🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <Added.sXwpU3y00Ui3AER09e@andrew.cmu.edu> EHARNDEN@AUVM.BITNET (Eric Harnden) writes:

>i think it's neat. i want to go.

So do I.  But even more, I want humanity in general to go, to stay. 

>if i can't go, i want my son to.

Same here.  And the best way to insure our sons (and daughters!) will go is 
to work on long-term projects, that will produce the discoveries and new
technology we need for economically viable, sustainable space settlement.

>     the problem is, of course, that the unmanned advocates have every
>statistical reality on their side. 

So why support uneconomical, unscientific space activities, which detract 
from progress towards our goal? 

>on the other hand, the umanned folks lean on rationality as their only
>argument. 

We have not ignored the emotional and cultural aspects.  A vigourous 
exploration of all parts of the solar system will be at least
as culturally uplifting and emotionally edifying as manned space shots
to LEO.

>a little enthusiasm is good for anybody, and should not necessarily
>equate one with a coke-head.

I would go farther.  A *lot* of enthusiasm is *essential*.  But it must
be combined with the cold, hard weighing of the facts, or it is useless.

Nick Szabo              szabonj@fred.cs.washington.edu