Re: Politics, economics, irrationality are real phenomena.

From: Kevin Freels (megaquark@hotmail.com)
Date: Sat Aug 23 2003 - 17:46:01 MDT

  • Next message: Robert J. Bradbury: "Re: How do you calm down the hot-heads? / Death meme"

    Yes. The technology has been around since the 1960s, but it wasn't until the
    1970's before we started getting a bit of an idea of how long duration
    spaceflight affected our bodies. Even now, we aren't totally sure how such a
    long duration in space would affectpur bodies and minds. The isolation alone
    could pose a problem to the mind.

    Also, it could be far more dangerous than we know. Of all 8 landers sent to
    the planet by the US and Soviet governments, only 4 have successfully
    landed. Two totally disappeared without any clue as to why.

    Still, there have always been people willing to go.

    The problem is money. Most people simply don't see a real tangible immediate
    benefit from going. It is too expensive for private companies to do. The US
    government is too interested in getting re-elected and only supports
    programs that will achieve that goal. Since the majority of people don't see
    it as a priority, neither does the government. With such a lack of interest
    in space, I am surprised the shuttle is even being returned to service.

    Just imagine how different things would be if we had discovered oil on Mars
    when the Viking landers went there in the 1970s.

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: "Spike" <spike66@comcast.net>
    To: <extropians@extropy.org>
    Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2003 4:50 PM
    Subject: RE: Politics, economics, irrationality are real phenomena.

    >
    >
    > -----Original Message-----
    > From: Alex Future Bokov
    >
    >
    > For example we obviously have the theoretical capability to send humans
    > to Mars right now, and probably have had that capability since the 60's
    > (some aerospace buff please correct me if I'm off on this)...
    >
    > You are right on, Alex.
    >
    >
    > ...Why has this not happened already? Is it because "people" are
    > "stupid"?
    >
    >
    > No, much simpler explanation: there is no
    > money to be made there.
    >
    > spike
    >
    >



    This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Sat Aug 23 2003 - 17:54:45 MDT