Popular Culture Review 29.2
find moments of joy and triumph in the space race , but also to remember the sadness and the losses�that is an inherently demanding undertaking . To accept that there is something wondrous about the glorious history of NASA , but also to see that it carries with it a history of sexism , racism , lifeism , and oppression�that is a hard task . To know that the Enlightenment “ overturned ” the science of the Ancient world , but also still to see value and insights for us today in that Ancient way of thinking�this demands much of us .
We must welcome such challenges , celebrating the beauty and admitting the failures of our endeavors to reach escape velocity and achieve a stable orbit , even knowing that such a thing is an illusion because there is no stable spiraling , there is no still point . Not in orbit , not on the moon , and not on Mars . But there is cause for hope . Hope that in our collective care , hands entwined together , Laika might still hold on .
WORKS CITED
“ Laika the Space Dog ,” https :// www . rferl . org / a / laika-sovietdog-in-space / 28833194 . html ( Accessed November 21 , 2017 ).
“ Laika ’ s Trust ,” https :// operavision . org / 2008 / 04 / 11 / 755 ( Accessed November 21 , 2017 ).
Sagan , Carl . Cosmos ( NY : Ballantine Books , 1980 / 2013 ).
Scott-Heron , Gil . “ Whitey on the Moon ,” The Revolution Will Not Be Televised , Flying Dutchman Records , 1974 .
Walker-Meikle , Kathleen . The Dog Book : Dogs of Historical Distinction . NY : Old House Books , 2014 .
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