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From: spock@iham1.UUCP (Ed Weiss)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Manned Mars Trip
Message-ID: <489@iham1.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 10-Dec-85 15:01:54 EST
Article-I.D.: iham1.489
Posted: Tue Dec 10 15:01:54 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 11-Dec-85 04:41:03 EST
References: <8512071719.AA10364@s1-b.arpa>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 55

> A manned Mars trip should have low priority.  The following items
> are more important:
> 
>    (1) Cheaper transport to low earth orbit
>    (2) Reusable OTV's (robotic or remote controlled)
>    (3) Storage areas in LEO and GEO for parts & fuel for OTV's
>    (4) A LEO space station
>    (5) A GEO space station
>    (6) Visits to asteroids co-orbital with earth, if any exist
>    (7) A lunar base
>    (8) Visits to some Apollo/Amor asteroids
> 
> It really makes little sense to visit Mars until we can do so
> economically.  This will require more infrastructure around earth
> if we want to establish a base there at a reasonable cost.
> The payback from asteroid visits is also likely to be higher,
> if large amounts of mass can be returned to earth orbit.
> Of course, there will be scientific benefits from a Mars mission,
> but the results would be expensive, and more science could be done
> on earth (in other fields) for the same money.
> 
> .....

I think that we (the readers of this group and ME) spend too much time
thinking of the practical and economical reasons for space related
activities.  There has been much discussion on how to justify our
favorite program.  What we need to concentrate on is not the REAL
reasons why our program should be funded, but the reasons that will
CAUSE our program to be funded.

It seems to me that the best way to get funding is to appeal to
the common American's sense of adventure.  We need to capture
their imaginations.  THAT is how we are going to get funding.
That is why the space station is important.  It keeps space
in the public's mind.

(To get back to the subject line):  A Mars project may be the way to
get Americans as excited as they were for the Apollo project.  If this
happens then we may just get the funding we need.  Funding for a Mars
project may necessarily include many of the programs that we feel
are necessary.

The purpose of this article is not to say that we should stop thinking
of GOOD reasons to justify space programs.  What it is meant to say is
that when we try to SELL our programs, we must use some political savvy.
REMEMBER that the space budget is not fixed.  Congress can vote us
more money if they think it is politically good move.

Sorry about my soapbox!
-- 

					Ed Weiss
					ihnp4!iham1!spock

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