Whitey On The Moon - The Case Against Manned Space Flight

[cronus]

For a fraction of the cost of human life support some real sophisticated robots could be sent to the planets and do some serious exploration at a fraction of the cost of human spaceflight. The money saved could be spent on training more scientists and engineers, especially from impoverished backgrounds. Thus making the USA a fairer place to live whilst still reaping the benefits of space exploration. I don't have all the data to hand to back this up but if some anal beancounters want to get out that ol' abacus and do some money astrology on this they'll see I'm right.

[pErvinalia]

Well eventually we are going to need to leave the planet, and colonise other planets, most likely. So there has to be a first human step at some point.

[cronus]

Well eventually we are going to need to leave the planet, and colonise other planets, most likely. So there has to be a first human step at some point.

Not if we are superseded by super-compact smart arse robots doing their own thing better than we ever could. That might mean our job in space is done and we can quietly go extinct....later.

[pErvinalia]

"superceded". Yes. The goal is not to let that happen, though.

[cronus]

That might be your goal. It isn't mine. And I'm not alone on judgement day.

[pErvinalia]

You can meet your goal anytime you want.

[cronus]

You can meet your goal anytime you want.

Back to the subject. I'm convinced the US space prog can flourish on half the current budget if the manned part is ditched in the Pacific ocean where it belongs....

[pErvinalia]

And back to my first reply, we need to leave the planet at some point, so we will have to take the first step sometime.

[cronus]

And back to my first reply, we need to leave the planet at some point, so we will have to take the first step sometime.

Aliens will speak Chinese.

[pErvinalia]

Do they speak Crumplese?

[cronus]

Here I am trying to start a socially conscientious thread about the fair usage of Earth's finite resources and you need to ask me that?

[JimC]

Sophisticated robots, eh?

I suppose that means they can have a discussion amongst themselves about Proust...

[pErvinalia]

[laklak]

They'll get all bogged down in whether the thing in itself is the observed thing and blow a fuse.

[Clinton Huxley]

We are all going to buy it on this rock, with the last two humans fighting to the death over a defunct iPhone. Humanity is too retarded to save itself.

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