Remembering the Space Age. - Black Vault Radio Network (BVRN)

xii REMEMBERING the Space Age
in culture, we can understand memory as a dynamic cultural force, not a static
snapshot of the past.” Refecting on the relation between reality, memory, and
meaning, Launius ofers a provocative premise: “Perhaps the reality of what
happened does not matter all that much; the only thing that is truly important is
the decision about its meaning. That may well be an intensely personal decision
predicated on many idiosyncrasies and perspectives.”
Remembrance is not simply a pleasant pastime, something to be contemplated
at life’s end. Nor is history a luxury, an irrelevance, or a straightforward
activity as some people might think. Not without reason does there exist a
National Archives in the United States with the words “What is Past is Prologue”
scrolled along the top of its impressive façade, this building duplicated in function,
if not in detail, in most countries of the world. Not without reason does
the Smithsonian Institution strive to display thoughtful commentary in its
exhibits, despite criticism from its wide variety of audiences, each with their
own interpretations of history. And not without reason does every high school,
college, and university teach history. As Wouk said in the context of his novel,
“the beginning of the end of War lies in Remembrance.” Whether we learn the
lessons of history is another matter.
Part III of this volume consists of refections and commentary, where some
of the major themes are once again engaged. Walter McDougall views the 50th
anniversary of the Space Age as a melancholic afair, flled with disappointment
and unfulflled hopes, a secondary activity compared to the dominant trends of
contemporary history, and in any case too embryonic to judge its signifcance.
John Logsdon disagrees in part, arguing that both the modern nation-state and
the global economy depend on space-based systems. The ability to operate in
outer space, he contends, is an integral part of modern history. He agrees that
the progress of the Space Age has been frustrating in many ways to those who
lived through the Apollo era, a level of activity that was not sustainable. Sylvia
Kraemer argues there are many competing events that may defne the last 50
years more than space exploration, including the Cold War and digital and
information technologies. She also argues that the contribution of space activity
to globalization has been far greater than its contribution to nationalism. Linda
Billings refects on space exploration in the context of culture, concluding that
it means many things to many people, quite aside from dominant ofcial
narratives. Nor is this an academic exercise, for she suggests that if space
programs are to survive and thrive in the 21st century they need to involve
citizens and be aware of the visions they have for a human future in space. On
the global level, this resonates with John Krige’s statement that “when
‘Remembering the Space Age,’ we should not shy away from admitting the
complexity and diversity of the space efort, nor pretend that the view of the
world from Washington is the only view worth recording.”
Some in the audience at this 50th anniversary conference thought it should
have been more celebratory and described the meeting itself as depressing. Others