🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <KAS.90Jul18175627@casandra.cs.aber.ac.uk> kas@cs.aber.ac.uk (Kevin Sharp) writes:
>2) In comparing the cost of human life with that of a machine it's as
>well to remember that there's no problem finding volunteer astronauts.
>The calls to ban manned space flight on account of the danger to
>individuals amounts to gross protectionism. 


Such an attitude may or may not be protectionism, bt it is certainly
realism.  While the death of the astronaut may not be of major concern
to him (Heck, he volunteered didn't he?), the affect on the public is
tremendous, especially given that our media tends to blow such things
way out of proportion.

Do you want a simple prediction:  If there is another shuttle accident
involving the loss of life within the next 2-3 years, it will be a
decade before NASA launches another man into space... if at all.



-- 
gerry roston, field robotics center
robotics institute, carnegie mellon university
pittsburgh, pennsylvania, 15213  (412) 268-6557
gerry@cive.ri.cmu.edu