Would you give your life for sixteen days in space?

[Gil Bavel]

On February 1, 2003 The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred when the orbiter was returning from low Earth orbit in space on a mission and the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, with the loss of all seven crew members, shortly before it was scheduled to conclude its 28th mission, STS-107.

Everything except the reentry/landing went smoothly. This is the state of the art in maned space flight technology--that we know of.

Aviation pioneer Steve Fossett died in a small plane crash. He was a multimillionaire. Aviatrix Amelia Earhart suffered a similar mysterious fate. Regular folks lose their lives every day to cancer, automobile accidents, disease, malnutrition, and tainted water and food.

The question is, at this very moment in your life, would you knowingly trade your life as it is for sixteen days on a state of the art American spacecraft, experiencing what many astronauts have described as oceanic consciousness--the feeling you get being weightless and looking at our planet from space?

Along with the experience, you would share the company of six other astronauts--engineers, scientists--the rock stars of the space world, and get to participate in their experiments. You'd get to eat astronaut ice cream. You'd get to pee in zero gravity (or microgravity, anyway).

You might even get to see a UFO--it's said that every space shot from Gemini to the present day, Russian and American--has been paced by an extraterrestrial spacecraft. In this experience, you might get to see one and answer the question, at least for yourself, are we alone?

So, would you do it? Yes, you'd burn up in a firey death--but it would probably be short, and over before you knew it. That's a chance you'd have to take. But you would know it's coming.

Please take the poll.

 

[Mothra]

The question is, at this very moment in your life, would you knowingly trade your life as it is for sixteen days on a state of the art American spacecraft, experiencing what many astronauts have described as oceanic consciousness--the feeling you get being weightless and looking at our planet from space?

Along with the experience, you would share the company of six other astronauts--engineers, scientists--the rock stars of the space world, and get to participate in their experiments. You'd get to eat astronaut ice cream. You'd get to pee in zero gravity (or microgravity, anyway).

You might even get to see a UFO--it's said that every space shot from Gemini to the present day, Russian and American--has been paced by an extraterrestrial spacecraft. In this experience, you might get to see one and answer the question, at least for yourself, are we alone?

Great question. However my response would be, what good would it be to have all of those wonderful experiences only to die and not be able to share them with anyone?

 

[TClaeys]

If you are answering "yes" to this question, please get yourself admitted somewhere and have your head examined. Unless you are already on your deathbed.

 

[Aaron LeClair]

Throw in sex with some hotties and I woulda done it back when I was suicidal.

 

[Gareth]

Stupid question. Guarantee no one answers yes to it.

 

[Aaron LeClair]

If you are answering "yes" to this question, please get yourself admitted somewhere and have your head examined. Unless you are already on your deathbed.

that be great to witness. "Doc, I have a zero gravity pee fetish I just can't shake. Got medz?"

 

[Siani]

Nooooo! I couldn't enjoy the experience if I knew I'd burn up on the way home.

 

[dear earthling]

You know gil, I actually had to think about this for a minute. I ultimately answered "No", but only because of the fact that I'd be limited by a space suit and in close quarters. I don't know how I'd answer if it was more of a "free consciousness floating through space" type of question. I've dreamed about that since I was a kid.

 

[Kieran]

I siad no, but mainly due to my way of thinking about such subject. But i say not every body on this planet has the perfect life and i include myself too. So as an example a person who those not value his own life is more and likely going to pick the yes option over the no option.

 

[fahrusha]

Wow! I'm the only one so far that said I'd have to think about it. When I was about 9 I wanted to be an astronaut and my father said he'd shoot me in the legs if I tried to board a space flight.

 

[Tommy Allison]

I voted yes.

Imagine being in space, away from this silly and pitiful little planet. No authority over you, true freedom. You and the void.

Dying in space would be like heaven compared to what the hell it is we live for on this planet. There are things more important to existence, than simply living.

If aliens were to take me away, into space, and I died as a result, I would ask that they tie me to an asteroid, and put me in orbit around this planet, so that way when people looked up at the sky, they could see my corpse looking down on them.

 

[fahrusha]

That is poetically beautiful but your corpse would explode, I think,, from lack of air pressure.

 

[Mothra]

I voted yes.

Imagine being in space, away from this silly and pitiful little planet. No authority over you, true freedom. You and the void.

Dying in space would be like heaven compared to what the hell it is we live for on this planet. There are things more important to existence, than simply living.

If aliens were to take me away, into space, and I died as a result, I would ask that they tie me to an asteroid, and put me in orbit around this planet, so that way when people looked up at the sky, they could see my corpse looking down on them.

Tommy needs a hug

 

[Tommy Allison]

2 NDE's will give you a much different perspective on things.

 

[Ally]

2 NDE's will give you a much different perspective on things.

Have you written about these here and if not would you?

 

[dear earthling]

If aliens were to take me away, into space, and I died as a result, I would ask that they tie me to an asteroid, and put me in orbit around this planet, so that way when people looked up at the sky, they could see my corpse looking down on them.

That is one of the coolest things I've ever heard, Tommy! Creepy, but cool.

Near death experiences really do change your outlook, and I think I'd have answered "yes" if I was further out than say the moon. Not sure why, but that's what I read into the question posed.

 

[Tommy Allison]

I'm not inclined to write about it, because my experiences both times are nothing like what you read about from other people. I keep them private for the simple fact that if I did write about them, some fraud would "Borrow" them for a book.

 

[dear earthling]

I keep them private for the simple fact that if I did write about them, some fraud would "Borrow" them for a book.

I absolutely mean no offense when I say this Tommy, but...

So what?

It wouldn't make it any less your experience. I think that choosing not to talk about it is just fine, but I hope that isn't your sole reason for not wanting to share your stories.

 

[TClaeys]

Wow! I'm the only one so far that said I'd have to think about it. When I was about 9 I wanted to be an astronaut and my father said he'd shoot me in the legs if I tried to board a space flight.

If you have to think about giving up your life for a few days in space, there is a problem. As fascinating as it may be, it can't be worth the experience of actually living. Even if your life is complete crap, maybe this is a wakeup call for change. (sorry, now I sound like Obama)

 

[skunkape]

I'm a nervous wreck on an airplane. I don't think going higher would make it any more enjoyable. There would be little beads of sweat floating everywhere. I'll keep my feet on ground thank you. Now, if I could take a ride on one of those pretty, sparkly ships the aliens dart around in, I'd probably jump right on. They seem to be a little more reliable than the clunkers we Earthlings are so proud of.