Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 beta 3/9/83; site frog.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!bellcore!decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!cybvax0!frog!john
From: john@frog.UUCP (John Woods, Software)
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Re: Side comment on the disaster
Message-ID: <337@frog.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 31-Jan-86 11:27:05 EST
Article-I.D.: frog.337
Posted: Fri Jan 31 11:27:05 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 2-Feb-86 01:09:41 EST
References: <1264@mtuxo.UUCP>
Organization: Charles River Data Systems, Framingham MA
Lines: 30

> ...In her opinion, the shuttle disaster is evidence that people shouldn't
> be going out to space ("Why can't they send robots?"),
>
The question of sending robots rather than humans is not an "unfortunate
lesson" (I happen not to agree with the conclusion, but I think it valid).
There are a number of good reasons for not using humans (robots are much
cheaper, you don't care if they blow up, etc.) and a number of good reasons
for using humans (much more flexible, PR value, they are the whole reason for
space travel in the first place, etc.); the shuttle disaster is not "evidence"
one way or the other (consider that one technician died during the early phase
of the shuttle program when a test engine exploded -- such things can happen
for unmanned rockets, too), but it is a valid time to discuss the point.

> and perhaps the whole space program should be shut down, except for
> "routine" launchings of communications satellites.
> 
Not just a sad conclusion, but terrifying.  Consider what we would be like
had our ancestors long ago watched the first humanoid out of the trees get
eaten by a tiger, and concluded "Let's stay up here for all time."


--
John Woods, Charles River Data Systems, Framingham MA, (617) 626-1101
...!decvax!frog!john, ...!mit-eddie!jfw, jfw%mit-ccc@MIT-XX.ARPA

This space dedicated to Challenger and her crew,
Francis R. Scobee, Michael J. Smith, Ellison S. Onizuka, Judith Resnik,
Ronand E. McNair, Gregory B. Jarvis, and Crista McAuliffe.

"...and slipped the surly bonds of Earth to touch the face of God."