Comments on: How to Become an Astronaut http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/24/how-to-become-an-astronaut/ The official blog of the Skeptologists Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:38:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Patrick Brown http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/24/how-to-become-an-astronaut/#comment-16277 Patrick Brown Sun, 27 Dec 2009 04:51:21 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5607#comment-16277 She will be in the movie... She will be in the movie…

]]> By: Chris http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/24/how-to-become-an-astronaut/#comment-16248 Chris Thu, 24 Dec 2009 23:17:46 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5607#comment-16248 Brian, about four to five years ago I read a couple of books on women who actually tried become astronauts in the USA, at the very beginning. I am sorry I do not remember the details, but I do have the book names in my file of books I have read (nerd that I am, I keep of list of books I have checked out of the library, it keeps me from checking out something I have already read): The Mercury 13 : the untold story of thirteen American women and the dream of space, by Ackmann, Martha. and Promised the moon : the untold story of the first women in the space race / by Nolen, Stephanie Information about the Mercury 13 might provide an interesting parallel/comparison to the Soviet program. Brian, about four to five years ago I read a couple of books on women who actually tried become astronauts in the USA, at the very beginning. I am sorry I do not remember the details, but I do have the book names in my file of books I have read (nerd that I am, I keep of list of books I have checked out of the library, it keeps me from checking out something I have already read):
The Mercury 13 : the untold story of thirteen American women and the dream of space, by Ackmann, Martha.
and
Promised the moon : the untold story of the first women in the space race / by Nolen, Stephanie

Information about the Mercury 13 might provide an interesting parallel/comparison to the Soviet program.

]]> By: Max http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/24/how-to-become-an-astronaut/#comment-16247 Max Thu, 24 Dec 2009 22:43:10 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5607#comment-16247 "But tests and experience were not all that mattered in the Soviet Union. An interview also came into the equation." The fact the Tereshkova was working-class would've come into the equation. The story about the interview sounds a little cartoonish. The space race was largely about propaganda, so naturally the Soviets preferred a working-class loyal Communist cosmonaut. “But tests and experience were not all that mattered in the Soviet Union. An interview also came into the equation.”

The fact the Tereshkova was working-class would’ve come into the equation. The story about the interview sounds a little cartoonish.
The space race was largely about propaganda, so naturally the Soviets preferred a working-class loyal Communist cosmonaut.

]]> By: Max http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/24/how-to-become-an-astronaut/#comment-16245 Max Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:54:48 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5607#comment-16245 The overall tone is more like a phone call with bad reception than a radio transmission. Like, she doesn't say "over", and she seems to get interrupted. The overall tone is more like a phone call with bad reception than a radio transmission. Like, she doesn’t say “over”, and she seems to get interrupted.

]]> By: Max http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/24/how-to-become-an-astronaut/#comment-16244 Max Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:40:55 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5607#comment-16244 The Skeptoid episode has the recordings. http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4115 I can make out "Five four three two one. One, two, three, four, five" and "How do I transmit this?" I don't hear anything about crashing and burning. If I try to decipher the rest, it'll probably just be pareidolia, as in deciphering reverse speech. There's a Skeptoid episode about that too. http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4105 The Skeptoid episode has the recordings.
http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4115

I can make out “Five four three two one. One, two, three, four, five” and “How do I transmit this?” I don’t hear anything about crashing and burning. If I try to decipher the rest, it’ll probably just be pareidolia, as in deciphering reverse speech. There’s a Skeptoid episode about that too.
http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4105

]]> By: Sofa http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/24/how-to-become-an-astronaut/#comment-16242 Sofa Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:24:07 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5607#comment-16242 Interesting, but not very controversial. I'd still love it if you did 911 or moon hoaxers. Interesting, but not very controversial. I’d still love it if you did 911 or moon hoaxers.

]]> By: Tim http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/24/how-to-become-an-astronaut/#comment-16241 Tim Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:18:03 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5607#comment-16241 Breaking news! http://www.theonion.com/content/news/conspiracy_theorist_convinces_neil Breaking news!

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/conspiracy_theorist_convinces_neil

]]> By: oldebabe http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/24/how-to-become-an-astronaut/#comment-16240 oldebabe Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:11:50 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5607#comment-16240 Brian, VERY interesting stuff, but what, which, where, is the `conspiracy'? That the Soviets kept something about their space program secret? Not controversial. If it's whether or not the recording is of a specific Russian woman's voice pleading for assistance, or a myth, how can I hear the interpretations of, and, the `voice', since like `science-based humanist' above, I can understand Russian, but cannot be in that German audience next week... Brian, VERY interesting stuff, but what, which, where, is the `conspiracy’? That the Soviets kept something about their space program secret? Not controversial.

If it’s whether or not the recording is of a specific Russian woman’s voice pleading for assistance, or a myth, how can I hear the interpretations of, and, the `voice’, since like `science-based humanist’ above, I can understand Russian, but cannot be in that German audience next week…

]]> By: Carl http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/24/how-to-become-an-astronaut/#comment-16239 Carl Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:19:45 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5607#comment-16239 Losing the first woman in space wouldn't have been embarassing, but a slight rotation of the spacecraft was too humiliating to tolerate? Did one of these "directors" later become safety head at Chernobyl? Losing the first woman in space wouldn’t have been embarassing, but a slight rotation of the spacecraft was too humiliating to tolerate?

Did one of these “directors” later become safety head at Chernobyl?

]]> By: science-based humanist http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/24/how-to-become-an-astronaut/#comment-16233 science-based humanist Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:58:48 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5607#comment-16233 Brian, nice story! As a native Russian speaker, I'd love to see what Ponomaryova actually said in Russian; I'll check out your links. Alas, Russia (and USSR before it) was/is a deeply sexist society. Brian, nice story! As a native Russian speaker, I’d love to see what Ponomaryova actually said in Russian; I’ll check out your links. Alas, Russia (and USSR before it) was/is a deeply sexist society.

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