<OT> oh, my

[Matthew Carpenter]

David A. Bandel wrote:

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>On Sat, 17 Jan 2004 08:18:44 -0500
>dep <dep at linuxandmain.com> wrote:
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>>http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/01/14/cnna.powell/
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>Dennis,
>
>Generally, I'd agree with you.  But the last para ... "Going to Mars is
>something that I think we almost have to take off the table right now
>... " I can't agree with.
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In the interest of getting back to the moon, focus cannot be on Mars, 
although it cannot be discarded as the next goal.  That is most likely 
why Bush even brought it up.  Agreed that setting the goal as the next 
step just means you'll never make it that far.

>I believe one of the big reasons private enterprise hasn't been too
>quick to jump at commercializing space (in this case meaning high earth
>orbit) is because they see no focus on going further.  Once we're well
>on the way to the moon, I bet we'll see renewed private sector interest
>in the space station.  If we're focused on Mars, more private sector
>interests will look to the moon.  Same holds for Mars if we're looking
>toward Jupiter's moons.
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I believe the main reason private enterprise has not stepped up is that 
in the USA, if it can't be measured to bring in hard cash we just don't 
seem to be interested.  How can funding moon-travel without some sort of 
overpopulation or Earth-decay be considered as a money-maker?  I don't 
necessarily agree with this thought, but understand where it comes from. 

>The most expensive part of space travel (IINM) is leaving the planetary
>gravity well.  If we're not focused on solar system colonization and
>exploration, why bother?  In fact, I suggest we should be paying more
>attention to the moon's La Grange points than the moon itself, although
>certainly the moon affords more resources locally at a very slight
>penalty due to its small gravity well.
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Agreed. 

I would imagine we should be able to elicit financial aid from other 
governement agencies interested in Earth-study.  The Moon is a great 
satellite which has been highly underused.