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From: ear@wpi.wpi.edu (Eric A Rasmussen)
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Subject: Re: Divert NASA budget to robotics
Message-ID: <13982@wpi.wpi.edu>
Date: 12 Jul 90 04:07:38 GMT
References: <10518@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu> <9855@pt.cs.cmu.edu> <6907@eos.UUCP> <1170@idunno.Princeton.EDU>
Reply-To: ear@wpi.wpi.edu (Eric A Rasmussen)
Distribution: comp
Organization: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester ,MA
Lines: 66

In article <1170@idunno.Princeton.EDU> markv@gauss.Princeton.EDU (Mark VandeWettering) writes:
>In article <6907@eos.UUCP> woody@eos.UUCP (Wayne Wood) writes:
>>In article <9855@pt.cs.cmu.edu> gerry@cive.ri.cmu.edu (Gerry Roston) writes:

>>One might well have asked if the was a need for a permanent human presence on
>>the high seas in the 15th century (and earlier).  That frontier was every
>>bit as alien and hostile as the one we currently are exploring.

>	The number of adventurers was certainly small compared to the 
>	population of the world, and it was many hundreds of years before
>	travel by ship became reliable and relatively safe.  It required
>	solving problems of food storage, nutrition, navigation, ship
>	design and propulsion.  The problems associated with making a lasting
>	presence is space make each of these look like child's play.

So how exactly are we supposed to solve these kinds of problems if we are
sitting on our thumbs?  I suppose that had Christopher Columbus asked you for
funding you would have turned him down?  The only way to make space a safe
place for humans is for humans to go there and study the effects of
zero-gravity, living in a confined area, etc. for prolonged periods. 

>>You say there may someday be a need for a manned presence in space, but not
>>now.  I say, if not now, when?
>
>	Very simply, when it makes economic sense to have men in space.
>	I am unaware of any venture in space that requires manned probes.
>	When we have licked various problems with space travel, and it becomes
>	as feasible as say aircraft travel, with comparable risks, then it
>	will be time for man to colonize space, and use it for commercial
>	benefit.

When it makes economic sense?!?  That's like saying we'll start to reduce CFC
output when it costs more to buy a year's supply of heavy duty sunscreen
than it does to buy a year's supply of hair spray.

Also, you are obviously overlooking the very real possibilities of factories
in space.  There are many things that you can build in space that you just
can't build on earth because of gravity.  Whole new technologies will emerge
as people/companies realize the benefits and possibilities of zero-g
manufacturing.  Factories in space are going to require robots AND humans to
man them, and the technology to keep them going up there has to be developed
sometime.

Don't think scientists are the only ones with an interest in space!  Learn to
realize that the world doesn't center around you.  If we in the U.S. don't
commit to a strong and serious space program which includes manned space
travel, we are just giving up on another market which the Asian and European
countries will once again find it easy to dominate. 

Please try to stop thinking short term.  Whole new technologies will emerge,
or infant ones will be given a large boost, as resources are funneled into the
space program.  Where do you think computers came from?  Sure there were
computers around before the flight to the moon, but it was the goverment who
gave them a real push into the future.  Who here thinks the old clunkers such
as ENIAC were economically worth it?  I don't, but the knowledge gained from
building them was certainly worth it.  

Now what were we supposed to be talking about?  Oh yeah, this is a robotics
board.  I realize this message doesn't help, but can we take the political-
correctness-of-man-in-space talk somewhere else?

+---------< Eric A. Rasmussen - Mr. Neat-O (tm) >---------+ +< Email Address >+
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