Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site sequent.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!ogcvax!sequent!richard From: richard@sequent.UUCP Newsgroups: net.space Subject: Re: SPACE STATION ALERT Message-ID: <419@sequent.UUCP> Date: Sat, 10-Mar-84 03:31:59 EST Article-I.D.: sequent.419 Posted: Sat Mar 10 03:31:59 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 13-Mar-84 20:07:48 EST References: <2578@rabbit.UUCP> Organization: Sequent Computer Systems, Portland Lines: 44 Several points should be made: o Unmanned mission haven't done "just fine" - if the mars lander had some operational intelligence behind it, all those tests run probably wouldn't have been so indeterminate. o As far as I know, no unmanned mission has every returned samples back to earth, as was suggested. And if unmanned probes are so good, why return samples at all? o Since the trend towards decreasing budgets will inevitably continue (in the long run) it is important to make space a profitable venture as soon as possible. In a few decades, most of our resources will be going simply to keep this world under control, with all the starving billions against us. o Although I agree that any space venture will have some military aspects, this is not just true of the space station. In fact, due to unpopularity with the pentagon, the space station as proposed is justified solely in terms of commercial benefits. o The commercial benefits derived have to do primarily with materials processing. You are aware, of course, that drugs can be made purer and ball bearings rounder in space? Well, that's just the tip of the iceberg. The prime eventual benefit is to get humanity into space on a permanent basis. o As far as taking away the unmanned exploration budget, in the long run, the space station will help. It will be much cheaper to base a telescope in space with facilities right there - the same goes for deep-space launches. It can be hoped that attention on space will relieve some of the earth-side nationalistic pressures, which might let civilization live long enough that some of us will someday take jobs/vacations on the moom/space station. ___________________________________________________________________________ The preceding should not to be construed as the statement or opinion of the employers or associates of the author. It is solely the belief... from the confused and bleeding fingertips of ...!sequent!richard