[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: RE: starship-design: Why?




In a message dated 12/9/97 6:51:52 AM, TLG.van.der.Linden@tip.nl wrote:

>>On Monday, December 08, 1997 3:49 AM, Timothy van der Linden 
>>[SMTP:TLG.van.der.Linden@tip.nl] wrote:
>>
>>> Curiosity.
>>
>>Kelly, wanted a reason why we would send repeat missions. I was simply 
>>pointing out that if there was ANY reason to go in the first place, it 
>>would certainly be enough reason to go again and again...
>
>Yes, unless what we discovered at the target failed our expectations badly.

That would depend on our interst in it.  Our most likely reason is as a
political stunt, or as a national/international chalenge.  As Apollo learned,
repeat missions serve no purpose to such an objective.

Or if we were just generally curious but just wanted a basic survey, or we
were only interest in looking for earth like worlds or life and found none.


>>I don't deny that it is possible we will go out of simple curiosity. I just 
>>look at the cost and time involved and come up with the conclusion that the 
>>ONLY reason we will go is curiosity. What I was alluding to is that there 
>>is no sound economic basis for such a mission so profit as a motive is out. 
>>It is to expensive for simple wanderlust (so much for Eric the Red), and I 
>>find it implausible that ANY politician would seriously believe that the 
>>days of empires and colonies aren't over.
>>
>>All in all, its a tough sell for anything other than "because its there".
>
>I fully agree with that. Although I'd like to be a visionary as Kyle writes,
>the fact is that we have a long way to go if we have to use current day
>technology.
>
>Timothy

And with current tech, it would be to expensive to interwst us in doing it for
curiosity.

Kelly