Space + Art

I have always been fascinated by space, and the more I think about what is out there and how small we are, the more I am intrigued and fearful to learn more. Therefore, I was beyond excited when this week's topic was space. 

Professor Vensa explained that space is where everything we have learned in this class comes together. For example, nanotechnology, mathematics, art, and robots are used in space. I was explicitly interested in space exploration and its transition into the private domain when watching the lecture. 


Space is full of precious profitable materials, making many companies interested in exploring and utilizing these resources. They can do this through robotics, art, nanotechnology, mathematics, etc. For example, a private company called Planetary Resources is applying "commercial innovation to robotic space exploration." This company aims to develop a robotic space mining industry and mine asteroids. Asteroids are highly composed of many profitable metals. For example, an asteroid 1km in diameter comprises 30 million tons of nickel, 1.5 million tons of cobalt, and 7500 tons of platinum. As described in the lecture, the amount of platinum alone in the asteroid is worth about 150 million dollars. 


In "Who Will Mine the Moon," author Lawrence Joseph introduces a gas that is on the moon called Helium-3. Helium-3 is a very rare isotope of helium that can be used as fuel for advanced nuclear fusion as well as in various medical applications such as lung imaging, making it a very profitable resource. Because the moon is believed to have significant deposits of this profitable gas, Joseph wonders if the moon will "become the person gulf of the 21st century".


However, many fear this new private space exploration. Some even call it space exploration. I am torn as I see both sides. On the one hand, having private companies involved in space exploration and resource mining could cause economic inequality, increases competition and conflict over space resources, militarization concerns, exploitation of celestial bodies, etc. However, just as Joseph argues, "If we ignore the potential of this remarkable fuel, the nation could slip behind in the race for control of the global economy and our destiny beyond." What an ethical dilemma! 

Works Cited


Chatzky, Andrew, et al. “Space Exploration and U.S. Competitiveness.” Council on Foreign Relations, www.cfr.org/backgrounder/space-exploration-and-us-competitiveness. Accessed 31 May 2023. 

Joseph , Lawrence. Who Will Mine the Moon? , 1995, fti.neep.wisc.edu/fti.neep.wisc.edu/gallery/pdf/nyt011995.pdf. 

Kukral, Keri. “How Asteroid Mining Could Open up the Solar System (Podcast Transcript).” Space.Com, 7 July 2015, www.space.com/29864-asteroid-mining-space-exploration-podcast.html. 

Quora. “The Pros and Cons of Privatizing Space Exploration.” Forbes, 14 Apr. 2022, www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2017/04/04/the-pros-and-cons-of-privatizing-space-exploration/?sh=93be65433199. 

Vesna, Victoria. “Space Intro” Lecture. CoLE DESMA 9. May 29. 

2023. Web.

Vesna, Victoria. “Space pt5” Lecture. CoLE DESMA 9. May 29. 

2023. Web.

Wagh , Manesse. “How We’ll Turn the Moon into the First Extraterrestrial Mining Base.” Popular Mechanics, 24 Mar. 2023, www.popularmechanics.com/space/moon-mars/a43386961/mining-the-moon/. 

Yarlagadda, Shriya. “Economics of the Stars: The Future of Asteroid Mining and the Global Economy.” Harvard International Review, 8 Apr. 2022, hir.harvard.edu/economics-of-the-stars/. 


Comments

  1. Rishabh SharmaMay 31, 2023 at 5:30 PM

    I really liked your explanation that space exploration requires a combination of several types of science: nanotechnology, robotics, math, and thus art. I was also really interested in the ethical dilemma you described in the end of whether private space exploration should continue. I, too, see both sides. Private space exploration will lead to capitalization of a natural resource, but at the same time prohibiting private space exploration will lead to advances by other countries, putting the United States at a disadvantage. I wonder if there is a way to both place limits on private space exploration to hinder the inequality, but continue the advancement of exploration.

    ReplyDelete
  2. JaklinJune 4, 2023 at 10:57 PM

    Hey Emma, similar to the comment above, I enjoyed your discussion of space exploration and the prospects that arise from such discoveries. It's fascinating to note how interconnected disciplines become, especially when attempting to understand such a vast and wondrous actuality of space. I love that you mentioned the ethical dilemmas that arise from private space explorations and resource mining but also the possibilities of improving global economy.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 4: Medicine + Technology + Art

Image
    In lecture, Professor Vensa discussed the intersection of art, medicine, and technology, specifically art's impact on the medical field and our understanding of the human body. My experience breaking my sacrum last year allowed me to understand the importance of the intersection of art and medical technology. When I was told that I had a "3rd-degree stress reaction" in my sacrum, I did not even know where my sacrum was or what the difference was between a "2nd-degree" and a "3rd-degree" stress reaction. However, when I went to the doctors, they pulled up my MRI scan and explained what I saw. The MRI image allowed my doctor visually show me what was going on in my body, allowing me to understand my diagnosis. This image also allowed my doctor to accurately diagnose my stress reaction grade, enabling her to provide me with a recovery plan.      In “Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as Mirror and Portrait: MRI Configurations between Science and the Art...
Read more

Nanotech + Art

Image
This week in the lecture, we discussed the concept of nanotechnology. Before the class, I had no idea what nanotechnology was and was confused when the professor explained that it could shift paradigms and change the world. However, I understand this revolutionary field entirely through Dr, Gimzewskis's lecture series and my experience wearing clothing that employs nanotechnology. It is fascinating that when you make things on a nanoscale, the old methodologies dont work; instead, new phenomenons dominate, producing a whole new ballpark for science, art, and innovation.                                                         Dr. Gimzewski explained that businesses take commercial products and change the size of the particles they put into them to anywhere between 100 to 1 nanometer to create new revolutionary technology...
Read more

Week 6 - BioTecth + Art

Image
This week's lecture on Bio-tech and art was definitely the most interesting topic to me thus far in this class. In the lecture, Professor Vesna stated that BioArt is a massive source of debate. One of the main reasons that Bioart often raises ethical questions and concerns is that it can involve manipulating and exploiting living organisms for artistic purposes. However, I believe that not all Bioteck Art exploits living organisms for artistic purposes but that some projects are informative and beneficial for both art and science.  www.artnews.com/art-news/news/biotechnology-as-art-form-2184/ For example, I love what Kathy High does in her "Embracing Animal Project." For her project, Kathy bought three rats that had been used in previous parasitical studies. These rats had been "microinjected" with human DNA, which made them prone to experiencing issues such as "reactive arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease," etc. Kathy then treated them ...
Read more