Slashdot | Mars Rovers Still Going Strong, Mission Extended

Re:It’s amazing (Score:5, Interesting)
by JaredOfEuropa (526365) on Sunday April 11, @06:14AM (#8829850)
(Last Journal: Saturday January 31, @03:25PM)

How even though given the anti-intellectual culture of the US we are still the only ones able to land this very successful rover

I think one of the factors contributing to the success of the US, is the mindset of its people. Unlike most other countries, the US is a ‘nation of winners’ as someone put it once, where people celebrate success, are proud of their achievements, and not afraid to be #1. (disclaimer: yes, it’s a generalisation, not all Americans are like that, and these qualities can be found in people of other nations as well).

Americans have the will to risk money and lives on visionary stuff, on going somewhere first. Looking in and around my own country in Europe, I do not see this drive for success. We’d rather spend our money on health care, railroads, and other such mundane things. We do not have grand visions, and if anything, success is scorned. “These people may be sooo proud of their little rover, but they still [poop] the same color as we all do. They’re no better than us”. Discuss the history of our country with others, and everyone will focus on the bad stuff (slavery and such), on how much we suck, rather than the things we did well (and our country has plenty to be proud of). Such a nation will never put anything on Mars.

There are other nations with the drive to go to Space, though. They have some catching up to do in terms of technology, and they are certainly not as rich as the US, but they’ll get there.

Source: Slashdot | Mars Rovers Still Going Strong, Mission Extended