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From: lcc.todd@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU (Todd Johnson)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Challenger II & Science Fiction
Message-ID: <8603092000.AA25082@s1-b.arpa>
Date: Sun, 9-Mar-86 14:58:46 EST
Article-I.D.: s1-b.8603092000.AA25082
Posted: Sun Mar  9 14:58:46 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Mar-86 06:16:41 EST
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The ARPA Internet
Lines: 31

Bad Seals, cold weather, stupid officials, maybe even Presidential pressure.
Okay? Is that everything? Good, let's get on with it.
	I am personally very much in favor of HOTOL in the form of a 
turbo/ram/scramjet with a rocket final assist as the primary method of 
attaining LEO (Low-Earth Orbit). It will be a while in coming unless the
British beat us to it.
	In the meantime I am very much for the construction of another
shuttle to replace Challenger (and seven more to honor the astronauts).
I was personally in favor of calling the new craft Phoenix but have since
aceded to the notion of Challenger II. I have written congress critters and
NASA (at Washington) to tell them so. I have ONLY received a reply from NASA
(and by God, I hope they wave MY letter at Congress). 
	I urge anyone on this net who supports manned space flight to write
their congress critters if they haven't already and tell them so. We cannot
be the greatest nation on this planet if we don't work for it. Personally, 
I wouldn't be at all surprised if Europe surpasses us. I would be very upset,
however.
	
	There's been a lot of trashing of science fiction on this net. I 
don't like it. Arthur Clarke is a VIP at NASA. So is Robert A. Heinlein,
Larry Niven , Isaac Asimov and who knows else. Why? Because among other
things they explored the possible outcomes of numerous (including some 
as yet unplanned) space missions. That's why Heinlein was required reading
for the Apollo astronauts. The majority of people who write science fiction
KNOW what they're talking about or have contact with people who are more than
willing to supply them with copious detail. For people on this net who
haven't even tried science fiction is suggest "RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA" by
Arthur C. Clarke.
	"It is scientifically impossible for a heavier than air craft to
	maintain horizontal flight" - Smithsonian Institute (paraphrased)
				      sometime before 1903