Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/17/84; site hplabsb.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!pyramid!hplabsb!bl
From: bl@hplabsb.UUCP (Bruce T. Lowerre)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Oh My God (Challenger)
Message-ID: <3250@hplabsb.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 31-Jan-86 17:27:07 EST
Article-I.D.: hplabsb.3250
Posted: Fri Jan 31 17:27:07 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Feb-86 20:49:58 EST
References: <8601281921.AA01471@s1-b.arpa>
Organization: Hewlett Packard Labs, Palo Alto CA
Lines: 19

My feelings and some predictions:

I feel sorrow for the six crew members.  However, I feel pain for
Crista McCuliffe.  She was the surrogate space traveler for all of
us who look up at the sky and dream.  We all died a little with her
passing.

Should the shuttle program go on?  Yes.  The loss of the seven has stunned
the nation, if not the world.  However, planes crash killing hundreds but
we still fly; buildings catch fire killing dozens but we still live in them.
Auto accidents kill thousands every year but we still drive.  There is risk
in every human endeavor.  We accept the risks and when havoc strikes we
pick up the pieces and go on.

Should man venture into space?  Resounding YES.  For if we (humanity)
do not then the human race as we know it shall parish here on Earth.  We
are a species whos population is growing geometrically while we compete
and fight amongst ourselves for dwindling finite resorces here on Earth.
If we want our race to live on forever, we must venture out.