To: 
From: "Vern Humphrey" 
Reply-To: r_catholic-l{at}yahoogroups.com

To: seanmbrook{at}aol.com [mailto:seanmbrook{at}aol.com]
> >
> > VH> Too costly.  And too little gain.
> > >
>  I disagree.  Even the paltry little effort we've made in
>  space has long since been repaid in better weather
>  forecasts alone.  Far more could and should have
>  been done long ago.

Yes -- but we can get good weather forecasts from earth orbit, with
automatic (unmanned) sattelites.  Good weather forecasting doesn't require
a manned base on the Moon.
>
>  E.g., near orbit space stations and bases on the
>  Moon.  Had that been done we might have been
>  ready to send manned expeditions to Mars by
>  now.

Yes -- but what do we gain?  Find the cost-benefit ratio.

I agree SOME DAY we may go to Mars -- because our drive to explore will
pull us there.  But right now, the cost of such things far outweighs the
benefits.
>
> > >
>  Other worlds do exist.  Think of just the Moon and
>  Mars, for example.  And we KNOW gas giants orbit
>  other stars.  And that strongly implies more Earthlike
>  worlds nearer their suns.

Yes, but we cannot live on the inner planets, nor on the gas giants.  Of
all the planets, only two offer the possibility of a human colony -- Earth
and Mars.
>
>  This discussion has gotten me to start rereading
>  Jerry Pournelle's collection of articles, A STEP
>  FARTHER OUT.  About what we could have done
>  just using 1970's and '80's technology.  Plus, I
>  need to reread Gerard K. O'Neill's THE HIGH
>  FRONTIER.
>
Again, what's the cost-benefit ratio?

I think we are better off spending our money wisely, rather than sinking
huge amounts of money in spectacular projects like establishing colonies on
the Moon or Mars for the time being.
>


------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Where Catholic Singles Go Online - StRaphael.net is the world's #1 website
for single Catholics. If you are looking for friendship, marriage or even a
religious vocation, StRaphael.cnet is the place to be. Join Today Free!
www.StRaphael.net
http://us.click.yahoo.com/r_NezC/1M1FAA/EDtLAA/28VolB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->

Visit R_Catholic-L member homepages at: http://home.cox.rr.com/rraphael
http://rcatholic-l.freeservers.com
http://hometown.aol.com/philvaz
http://www.lisaslighthouse.org
http://members.aol.com/SisterNeri/


Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-4