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From: mdg@uvacs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Re: NASA Lottery
Message-ID: <1215@uvacs.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 30-Mar-84 01:13:40 EST
Article-I.D.: uvacs.1215
Posted: Fri Mar 30 01:13:40 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 5-Apr-84 01:21:48 EST
Lines: 26


> Also, how many people, honestly, WANT a ride on the shuttle?  I certainly
> do, but I know a lot of non-idiot, non-proxmirish people who support the
> space program, but would not want a ride.

    I DO!   What surprises me even more, are the extremes.

    I was talking to a friend of mine about the possibility of a manned
mission to Mars.  As one might expect, we got to the issue of cost.  He
claimed that we could probably cut the cost by an order of magnitude if
only we didn't have to worry about bringing the astronauts back.

    I asked where he expected to get volunteers.  HE volunteered!  He
is retired from industry and he'd love to use his extensive engineering
talents in space.

    I pointed out that the cost of several months worth of supplies would
eat up all the savings from not returning.  He replied that:
    "It doesn't HAVE to be permanent ..."

    This isn't MY point of view.  BUT, I still don't think that we would
have any problem with passenger interest in any space mission.

			    Hoping to catch a ride
				  (and return, thank you),
					Mike Geipel