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Path: utzoo!utcs!mnetor!genat!phoenix
From: phoenix@genat.UUCP (phoenix)
Newsgroups: net.columbia,net.philosophy
Subject: Re: Escape tower for shuttle orbiter?
Message-ID: <2582@genat.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 11-Mar-86 17:27:10 EST
Article-I.D.: genat.2582
Posted: Tue Mar 11 17:27:10 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Mar-86 08:46:05 EST
References: <9696@ucla-cs.ARPA> <588@qantel.UUCP> <12286@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> <418@watcgl.UUCP>
Reply-To: phoenix@genat.UUCP ()
Followup-To: net.columbia,net.philosophy
Distribution: net
Organization: Genamation Inc. (Toronto Ontario, Canada)
Lines: 35
Keywords: life vs megabucks
Summary: the value of human life

In article <418@watcgl.UUCP> vgfranceschi@watcgl.UUCP (Valerio Franceschin) writes:
>> In article <588@qantel.UUCP> lynx@qantel.UUCP (D.N. Lynx Crowe@ex2207) writes:
>> >
>> >It wouldn't be necessary to have the entire orbiter be detached from the
>> >ET and SRB's, just the crew compartment.  The main problem with this, I
>> >think, would be in making the crew compartment separable from the rest
>> >of the orbiter.  A much smaller escape tower motor could then be used.
>> 
>>    I hate to sound callous, but I don't see the point of all of this just
>> to save the crew.  If you could save the orbiter, that would be great, but
>> you are talking about something that has got to cost hundreds of millions
>> of dollars just to save the crew.  Doesn't this seem a trifle excessive?
>> 
>>    -- David desJardins
>
>You don't sound callous, you sound like a neanderthal SAVAGE!
>
>Valerio Franceschin

The point is, that orbiters, though expensive are REPLACEABLE:  Life, human
or otherwise, is not.  If the crew were not important, the orbiter would be
unmanned, would it not?  The contribution of the crew is unique, not to be
replaceable by computers or remote control.  The orbiter is *not* unique,
only the crew is.  The fact that human lives, an irreplaceable resource,  are
used at all and thus placed at risk proves the value of their input to the
mission.  Should they not, therefore be more important to save than the 
orbiter is?  
-- 
					The Phoenix
					(Neither Bright, Dark, nor Young)


---"A man should live forever...or die trying."
---"There is no substitute for good manners...except fast reflexes."