Re: [twuug] Space Shuttle Columbia blows up on reentry!

[Charles Shannon Hendrix <shannon@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sat, Feb 01, 2003 at 01:19:33PM -0500, James wrote:

> I sure wish I could withdraw my support of NASA. Unfortunately this is 
> impossible because NASA is hugely subsidized by the taxes extorted from me. 

We pay less for NASA than the cost of a single squadron of B2 bombers.
NASA is about research, and that means failure.  It's funding needs to
be increased.

> We need to have seperation of space exploration and government.

Yeah right... and you are worried about expense and people dying...

> Travel to space has given mankind great things, like communication across
> the globe that is possible through satellites. I believe that endeavours in
> space for reasons like this, driven by the market, are great. But I cannot
> support sending a man to Mars, just for the sheer hell of it.

All of those things were based on missions that we did just for the sheer
hell of it.  The space race was a contest for glory, and benefited winner,
loser, and non-participant alike.

If we followed the market or "practicality", we wouldn't even be having
this discussion right now.  Almost nothing in history worth doing was
safe, cheap, or practical.

Set that as your goal and you'll go nowhere.

The human spirit is fragile, and it is through bravado that we strengthen
it.  

Speaking of which...

		Bravado by Rush
		---------------

		If we burn our wings
		Flying too close to the sun
		If the moment of glory
		Is over before it's begun
		If the dream is won
		Though everything is lost
		We will pay the price
		But we will not count the cost

		When the dust has cleared
		And victory denied
		A summit too lofty
		River a little too wide
		If we keep our pride
		Though paradise is lost
		We will pay the price,
		But we will not count the cost

		And if the music stops
		There's only the sound of the rain
		All the hope and glory
		All the sacrifice in vain.
		If love remains
		Though everything is lost
		We will pay the price
		But we will not count the cost



-- 
UNIX/Perl/C/Pizza____________________s h a n n o n@wido !SPAM maker.com


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