Portal talk:Space exploration

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[edit] Subportal Space exploration

The wording of the introduction was chosen to place this subportal underneath the Portal:Technology. However it also does fall under the Portal:Space as a clear subtopic of it. I think we should resolve this overlap in a way that shows this portal as placed within both areas. However, if in doubt its main focus is still technology and that placement should not confuse the reader on this. Any comments? Awolf002 11:52, 23 September 2006 (UTC)

There is significant overlap between this portal and Portal:Spaceflight.. the articles Space exploration and Spaceflight have just recently been separated, and after an attempt to merge the categories Category:Space exploration and Category:Spaceflight, they have stayed separate. So I'm not sure which of the two portals would be more appropriate as a subportal of Technology? Mlm42 11:05, 11 October 2006 (UTC)

Spaceflight means what, exactly? It says it is about spacecrafts. If yes, then Portal:Spaceflight seems to seek to cover a subsection of the total area of technology applied in the "use" of space. As I said above, the space exploration title is meant to signal the coverage of all this technology, including related technologies (eg radiation hard micro chips) and their inventors and usages. I think, this approach is valid. However, we need to flesh this out some more to clearly identify what separates the two portals... Awolf002 12:04, 11 October 2006 (UTC)

To quote Wolfkeeper in the discussion to merge Space exploration and Spaceflight, he says "Spaceflight is a general article about mechanical and technical aspects of astrodynamics, spacecraft propulsion, spacecraft, launch pads, spaceports, reentry, countdown, attitude control systems, guidance, life support and so forth. This is based on the dictionary definition of spaceflight: "the flying of manned or unmanned spacecraft into or in outer space" In other words it's about transportation. Space exploration is a general article about exploring the solar system and other stellar systems, the effects of zero gravity on humans and other life, the effects of solar and cosmic radiation. In other words it's about exploration."

I don't think we can say Spaceflight is a subset of Space exploration - anymore.. communications satellites, for example, have nothing to do with the exploration of space. maybe someday Spaceflight will become as common as Portal:Aviation. So Space exploration would be when missions push the boundaries, and do it for the science, and knowledge. With this view, one may consider Space exploration as a subset of Spaceflight. Mlm42 12:28, 11 October 2006 (UTC)

Alright, point taken. So maybe I was thinking of the wrong term, and this Portal should be called Space technology? If that is still not separate enough from the concept Spaceflight, we should actually discuss if/how to merge the two portals... Awolf002 02:21, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

Ooh, i see.. that's a pretty good name for a Category, actually.. Space technology would include Spaceflight, then; perhaps renaming Portal:Spaceflight to Portal:Space technology, and expanding it appropriately, would be better. Mlm42 07:45, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

So, you're saying you want to merge the two portals? Or keep both Space technology and Space exploration (after renaming)? I still favor the idea of keeping them separate. Awolf002 11:09, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

i'm in favour of keeping them separate; Space technology (which would be Spaceflight renamed) and Space exploration. Mlm42 11:53, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

Actually.. maybe it's best to rename this one to Space technology, and include anything that would be under Space exploration in Spaceflight. Mlm42 16:50, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

Agreed, this move may be easier. As long as Spaceflight is a good term for Space exploration. It sounds to me a little bit like "manned space missions"... Awolf002 17:13, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

do you mean Spaceflight implies "manned"? hmm.. probably the same with Space travel, right? i think we need to decide what these terms mean to most people before we continue.. Mlm42 20:37, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

Right. Yes, we need a discussion (and maybe a straw poll) by a larger group of people, with many "native speakers" (which I am not :). Awolf002 00:08, 13 October 2006 (UTC)

I'm trying to figure out where I stand on this discussion (having just come across it), and frankly I'm so confused that I can't come up with an opinion, except that these categories seem to be getting way too complicated. If we can't figure out what is a subset of what, and what implies manned versus unmanned, how do we expect Wikipedia readers to be able to? MLilburne 12:12, 3 November 2006 (UTC)

Hear, hear! There was an failed effort to merge all contents into a single portal (Portal:Space), but there was no interest by the community in this discussion. We need a way out of this confusion without merging just by renaming, I guess. Awolf002 12:34, 3 November 2006 (UTC)

I'm sorry that I missed the merger discussion... maybe next time. Anyhow, I will think about the renaming idea. There must be a simple solution in here somewhere. MLilburne 12:50, 3 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Biography

I like the new addition of a "Astronaut of the week," however I would think we should change the headline. This portal focuses on technology and a biograpy of Robert H. Goddard must be in scope, too. How about just changing it to "Biography of the week"? Secondly, do we have enough biographies to cover a new article per week? Maybe per month will work better? Awolf002 11:50, 11 October 2006 (UTC)

I will by bold and change it... Awolf002 11:09, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

If Portal:Spaceflight gets changed to Portal:Space technology, then perhaps there would be a better place for those kind of biographies, and here we could only have astronauts. Mlm42 11:53, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

I don't see why there's any category that implies only astronauts, except perhaps "space explorers", and even that would be debatable. MLilburne 12:46, 3 November 2006 (UTC)