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From: UFO UpDates - Toronto <updates@globalserve.net>
Date: Fri, 01 May 1998 23:50:17 -0400
Fwd Date: Fri, 01 May 1998 23:50:17 -0400
Subject: Excerpt from The Brookings Report, 1960




The following excerpt is posted FYI

Proposed Studies On The Implications Of
Peaceful Space Activities For Human Affairs

By

Brookings Institution, 1960
Report To The 87th Congress, Union Calendar 79
Report Number 242

For

National Aeronautics And Space Administration



The general public

   1.As with other matters not central to day-to-day living, the
public, considered as a whole, is probably only selectively
attentive to and knowledgeable about space activities. The
relationship between the impact of events on indifferent or only
occasionally interested people and their attitudes and values is
but partly understood and needs further study.

   2.It has been alleged that the "public" is optimistic about
space activities. If this is so and if the optimism is
widespread, the present support it generates for the space
program may not be lasting if the difficulties inherent in space
efforts have not been appreciated enough to make the failure of
specific projects understandable. The resulting disillusionment
may be a serious factor in reducing public support as space
efforts become more grandiose, the consequences of payoff more
exciting, and the losses from failure more dramatic. On the other
hand, this optimism, if it exists, may produce a state of mind
tolerant of failures. The factors affecting optimism, realism,
and tolerance of frustration need more study as an aid in
preparing for this situation. The roles of the promoter spokesman
and the mass media in encouraging expectations of great and
imminent accomplishments are integral to this problem area and
would benefit from research.

   3.The conviction that space activities will broaden man's
horizons are presently based on the perspectives and special
interests of a relatively few people in western societies. The
claim may be justified, but there is need for research to assist
understanding of the conditions under which innovations broaden
or narrow perspectives in various cultures. For example,
sufficient emphasis on space as the proper expression of man's
highest aspirations may result in the evolution of a broadly
based belief that this is so. But whether or not this is likely
to be the case cannot now be decided in view of our limited
understanding of how new ideas disseminate through societies. If
and as horizons were broadened as a result of space activities,
other aspirations would compete with them for attention and
resources, and continuous study would be required to evaluate the
appropriate position of space in this competition.

   4.Though intelligent or semi-intelligent life conceivably
exists elsewhere in our solar system, if intelligent
extraterrestrial life is discovered in the next twenty years, it
will very probably be by radio telescope from other solar
systems. Evidences of its existence might also be found in
artifacts left on the moon or other planets. The consequences for
attitudes and values are unpredictable, but would vary profoundly
in different cultures and between groups within complex
societies; a crucial factor would be the nature of the
communication between us and the other beings. Whether or not
earth would be inspired to an all-out space effort by such a
discovery is moot: societies sure of their own place in the
universe have disintegrated when confronted by a superior
society, and others have survived even though changed. Clearly,
the better we can come to understand the factors involved in
responding to such crises the better prepared we may be.

   5.Man-in-space programs in their early days will confront some
groups with value conflicts over the proper circumstances for
risking life, family integrity, etc. Arguments are already
intense on the merits, or lack of them, of investing heavily in
man-in-space efforts. Later efforts may expose astronauts to
living conditions with which many of the public cannot, or will
be reluctant to identify. The threat and isolation of space thus
emphasized may repel many people, especially as urban living
becomes ever more the life pattern, and support for these
efforts, therefore, might be less forthcoming. In some people,
however, the adventures of the astronauts may fire a latent
pioneer spirit; support for man-in-space programs might be strong
among this group -- but it also might be displaced by their newly
stirred personal pioneer aspirations. There may be possibly
profound effects on attitudes and values if through the astronaut
experiences it is found that the extraordinary abilities
sometimes displayed under conditions of extreme physical or
emotional stress can be made available to man for use in-more
normal circumstances.

However, it should be kept in mind that intense solar radiation
and heavy-particle cosmic rays may make more than an occasional
manned essay into deep space too dangerous to be practical during
the time period under examination. If so, the consequences for
attitudes and values are not clear. Understanding of the impact
of the man-in-space program on attitudes and values in general,
and on those toward the program itself in particular would
benefit from a series of studies of public expectations and
beliefs as these change over time.

Since commitment of effort to competing programs for social
betterment fundamentally depends on attitudes and values about
their relative merits, a research area with potentially profound
implications for society and space activities, which is also
urgent for policy purposes, concerns the development of:

Systematic methods for assigning priorities between competing
scientific and social efforts (where competition may be over the
long term and involve personnel, money, public support, and
conflicting attitudes and values).

A variety of more specific studies on public opinion and values
as affected by space activities will depend on research providing
trend data describing:

The state of knowledge, values, and attitudes regarding space
activities, both on-going and contemplated; and what assumptions,
expectations, and values underlie the attitudes and
interpretations of this knowledge. What are the effects over time
of new knowledge and events on attitudes toward space activities,
and what are the effects of the sources of information on the
acceptability of the information?

In view of the conflicting attitudes and values so far expressed
about the Mercury program, and in view of the possible favorable
and unfavorable consequences of astronaut launchings, it is
urgent to plan studies that would provide information on what the
public needs to know and would assist in interpreting public
reactions by determining:

Present public knowledge and expectations about and underlying
attitudes toward, the Mercury program and the astronauts. These
should be continuing studies so that the impact of events can be
anticipated, evaluated, and planned for.

While the discovery of intelligent life in other parts of the
universe is not likely in the immediate future, it could
nevertheless happen at any time. Whenever it does occur its
consequences for earth attitudes and values may be profound.
Hence a long-term research effort, which would aid in preparing
for this possibility, could usefully begin with:

A continuing determination of emotional and intellectual
understanding and attitudes regarding the possibility and
consequences of discovering intelligent extraterrestrial life.

While space activities offer a special opportunity to study the
relationship of innovation to social change, understanding the
relationship will require examination of other innovation
situations, too. Research is recommended to determine:

What factors historically have entered into support or rejection
of new ideas or technologies. What was and wasn't appreciated
about the potentialities (or lack of them) in the innovation and
under what personal and social circumstances did this occur? In
particular, what were the roles of physical environment,
politics, personalities, limited systems analysis capabilities,
insufficient communications to decision makers, etc.?