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 Message-ID: <3625@utzoo.UUCP> Date: Mon, 12-Mar-84 11:41:07 EST Article-I.D.: utzoo.3625 Posted: Mon Mar 12 11:41:07 1984 Date-Received: Mon, 12-Mar-84 11:41:07 EST References: <2578@rabbit.UUCP>, <386@ihlts.UUCP> Organization: U of Toronto Zoology Lines: 37 * The recent controversy over the early funding of a space station is rather disturbing, and reflects a basic split in the space-science community. Ever since the end of the Apollo program, funding for space exploration has been decreasing in real terms (although this trend may recently have been halted). As the money source dried up, two groups of extremists formed from the above-mentioned community, and started what some of them seem to regard as a fight to the death (the death of the other fellow's program). The two belligerents share a very similar belief: that given a choice of manned vs. unmanned space exploration, only one is necessary, and the other is a complete waste of time. Back in the glory days, they were able to tolerate the other group's wastage; now, however, they are in direct competition with the wasters for budget money. Every penny the wasters get is a penny drained away from absolutely vital scientific endeavours. This cannot be tolerated! The wasters must be hunted down, and eliminated to the last man! There's no time to lose! etc. Of course, one group beleives in unmanned exploration, the other in manned. The battle lines have been drawn, both sides have convincing arguments on their side, and the emotion of the arguments are drawing many unwary passers-by into the fray. The booty will be next year's NASA budget, and the more people on your side, the more likely it is that you'll be able to convince the administration of your point of view (that's dmcrcy for you). Have the people involved never heard of the (Roman?) precept, "Divide and Conquer"? This sort of infighting could easily diminish the space program as a whole. Personally, I think that both aspects of space exploration are quite necessary, and that each contributes to the advance of the other. The distinction between the two is an artificial one; after all, the two disciplines share vast amounts of technology, they're studying the same phenomena in many cases, and are designed by the same groups of people. Myself, I'd rather switch than fight... -Kieran A. Carroll ...decvax!utzoo!kcarroll