Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site noscvax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!epsilon!zeta!sabre!petrus!bellcore!decvax!ittatc!dcdwest!sdcsvax!noscvax!rupp
From: rupp@noscvax.UUCP (William L. Rupp)
Newsgroups: net.columbia,net.philosophy
Subject: Re: Escape tower for shuttle orbiter?
Message-ID: <295@noscvax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 27-Mar-86 12:48:19 EST
Article-I.D.: noscvax.295
Posted: Thu Mar 27 12:48:19 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 29-Mar-86 06:15:36 EST
References: <9696@ucla-cs.ARPA> <588@qantel.UUCP> <2593@genat.UUCP> <2198@watdcsu.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego
Lines: 22
Xref: watmath net.columbia:2730 net.philosophy:4750
Summary: The cash register is closing in five minutes!

I believe some interesting and useful discussion of the relative value of
human life and the product of human effort has appeared in this group.
Unfortunately, some of the rhetoric has verged close to invective and
repetition.  Can't we all agree on the following and move on?

	1. The loss of Challenger AND crew was a tragedy of major proportions.

	2. While monetary considerations are important when discussing groups,
	   it is senseless to talk of placing a monetary value on any single
	   human life.

	3. With limited resources, choices must be made with respect to
	   how many of those resources will be spent on a given project
	   to decrease the probability of accidents.

	4. Those choices will not always, in hindsight, turn out to have been 
	   wise.

	5. The space program should be forward, perhaps with some new decision-
	   makers at the helm.

	6. There is no such thing as a free lunch.