RE: International Space Station

Julien, Howard (Howard.Julien@mci.com)
Mon, 23 Nov 1998 09:07:34 -0700

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Absolutely right!
I'm at the point where I really don't care how we get some permanent hardware up as long as it's up.
the government is obviously not the best choice for the project, but if they're doing it I'll hang my hat there if I can.

-----Original Message-----
From: GBurch1@aol.com [mailto:GBurch1@aol.com] Sent: Friday, November 20, 1998 9:25 AM
To: extropians@extropy.com
Subject: Re: International Space Station

In a message dated 98-11-19 21:41:35 EST, patrickw@cs.monash.edu.au (Patrick Wilken) writes:

> I know its not a very extropian venture, but I still find the launch of the
> first module of the ISS next Friday exciting. There is lots of information
> on the BBC website:
>
>
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/special_report/iss/newsid_217000/217788.stm
>
> I'd be very interested in learning what people think the ISS will achieve
> (scientifically and otherwise).

You're right that the project is not very extropian in how it's being accomplished, but I certainly let out a whoop of excitement this morning when I saw that the Zarya module had gotten off the pad at Baikanour OK. Although ISS is a big boondoggle in many ways and it's history is an object lesson in why big central government projects are about the least efficient means of accomplishing anything (even something as single-minded as "build a space station"), it's also a great source of education for the next generation of space engineers. We'll need those people when the technology becomes available to do space on a more efficient basis. I'd like to see ISS privatized as soon as possible and serve as a construction base for those projects. By then (2005-2015) it's scientific value will have gone from low to nil, but its value as a place to do useful engineering work may be unmatched.

 	Greg Burch     <GBurch1@aol.com>----<burchg@liddellsapp.com>
	   Attorney  :::  Director, Extropy Institute  :::  Wilderness Guide
	http://users.aol.com/gburch1   -or-   http://members.aol.com/gburch1
	           "Good ideas are not adopted automatically.  They must
	              be driven into practice with courageous impatience." 
                                    -- Admiral Hyman Rickover

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RE: International Space Station



Absolutely right!
I'm at the point where I really don't care how we = get some permanent hardware up as long as it's up.
the government is obviously not the best choice for = the project, but if they're doing it I'll hang my hat there if I = can.

-----Original Message-----
From: GBurch1@aol.com [mailto:GBurch1@aol.com]
Sent: Friday, November 20, 1998 9:25 AM
To: extropians@extropy.com
Subject: Re: International Space Station


In a message dated 98-11-19 21:41:35 EST, = patrickw@cs.monash.edu.au (Patrick
Wilken) writes:

> I know its not a very extropian venture, but I = still find the launch of the
>  first module of the ISS next Friday = exciting. There is lots of information
>  on the BBC website:

>
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/special_report/iss/ne= wsid_217000/217788.stm

>  I'd be very interested in learning what = people think the ISS will achieve
>  (scientifically and otherwise).

You're right that the project is not very extropian = in how it's being
accomplished, but I certainly let out a whoop of = excitement this morning when
I saw that the Zarya module had gotten off the pad = at Baikanour OK.  Although
ISS is a big boondoggle in many ways and it's = history is an object lesson in
why big central government projects are about the = least efficient means of
accomplishing anything (even something as = single-minded as "build a space
station"), it's also a great source of = education for the next generation of
space engineers.  We'll need those people when = the technology becomes
available to do space on a more efficient = basis.  I'd like to see ISS
privatized as soon as possible and serve as a = construction base for those
projects.  By then (2005-2015) it's scientific = value will have gone from low
to nil, but its value as a place to do useful = engineering work may be
unmatched.

        Greg = Burch     = <GBurch1@aol.com>----<burchg@liddellsapp.com>
           Attorney  :::  Director, Extropy = Institute  :::  Wilderness Guide
        http://users.aol.com/gburch1   = -or-   http://members.aol.com/gburch1
                   = "Good ideas are not adopted automatically.  They must
                  &nb= sp;   be driven into practice with courageous = impatience."
          &nb= sp;           &nb= sp;           &nb= sp; -- Admiral Hyman Rickover

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