Recently we witnessed a wondrous recovery of US astronauts from the ISS (International Space Station). Two astronauts had planned to be on the orbiting space station just a few days. Technical problems prevented their return from the test mission and they were stranded on the ISS since June 2024. On March 18, 2025 they returned to Earth in a SpaceX capsule, splashing down in the Gulf of America near Tallahassee, FL. They experienced a trip in space aboard the ISS for an unexpectedly long nine-month visit.
In the 1950s US and Russian scientists started sending space vehicles into orbit around our spherical Earth. In order to inject a satellite into orbit, many laws of nature established by the Creator must be followed with great precision. For example, a satellite must achieve orbital speed of approximately 17,500 mph. The precision required for the achievements of the 1950s appear minimal compared with the currently orbiting ISS which was built starting in 1998 after being proposed by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. It is an international symbol of human cooperation as well as an outstanding human technological achievement. The modular space station was assembled in orbit but the modules were built on the surface of the Earth.
Humanity’s adventures in outer space are not directly addressed in the initial creation chapters of the Bible. Genesis 1:28 mandates humans to “have dominion over” living things. By extension, we may infer that humans are mandated to give attention to ALL aspects of God’s physical creation—light, sky, and land—as well as thousands of living plants and animals supported by the physical creation. In the thousands of years before human space travel, authors of Scripture were inspired to exult in all aspects of God’s creation. Psalm 8:6 proclaims, “You have given him dominion (authority) over the works of your hands…” Psalm 8:9 adds an appropriate benediction: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
“Having dominion over” the outer space environment and our control of space vehicles operating in that environment is a challenging task. In the past century these challenges have been presented to humanity. Starting in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, scientists began proposing space flights supported by rockets. Perhaps they were inspired by Jules Verne’s science fiction novels. Before Germany surrendered to conclude World War II, they developed advanced rocket technology. The US, Russia, and other countries expanded rocket technology after World War II and used leftover German V-2 rockets to enhance their space programs. Rocket technology has morphed into satellite and space travel technology. During the Cold War following World War II, several startling events occurred such as the launching of satellites by the USSR and the USA in 1957-58 followed by manned visits to the Moon from 1969 to 1972. The Space Race had begun.
Space technology has resulted in both positive and negative outcomes. The promise of benefits from dozens of ISS projects is complicated by international ambition and competition. In an ideal world we would focus only on the benefits of the multinational space program. Do the positives outweigh the negatives?
The startling cost of constructing the ISS was $150 billion as of 2010. The ISS has been continually occupied since 2000 at a cost of $3 billion/year. Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, proposes de-orbiting the ISS as soon as possible, perhaps within two years. He advocates deep space probes resulting in a manned colony on the planet Mars. According to Musk, this could happen before the end of the current decade. Is this realistic? Is it probable?
Recovery of our astronauts from the ISS has served to remind us of the early days of the US space program. We close with three personal memories from the early United States space program and link past blog posts where we discussed the events in more detail.
On Friday, October 4, 1957 I arose before dark in order not to be late for my first college class. I was a college student commuting from home. Media outlets had informed us when the newly launched Russian space vehicle, Sputnik, would pass overhead and become visible in the pre-dawn darkness. At the scheduled time, the 2nd stage rocket launch vehicle was visible. The launch vehicle and tiny satellite were traveling 17,500 mph. The satellite and the launch vehicle were in low earth orbit about 62 miles above the Earth and circled the earth every 90 minutes. This Russian scientific feat was unanticipated by United States scientists:
https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2008/07/progressive-science-education.html
From 1957 to 1968, United States space scientists recovered from their early failure and sent astronauts to the Moon. My personal recollection is a television broadcast from three US astronauts in orbit around the Moon on Christmas Eve—December 24, 1968. From my small screen color TV, came a spectacular Christmas message. Astronauts Borman, Lovell, and Anders each took turns reading a few verses from Genesis 1:1-10. The effect on millions of people around the world watching live TV from the Moon was electric! The related blog post:
https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2010/12/blue-marble.html
We also retain memories of perhaps the most spectacular scientific achievement of humanity—astronauts landing on Earth’s Moon and returning safely to our planet. In July 1969, my uncle, my cousin, and I travelled to the western states on a three week trip. After visits to many US national parks, we were returning home through the state of New Mexico. Our automobile radio had kept us informed of the progress of the Apollo 11 crew. We stopped at a New Mexico motel in the early evening of July 20, 1969 just in time to view the TV screen with two of our nation’s astronauts walking on the Moon’s surface:
https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2009/07/to-moon-and-back.html
We close with an open-ended question from Job 38:33: Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth? (ESV)
