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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Would you go to space if you could?

77 replies

FoxesAtDawn · 27/08/2021 19:22

Did anyone see the Omaze competition where you could win a two seats on a Virgin Galactic flight?

It’s been making me really consider whether I would actually want to do it, if I happened to have a spare half million down the back of the sofa. It would be a once in a life experience but I barely life flying as it is. Plus the damage constant flights could do the the environment - would I actively want to be part of that? Or is the damage done regardless of whether I’m on it or not.

Would you go on a space flight if you had the means?

OP posts:

daytriptovulcan · 27/08/2021 20:28

Well you shouldn't though, as the CO2s you'd create would be shocking. It'd be like flying to the Florida and back 1000 times.
In the absence of seeing that beautiful green and blue pearl in person, you should just believe we have to change our ways as a species.
Besides, it's shit uncomfortable up there.

Letsnotargue · 27/08/2021 20:28

If it was in my financial ballpark I would be there in a second.

I wanted to be the first child astronaut when I was younger. I’ve missed that boat but could still make it.

I’d want to do proper space though, not some weird looking plane like Richard Branson. I’d want to be on the International Space Station.

daytriptovulcan · 27/08/2021 20:29

It's bad enough tourists going to Antarctica, than going to Space too. It's actually pathetic.

takemetomars · 27/08/2021 20:30

Yes!! hence the user name. Too old to be of any use now

Kanaloa · 27/08/2021 20:31

Also, is it true you need to wear a nappy when taking off/landing? If so, I suppose that’s one story you could tell. My mil loves nothing better than going on holiday to then come back and complain about some part of it. She’s a very sweet and lovely person, but there’s something terrifying about her glee when complaining that the cruise ship toilets were not acceptable.

Original poster

FoxesAtDawn · 27/08/2021 20:31

@Kanaloa

I wouldn’t. I mean what stories/memories would you have to tell? It’s not like when you go to Rome and say oh the people were lovely, the food was fantastic, we saw the coliseum and the art was just fantastic.

It would be ‘have you seen the dark before? Yeah it was like that basically.’

Well I’m sure you could still milk five minutes of fame from it. Get yourself on This Morning and share your story:

“Yeah, you know it was a bit shite really. I thought we were gonna see Sandra Bullock floating past the window but it was a bit like driving down a dodgy country road without headlights. Probably wouldn’t do it again, no.”

OP posts:

Kanaloa · 27/08/2021 20:31

What I mean is, she’d love to go to space then come back and complain she’d had to shit herself on the way up. It would really make her day.

Kanaloa · 27/08/2021 20:32

Yeah I suppose 😂 be a fantastic Yelp review in it for you because you wouldn’t have much competition.

fantasmasgoria1 · 27/08/2021 20:34

Only if the craft I went up in was a lot more advanced than the shuttle such as something from star trek where you can walk around normally etc. The space crafts now don't seem safe enough!

Unfashionable · 27/08/2021 20:35

I wouldn’t go on Virgin Galactic even if I could afford it. I would only consider doing it after they had established a track record of multiple years of safe operations.

That attitude to risk probably explains why Richard Branson, who has been into space with VG, is a billionaire entrepreneur and I’m not.

annacondom · 27/08/2021 20:39

In the olden days, rich men would found a college or a museum and achieve immortality by helping to educate and give opportunities to less fortunate folk. It sickens me that now, two or three exceptionally wealthy men are doing this pointless willy-waving while elsewhere on the planet other people are really suffering from the effects of climate change. They could be using their money to buy rainforest, plant trees in the desert, do carbon capture, etc etc

ohfourfoxache · 27/08/2021 20:42

Absolutely (and I can’t emphasise this point enough) not

No. Not a chance. No fucking way.

SisterMonicaJoansHabit · 27/08/2021 20:53

That has been a lifelong dream of mine. But I don't know if I'd feel comfortable with it, with everything as it is. If it was flying regardless, and wasn't costing me anything, there's a chance I'd do it. But I don't think right now is the right time for all of this. Not when the money is better spent on earth.

Original poster

FoxesAtDawn · 27/08/2021 21:31

@annacondom

I think that encapsulates my point about an awful two-tier approach to society. It’s ultimately egotistical, senseless and very poor taste to us mere mortals who care more about humanity and the world. BUT… you want to be remembered in history books, you pioneer unknown territories. Great people who did great things are remembered but I do think we have a tendency (as society) to place more importance on those who did something to a technological advancement rather than for the good of humanity or the Earth.

OP posts:

NutellaEllaElla · 27/08/2021 21:38

No, but not because it scares me. It sounds... Boring!
I dunno, I just get bored of views easily and don't love the sound of traveling so far to not be able to get out at the destination. What would I do in space? Can't go for a hike, swim, enjoy culinary delights I don't deserve space

Yesitsbess · 27/08/2021 21:54

I would.

And I have reservations about the mega-rich using space as a roller coaster, however, there is a phenomena amongst astronauts when they see the Earth from Space that has seen most if not all become passionate Earth/climate activists.

So if that's the byproduct, that very rich people start to see the planet as a whole? Happy days.

Still not sure how that works with Bezos and his giant space penis mind...

Takingabreakagain · 27/08/2021 22:07

No definitely not - it's not something I would be interested in at all. I cannot understand why any nation spends money on space travel when there are so many issues that could be solved here on earth with that money.

ddl1 · 27/08/2021 22:08

No; I'm too much of a coward.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 27/08/2021 22:09

Hell yes.

JosephineDeBeauharnais · 28/08/2021 06:50

[quote FindingMeno]@JosephineDeBeauharnais but if you couldn't get back what would happen?
Do you mean if you had to stay on a spacestation and never come back to earth?[/quote]
I mean if I was going so far away that I’d never be able to get back, or if it was a one-way mission to another planet, something like that.

CounsellorTroi · 28/08/2021 07:40

Yes. I can’t understand how anyone could find space and the idea of exploring beyond our own planet boring.

CatandBat638 · 28/08/2021 08:33

Yes if I won a free trip

DGRossetti · 28/08/2021 09:02

DW and I would happily take the one-way trip to Mars. Because one day, someone is. And as she says it's probably easier to get around Mars in a wheelchair than most city centres.

MrsSkylerWhite · 28/08/2021 09:04

No thank you 😱

FastFood · 28/08/2021 09:09

I would 100% go. That's the ultimate experience.
There was a fantastic exhibition about Mars exploration at the Design Museum in London 2 years ago, I so wanted to be a part of that project.

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