Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!kcarroll From: kcarroll@utzoo.UUCP (Kieran A. Carroll) Newsgroups: net.space Subject: Re: SPACE STATION ALERT Message-ID: <3614@utzoo.UUCP> Date: Fri, 9-Mar-84 14:21:18 EST Article-I.D.: utzoo.3614 Posted: Fri Mar 9 14:21:18 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 9-Mar-84 14:21:18 EST References: <2578@rabbit.UUCP> Organization: U of Toronto Zoology Lines: 21 * We're not going into space simply to do science; the main reason for the space station (perhaps not in the eyes of the administration) is to start opening up space for development and (cover your ears!) exploitation. While all the planetary science is very worthwhile, advancing our theories of solar system formation and all that, they are the areas of space exploration that return The Least to the paying public. Perhaps the scientists who sponsor such missions should actually be the ones to pay for them? Although on their salaries, it's take an awfully long time to scrape up half a billion dollars... (heavy sarcasm) On the other hand, the space station wil provide a place to start learning how to do manufacturing in space, including learning how well people can work there. This will be necessary before such things as lunar mining bases, and solar power satellites can be made to work. Of course, if you feel that mankind is destined to stay on the surface of the earth forever, then perhaps you're right in feeling that a space station is a waste of money. -Kieran A. Carroll ...decvax!utzoo!kcarroll