Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!pt.cs.cmu.edu!cive.ri.cmu.edu!gerry From: gerry@cive.ri.cmu.edu (Gerry Roston) Newsgroups: comp.robotics Subject: Re: Divert NASA budget to robotics Message-ID: <9954@pt.cs.cmu.edu> Date: 19 Jul 90 15:05:24 GMT References: <2787@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov> <18608@ttidca.TTI.COM> <9935@pt.cs.cmu.edu> Organization: Carnegie-Mellon University, CS/RI Lines: 24 In article 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