01-16-2004, 08:33 PM
Hail Rhydderch Hael,
good point here - the best I have seen in favor of this program so far. What you say is something based on physics, it is logical and about an U-Turn away from the "Let's plant the Flag an be happy"-stuff. This is, so far, the one application that makes sense to me.
On the other hand: Sorry for talking what is in my heart here, but:
I'm really for exploration, as long as it makes sense. Not meaning that space exploration does not make sense, but, what possible value will even the discovery of water deposits on Mars yield? On the other hand, we have not even gotten round to exploring most of our planet (the oceans) below relatively shallow limits (40-60m, pretty much the limits to recreational diving, too). True, there are some DSV's around, but I'd really like to know their funding compared to what NASA oder ESA or the other space agencies are getting.
Sure, there may be interesting facts out there in space, but if there are, they are either pretty far away (and we won't therefore be able to study them in depth anytime soon) or facts gained from experiments in Zero G. On the other hand, still having so much to learn about the "depth" that Terra Firma has to offer, why not give that a try? Not sexy enough, maybe? And here we come back to the "Raise the flag and be happy"-element...
Well, not at all in disfavour of exploration, but it could be started elsewhere... OK, you Trekkies out there, have at me ;-)
Take care,
Lord_Olf
PS: Not disagreeing with your post, Rhydderch, but it seemed to my the best to respond to
good point here - the best I have seen in favor of this program so far. What you say is something based on physics, it is logical and about an U-Turn away from the "Let's plant the Flag an be happy"-stuff. This is, so far, the one application that makes sense to me.
On the other hand: Sorry for talking what is in my heart here, but:
I'm really for exploration, as long as it makes sense. Not meaning that space exploration does not make sense, but, what possible value will even the discovery of water deposits on Mars yield? On the other hand, we have not even gotten round to exploring most of our planet (the oceans) below relatively shallow limits (40-60m, pretty much the limits to recreational diving, too). True, there are some DSV's around, but I'd really like to know their funding compared to what NASA oder ESA or the other space agencies are getting.
Sure, there may be interesting facts out there in space, but if there are, they are either pretty far away (and we won't therefore be able to study them in depth anytime soon) or facts gained from experiments in Zero G. On the other hand, still having so much to learn about the "depth" that Terra Firma has to offer, why not give that a try? Not sexy enough, maybe? And here we come back to the "Raise the flag and be happy"-element...
Well, not at all in disfavour of exploration, but it could be started elsewhere... OK, you Trekkies out there, have at me ;-)
Take care,
Lord_Olf
PS: Not disagreeing with your post, Rhydderch, but it seemed to my the best to respond to
"I don't like to brag, I don't like to boast, but I like hot butter on my breakfast toast!" - Flea