While of course, I technically agree with the sentiments (here and here) that the whole program isn't really sending up homegrown "astronauts" in Korean-built spaceships, I don't there's much wrong with promoting math and science education in an educational environment in which there's a decreasing interest in these areas. The United States is having the same problem.
Original article here.
And since one of the candidates is a personal friend, who has been filling me in on the entire process, I've been privy to some of the more interesting inside information. Just for the record, the Metropolitician is rooting for Soyeon (the female astro-hopeful in the top row).
Well before the selection of the final 10 from the previous rounds, I told Soyeon that I thought there would be exactly, 3 women selected out of the 10 – for various reasons – and I was spot on. I also predicted that she'd be in the final 3, since she is such a super trooper and one of the healthiest women I know (something she doesn't like to hear, but it's true). She laughed as she mentioned that even the medical team doing the preliminary fitness tests were surprised to see her outperforming many of the boys on the flight stress and G-force simulations.
I find the picture above quite awkward, but I am always partial to efforts to promote science and math education, and the country paying for a ride on a Russian space bird may not be the same as building your own space program up from scratch, but I don't agree with the argument that these people won't be real astronauts.
The final two candidates will have to spend 1 and 1/2 years training in Russia before boarding the spacecraft, even if they obviously won't be involved in flying it. And since civilian scientists and others have been in space, and have obviously been thought of as "astronauts", I don't think it really matters who paid for the ship. When non-Americans and/or civilians have been aboard the US space shuttle, I don't think anyone was quibbling over who was a "real astronaut" or not.
And to be the first Korean in space? Hey, it's a real first, whether they hitched a ride or not.
I've got my bets down that there will a male and a female final two candidates. So, the way I see it, Soyeon has a 1/3 shot or better, partially improved because of the fact that she's a scientist-in-training herself, and can apparently take a few G's and not even wrinkle her nose.
Impressive.
Only downside is that if she makes it, Soyeon will be living in Russia for the next couple of years. Well, I guess there's always email.
Go, Soyeon!
Our site is rooting for you! And even if you don't make the final cut, you've already succeeded.