🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <10518@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu> davidra@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu (David Rabson) writes:

   When we began the Apollo program in the early 1960's, it was probably true
   that our computing and robotics technology was far from the point of
   being able to go to the Moon and return rocks.  That no longer holds.
   My sources in robotics inform me that the field is poised for major
   developments, and given what I have seen, it is certainly plausible that
   a robot probe to Mars could accomplish everything proposed for manned
   missions.


While your conclusion is true, your assumptions are largely invalid.  You
are assuming that the money not spent on a manned mission could be diverted
to other scientific endevors.  Sadly, such is not the case.  The reason
that a manned mission is necessary is ROMANCE.  Scientists don't much care
for it (at least as far as their science goes), but the people (and
therefore Congress) live for it.  Send a probe and you'll get 30 seconds on
the evening news.  Send a manned mission and the world will be riveted to
their TV's.  The means is greater than the ends.


--
Phil Windley                          |  windley@cheetah.ucdavis.edu
Division of Computer Science          |  ucbvax!ucdavis!cheetah!windley
University of California, Davis       |
Davis, CA 95616                       |  (916) 752-6452 (or 3168)