Why sending politicians to space might solve terrestrial gridlock
In short: From an orbiting laboratory, astronauts describe Earth as a "beautiful living organism" where national borders blur. During a virtual meeting with former President Bill Clinton, they shared how the unique perspective of space—and the rapid progression of diseases like osteoporosis in zero gravity—could redefine our understanding of humanity.
On September 24, 2014, NASA flight engineer Reid Wiseman and European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst joined former President Bill Clinton for a virtual discussion from the International Space Station (ISS). The meeting, held as part of the Clinton Global Initiative, served as a platform to discuss the commercialization of space and the vital research conducted in orbit. A key takeaway from the astronauts was the psychological shift that occurs in space; Coleman noted that it becomes difficult to feel like you belong to any single country, emphasizing the station as a triumph of global collaboration.
The ISS serves as a high-stakes laboratory for human physiology. One of the most striking findings shared during the session involved osteoporosis. Within the station's zero-gravity setting, a standard astronaut experiences bone decay at a rate roughly 10 times quicker than a 70-year-old female on Earth. By monitoring these accelerated physiological changes, scientists can gain critical insights into the mechanisms of aging. This research is not just about space travel; it is about understanding the fundamental biological limits of the human body.
The conversation also touched on the geopolitical and economic shifts in space exploration. During the assembly, NASA had just granted agreements to SpaceX and The Boeing Company for moving U.S. personnel, seeking to eliminate the United States' exclusive dependence on Russian logistics by 2017. While Clinton joked that space travel might be the cure for political gridlock, the underlying reality is a transition toward a commercialized, multi-national orbital economy where the goal is to solve the world's most pressing challenges through shared scientific endeavor.
The International Space Station is an exercise in global collaboration involving astronauts from the U.S., Russia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, and the European Space Agency.
staff to the station to stop Russian reliance by 2017. The Clinton Global Initiative serves as a think tank established to generate large concepts regarding our scientific and social world.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Space Station Crew Member Discusses the Future with Former President Clinton
- Also: Astronauts Give Bill Clinton a Taste of Space Travel
- Also: NASA Astronaut to Speak to Clinton Global Initiative Meeting Attendees from International Space Station - NASA
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