OPINION: Keeping my head out of the clouds

With the launch of Artemis II and the popularity of the new movie “Project Hail Mary,” the idea of outer space and space travel have become pretty popular again.

While I find any news coming from the Artemis II astronauts absolutely fascinating, and the comedic nature of the film (and nerdy Ryan Gosling’s looks) appealing, I am happy to watch from afar. Despite the excitement and innovation that comes with space travel, I have no interest in ever participating. I’ll keep my feet flat on the ground, thank you.

OK, I might be jumping the gun a bit here. Despite the random trips taken by celebrities to the outer depths of Earth’s atmosphere, we’re still a long way away from regular civilian space travel.

Rewind to the days of the space race, starting in the 1950s. With the rapid progress we made internationally, trying to be the first to truly experience space and stake our claim on the universe, it was commonly thought we would simply continue this innovation.

This can easily be seen through sci-fi media from the past. “The Jetsons,” airing from 1962 to 1963, was set 100 years in the future. In the great year of 2062, the Jetson family daily used their flying car and jet packs. Rosie, an outdated robotic maid, is a beloved member of their family. Various inventions are seen throughout the show that would make life so much simpler but at that point were technologies they could only imagine.

Well, we’re still a couple decades away from 2062. However, to be at the level of innovation they predicted, we’ve still got a bit of a way to go.

Though appearing in media for decades, jet packs are far from the modern convenience many hoped for. We have managed to invent them, but use is limited. Flights usually last somewhere from five to 10 minutes, making significant noise the whole while. A single device generally costs anywhere from $300,000 to $500,000 or more, not including the extreme training required to man a jet pack. Real life use of jet packs are generally limited to military and governmental use.

In reality, jet packs have been available since the 1950s. However, we haven’t found a way to make them easier to navigate in the last 75 years. Based on the technological progress we’ve made since then, I’d say we’re unlikely to make jet packs a regular part of life in the next 35 years.

Let’s look at flying cars, too. Inventors have been trying to create reasonable flying cars since the automobiles became a thing. Claims of flying cars have been heard since 1901. The first flying car was successfully tested in 1936, but did not enter production. Various inventors have continued since then, many creating one or two prototypes that, while they work, are not convenient to regular life.

The problem is that many “flying cars” are simply airplanes that are roadworthy. Additionally, almost all of these vehicles must be flown from an airfield. eVTOLs, or electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, are starting to become more accessible. However, by accessible, I mean between $200,000 and $500,000 for a single-seat model, not including the insane levels of insurance needed and pilot training. Is it possible these contraptions could become common by 2062? Yes, but only if we really get our gears in motion, something I don’t see happening.

While not technically necessary, I think regular space travel won’t become a thing until we figure out how to best gravity with these other devices. And while a lot of technology is currently advancing, it all seems focused on a replacement for thinking rather than true innovation. If we do achieve space travel anytime soon, I think it’s more likely to be an innovation by artificial intelligence rather than our own creation.

In truth, I think we seem to be heading more toward a world like in “WALL-E” rather than “The Jetsons.” Destruction of our planet? Check. Letting technology do everything for us? Check. Running from our problems and blaming someone else instead of actually fixing them? Check.

If we were to get to a point where we had to evacuate the Earth like in the film, I think I might just stick it out with our little robot hero.

You know Katy Perry’s reaction to landing back on Earth after her 11-minute journey to space? Yeah, that’s how I feel any time I get off an airplane. While I might not actually do it, I could easily see myself kissing and hugging the ground, relieved to be back on solid earth. The idea of going into space with no end in sight, likely to die up there? Not happening.

As everyone gets excited again about space travel and the possibilities outside of our atmosphere, I’ll watch and learn with interest, but I’ll be keeping my head out of the clouds - literally.