Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site ames.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!qantel!lll-crg!seismo!hao!ames!eugene
From: eugene@ames.UUCP (Eugene Miya)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: spinoffs
Message-ID: <1264@ames.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 25-Nov-85 21:07:39 EST
Article-I.D.: ames.1264
Posted: Mon Nov 25 21:07:39 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 29-Nov-85 00:07:05 EST
References: <8511191259.AA24626@decwrl.DEC.COM> <275@kovacs.UUCP>
Organization: NASA-Ames Research Center, Mtn. View, CA
Lines: 27

Sorry, "ames" has been down over the weekend, and I had to go skiing.
NASA [note the caps] does not attempt to justify it's existence via
"spinoffs" although some of you may note that there is a publication
of this title.  NASA's business is SPACE and AERONAUTICS, to almost
a blind ignorance of other technologies [materials science, computers,
etc.]  Only when it is in their interest does NASA concern itself.

I wrote a brief thing describing the importance of thinking about living
in an age where Relativity and space travel are reality, [about two years
ago?]  and I received a couple of comments about "more eliquoent (sp)
than Carl..."  [Thanks, I'm not that good].  I said that spinoffs are not
the justification for any large research program.  NASA does not [nor
does SDI for that matter] heavily justify spinoff.

I also want to make a comment about "Space Research."  NASA, contrary
to popular believe, is NOT a research organization. It's an engineering
organization.  I've had this told to me by high NASA management.  I've
promised a SETI commentary, I have to get that to the net before I go
back East next week to NASA HQ.

Be seeing ya.

From the Rock of Ages Home for Retired Hackers:
--eugene miya
  NASA Ames Research Center
  {hplabs,ihnp4,dual,hao,decwrl,allegra}!ames!aurora!eugene
  emiya@ames-vmsb.ARPA