Message-ID: <1294@zehntel.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 12-Jan-84 04:27:09 EST
Article-I.D.: zehntel.1294
Posted: Thu Jan 12 04:27:09 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 13-Jan-84 06:30:43 EST
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Organization: Zehntel Inc., Walnut Creek, CA
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#R:sri-arpa:-1516900:zinfandel:11100006:000:1388
zinfandel!berry    Jan 10 10:27:00 1984



"Someone recently commented that manned, intercontinental trips would be
made before the turn of the century.  I agree that the technology will
be available, and the question of "Why?" doesn't bother me.  The problem
is that, assuming that faster-than-wind travel is not available, by the
time the ocean travellers get anywhere in their 15th century ship, they
will have been passed by 16th century travellers using more advanced,
16th century transportation systems.  The early travellers would waste
several years, only to arrive at an already established colony.

"It's one thing to test out hardware in lake missions or Europe-Britain
missions, but missions that never return are another story.  That's why
it was feasible to send longboats crafts to Iceland, rather than simply
waiting for the clipper ship.  Intercontinental travel is a situation where
I think we should wait for reasonable technology.  The first river
crossing wasn't on a log.  The first manned, deep ocean crossing
shouldn't be in a primitive craft either."

		--Gary

I've got news for you Gary.  By all accounts, the first
ocean crossings were done either by the Phoenicians in
something very much like a large canoe, or by the
Polynesians in a RAFT.  If everyone thought like you
we'd never get anything done.

Berry Kercheval		Zehntel Inc.
(ihnp4!zehntel!zinfandel!berry)
(415)932-6900