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From: carroll@cs.uiuc.edu (Alan M. Carroll)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: A philosophical question
Message-ID: <1990Nov12.184708.576@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>
Date: 12 Nov 90 18:47:08 GMT
References: <1990Nov12.034438.29656@infonode.ingr.com>
Sender: news@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (News)
Reply-To: carroll@cs.uiuc.edu (Alan M. Carroll)
Organization: Technophiles Inc. - Engineers with Attitude
Lines: 33

In article <1990Nov12.034438.29656@infonode.ingr.com>, rusty@infonode.ingr.com (Rusty Wiginton) writes:
>      Why, for example, do you feel it is important
>      to pursue long-term programs, such as Space Station Freedom or
>      say, a manned mission to Mars?

First, I don't see NASA research projects as any different than other gov't
research projects. Without arguing the merits of the projects you mentioned,
I would say that I don't believe that the gov't should be involved in research
at all, being the pseudo-Libertarian that I am.

On the other hand, I believe that we should support long-range projects,
because they are really long-term investments. Increasing the human store
of knowledge is a profitable activity. It's also a lot of fun. And, of
course, monkey curiosity is a factor. Sometimes, you just _gotta_ know
how it works.

>      Why should  billions of dollars
>      be spent on projects that cannot promise success?

Well, the gov't currently spends HUNDREDS of billions of dollars EVERY YEAR
on projects that not only cannot _promise_ succes, but in fact are _known to
be failures_ (cf. primary education). NASA, at least, has had _some_ successes,
particularly in the "pure science" area. Not to flame on you, and I'm not a
fan of NASA, but I don't understand why such questions are directed at a
place that at least has done _something_ succesfully, when there are far larger
budget areas that have been complete failures for decades (cf. foreign aid).

Besides, if you wait for expensive projects that promise succes, you'd still
be waiting for fire.
-- 
Alan M. Carroll                Barbara/Marilyn in '92 :
Epoch Development Team          + This time, why not choose the better halves?
CS Grad / U of Ill @ Urbana    ...{ucbvax,pur-ee,convex}!cs.uiuc.edu!carroll