The cost-effectiveness of manned space travel plummets once one goes much beyond low earth orbit. The risks to the travelers goes up exponentially as well.
When one considers that the field of robotics is advancing at a steepening curve plus the risk factors inherent in manned space flight, it is clear that robotic space flight to distant targets is the only rational way to plan any near-term space exploration. Thank you, Mark Snyder -----Original Message----- Energy is only as free as the technology to capture and distribute it. The advantages in manufacturing are cancelled out by the costs. Are the corporations that want to use microgravity for production going to absorb all the risks? Or is this yet another example of socializing risk with federal investment in R&D and privatizing the profits? Uh oh. That gets us back to what's wrong with health insurance legislation. Robots are as smart as the scientists who design them. Robots have done well for us so far. Patience with the slow rate of advances for human space travel will make travel safer and more productive in the long run. Research now--travel later. I have a ticket for travel to Mars that I got years ago at Cape Canaveral. I'll send it to you if I can find it. Ready for a trip to Mars? Imagine riding a bicycle on Mars! [The ticket for a flight to the moon expired 10 years ago.] ************************************************************************* ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *************************************************************************
