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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