Xeni interviews Buzz Aldrin: take us to space!
Astronaut and space hero Dr. Buzz Aldrin speaks with Xeni about his belief that America -- and that means you! -- must return to the moon, and soon. His nonprofit, Sharespace.org, seeks to provide "affordable space travel opportunities for all." Buzz believes that commercial space vacations should not be available only to the wealthy elite.
Editor's note: the comment trolls really are taking over around here. One of them invades this very BBtv episode. Teresa, why doesn't disemvowelling work in video? We'll have to get our hamster-engineers right on that. (cameo by BBtv Production Assistant Rob Bergsma)
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Because of Dr. Aldrin's personality, he always seemed more 'accessible' than Neil Armstrong ... (but I do understand Neil's reluctance to deal with the press and public about his historic role as 'first on the moon') - and that made Buzz my hero.
Since the Apollo 11 moonshot, I don't think Dr. Aldrin has EVER taken a day off from trying to promote space travel for all.
My hat's off to a true American hero - go, Buzz, go!
Pump the brakes... Gold!
A million points to Buzz for advocating interesting things, but not precisely the most coherent advocate of his own views, huh? Also, was he saying we should have drilled more oil 10 years ago? Or that if his ideas had been followed, we wouldn't have had to have drilled more oil 10 years ago? Didn't quite follow that.
I thought he was bringing up the old sci-fi idea (that requires a space elevator to make work) that you could build vast solar arrays in space, and use superconducting cables to transfer that energy to earth. If we had the capability to build superconducting cables and a space elevator and use resources out in space to construct the generating array (huge "ifs"), we could more or less replace all terrestrial electrical generation, except for backup purposes.
Let's relax on the crazy. Pump those brakes. Nice job though. On the edit. Well produced. Thanks.
for the other episodes.
P.S. Buzz, am a huge fan and am just jealous I'm not good enough at math to be an astronaut.
Pretty interesting. I don't know if colonies on the moon is what we need to be spending money on right now, but it would probably be a better investment than the war in Iraq.
I like this video of Buzz too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcoyiJdeWT4
What a badass old man!
He's definitely no holds bar.
But man, can you imagine your life's work- not to mentioned your participation in one of the most poignant moments in human history- all you've done with yourself is called out as a lie by some floozy hoping to make a name for himself with a "gotchya." I'd punch him too
Does he seriously want us to contribute to his not for profit organisation so that corporations can mine the moon for profit? Oh, and so that us plebs can have a $100 gravity-free rollercoaster plane ride to keep us all happy?
I had heard that story about Buzz punching the guy before, but I'd never seen the video. If anyone ever deserved a fist in the nose it was that guy. Kudos.
Why won't Boing Boing TV allow buffering?
so that us plebs can have a $100 gravity-free rollercoaster plane ride to keep us all happy?
I'm in. Can I get a free one on my hundredth birthday?
Hi, @teddanson -- I know, it's frustrating for us, too. We're working on some issues with our video hosting provider. Don't hate the player, hate the host, or something like that. We hope to provide a better delivery experience for you soonest.
@Gary61, I have a lot of respect for Dr. Aldrin. Part of why we chose to present his views unedited, and at length here -- with the "greek chorus" interjected for comic relief -- was to illustrate how sometimes figures like Dr. Aldrin who have forceful, unusual, and strongly held beliefs are often dismissed by a public more concerned with mundane, easily understandable things. Like -- skateboarding dog videos. Or LOLcats. Or diet coke and mentos explosions.
Maybe some of his ideas sound crazy to some people. He doesn't apologize for the fact that these ideas might sound strange. Hell, the very idea of going to the moon sounded totally nuts to people -- before he did it.
I understand that some people who respect Dr. Aldrin may have been offended by today's BBtv episode. This made me really sad.
Our intent wasn't to disrespect or ridicule him, or his ideas, but rather to poke fun at the reality we face when presenting far-out, innovative, or unpopular ideas in this medium. Contrary to popular myth, the internet doesn't always welcome newness.
And online, every asshole with a keyboard has an equal voice to yours. Even if you've been to the goddamned stars, and they've only been as far as, I don't know, Starbucks.
Some of the people I revere most in history were considered kooky or just plain wrong by their peers or the public during their lifetimes.
What's that old adage you hear in space exploration circles? First, the world tells you you're nuts. Then, they say you can never do it. Then, they say it will cost too much. Then, when you do it, they tell you they're so glad they had that idea first.
Buzz Aldrin is a personal hero to me, too.
I hope that folks who see this video and consider him and the other First Men sacred will understand the spirit of respect and playfulness with which we've presented this.
I hope that if Dr. Aldrin views the episode, he'll feel the same way. He is a man of great humor and generosity. He takes his beliefs about space exploration and development seriously -- but himself, not so much. There is much to admire in that human quality.
@#5 anonymous, if I ever bump into that guy who said Aldrin faked the moon landing? Might just knock his lights out myself, just on principle.
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in the mean time... it rains on Mars! ... :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuOUuO8vgto
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I would suggest a another episode with an clean unedited version of the interview (a transcript would be helpful too).
space travel for all!
there is a great new documentary coming soon that tells the story of the guys who started it all...
www.orphansofapollo.com
buzz is right, we need to launch, launch, launch!
I was at an airshow in New Zealand where Buzz was a guest on the PA microphone (he was in the country for some other reason and couldn't resist seeing the Warbirds.)
The announcer asked the usual, slightly fatuous, question along the lines of "what was it like to walk on the Moon?" and Buzz ignored the question and launched into whatever he wanted to say. And did the same to the next couple of questions.
He's learned the political craft well. Only the soundbite makes it onto the news, not the disconnect between the question and the non sequitur reply!
Frnkly, Xn, yr rspns t th fld f ngtv rspns y prvkd dsn't wsh. Y my hv hd th nblst ntntns gng n, bt w cn't s nsd yr hd. W nly rspndd t wht w cld s, nd wht w sw ws mckry f Bzz ldrn.
Bt nstd f ccptng rspnsblty fr bd cll, y blmd thrs fr nt bng mnd rdrs.
smpl plgy wld hv bn bttr.