This Is So Cool!

My friend Keith sent me the link to this very cool animation, showing the different components of the International Space Station (ISS), and how it is being put together.

http://www.tietronix.com/anim/MoviePlayer.asp?myMovie=movies/assembly640x360.swf

Believe it or not, the International Space Station is not without controversy. Some think that it's a waste of money and priorities, taking resources away from more worthy projects. That may or may not be true-- to me, the jury's still out. My two cents is that there were two benefits. First, we've learned a ton about constructing large objects in space and living in space, which we can only learn about by doing them. Secondly, we've shown that people of differing nationalities, ethnicities, religions, genders, etc. can work together for an exceedingly difficult project.

The cost of the project has been a sore spot. It has greatly exceeded it's original estimates. When it is completed in 2010, it will have cost $130 Billion.

Of course, compared to $500 Billion plus for a disasterous war against a country that had done nothing to us and was no threat to us, that seems like a bargain.