Sunday, April 27, 2008





Russia to Send Monkeys to Mars

I must admit, I had to read the story twice before I believed it. Russia wants to send monkeys not only into space, but to Mars. I had an idea that monkeys (or more specifically macaques) were used in space missions in the past, but in my mind this was in the past and would be considered cruel in this day and age. But hold on, aren't macaques used in medical experiments the world over anyway? Why is it so shocking that macaques should be chosen to pioneer interplanetary travel before mankind?


It's late and perhaps I'm not thinking clearly, but right now I'm positively envying the macaque who gets to make the trip.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Regarding experiments on animals: I don't understand why we don't use persons on death row instead. They owe a debt to society anyway, right?

Ken Y.

Anonymous said...

I did a post on this myself recently. Logically, it would be the next step in finding out how primate bodies handle radiation and cosmic rays, Fantastic Four not withstanding.

The above commenter mentioned convicts. I'm not for forced experimentation on human beings at all, but it's not unprecedented in recent history. That doesn't make it less reprehensible though.

But I'm not above making it a carrot and stick idea, go through the prisons asking for volunteers, ala 'The Dirty Dozen' style.

I don't think that's necessary, there's plenty of volunteers willing to give their lives to be the first 'corpse' on Mars. A willing volunteer would attack the task with relish and zeil.

Because I have a family, I would only volunteer if I knew I only had a couple of years to live.

How many terminal people would give up their last two years of existence in order to witness a Martian sunrise as their last scene?

Nirvana.

Anonymous said...

"The above commenter mentioned convicts. I'm not for forced experimentation on human beings at all, but it's not unprecedented in recent history. That doesn't make it less reprehensible though.

But I'm not above making it a carrot and stick idea, go through the prisons asking for volunteers, ala 'The Dirty Dozen' style."

Why is that reprehensible? Isn't it more reprehensible to experiment on an innocent animal (especially one that's fairly intelligent, such as a primate)? Persons on death row, on the other hand, knowingly broke a social contract. They should be made to take responsibility for their choices and accept the consequences. IF we're going to have capital punishment, we might as well start being resourceful with how convicts are put to death.

Ken Y.

Anonymous said...

The truth is that there are many brave adventurers out there that would make the trip without hesitation. Even if it was a one way ticket.

Not sure I understand the whole monkey angle.

-Denny

Anonymous said...

Why does Linda Howe insist on pursuing idiotic fakes like her drones and crop circles? Howe, Streiber, Hoagland, Bara et all have really become a bunch of senile old lunatics.

Mac said...

Howe? Strieber? Hoagland? *Who?*

;-)