary by Greg Bear (aired July 20, 1994, KUOW, National Public Radio in Seattle. For copies of tape and permission to broadcast, contact Wayne Roth, KUOW, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, Ph: 206-543-2710
Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry became the first science fiction writer in space. His ashes were carried into orbit in the personal kit of space shuttle commander James Wetherby. Roddenberry had hoped to go while he was still alive. So did Robert Heinlein. Heinlein’s ashes were scattered at sea.
Robert A. Heinlein, who perhaps more than any other writer visualized and inspired the United States space program, did not even have that privilege.
Twenty-five years ago, it seemed possible that we would have settlements on the moon within ten or twenty years, and on Mars by the first decade of the twenty-first century. Since the last moon landing in 1972, we have had many space triumphs. Robot space exploration through the eighties brought us riches beyond compare. But year after year, shortsighted politicians whittled away at NASA’s budget. “What good is that naked little baby in the basket?” they cried. “All it does is kick and eat. When in hell is it going to go to work and earn a living?” Year after year, they tried to smother the baby. They did succeed in stunting its growth. To keep the manned spaceflight program alive, NASA focused on one vehicle, the space shuttle orbiter. This forced the nation to put all its eggs in one basket, at tremendous cost.
