A Brazilian in Space

According to a BBC article, Lt Col Marcos Pontes has become the first Brazilian to travel beyond the limits of Earth.

From the article:

"A Russian Soyuz rocket carrying the first Brazilian into space has docked with the International Space Station two days after lift-off from Baikonur.

Lt Col Marcos Pontes will spend nine days on board, while a Russian and a US colleague accompanying him will stay for six months.

Col Pontes took with him a Brazilian flag and a football shirt - to help his team in the World Cup, he said.

[. . .]

Millions in Brazil watched Thursday's launch, with every successful step for the rocket and Lt Col Pontes likely to be warmly received at home."

Isn't that nice? :o)

I was somewhat conflicted about the expense of space programs, actually. However, I have come to the conclusion that they are, at least, positive contributions. They make people happy, proud, curious, etc. Considering that the money probably wouldn't be spent for a better cause anyway, why not explore space?

This sort of thing is unfortunate, of course:

"The mission [. . .] comes less than three years after Brazil's space programme met with disaster when a rocket exploded on the launch pad.

The explosion of the first Brazilian rocket, built to take satellites into orbit, killed 21 people at the site in the north of the country."

On the other hand, one could argue that the people who were killed chose to take the risk, and they were (I hope) doing what they loved.