From: Spudboy100@aol.com
Date: Fri Feb 28 2003 - 01:49:06 MST
Dr Serafino supplied the URL
##another 'spiked' view:
## http://www.spiked-online.com/Articles/00000006DC84.htm
<<The shuttle programme has retarded science
As early as the 1980s, it was clear that the shuttle had degenerated into a
mere publicity billboard. That was why the Challenger was hurried into its
fatal mission on the eve of Reagan's State of the Union speech. And that's
why shuttles have since been frequently used to give joyrides to high-profile
guests from friendly nations and ageing American politicians.
Most recently, the merging of the shuttle programme with the even more
boondogglish International Space Station has further crippled real science.
The first victim was the Superconducting Super-Collider, which, though
costing only a tiny fraction of the manned space budget, would have been an
instrument of incalculable importance to under-standing the physical world.>>
The SSC was considered a boondoogle, especially after the cost went from 2 to
8 to 16 billion dollars (1992 money) and the political support crashed. Would
this construction have resulted in "an instrument of incalculable importance
to understanding the physical word"?? Perhaps the maligned space station may
yet prove useful in observations of the earth and climate, energy resources
(like should we burn methane hydrate to prevent methane release into the
atmosphere?) The SSC could have opened doors to the universe, or merely been
a good place to work for a particle physicist. Any bets?
Mitch
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