keves@sdccsu3.UUCP (Brian Keves) (08/07/84)
Ok. If anyone out there reads SF, you have probably come across most
of the reasons for space travel. I can think of a few off hand, but
I wont go into details.
1. Population growth on Earth.
2. Life off Earth. Technology and wars possible. We always seem to
need wars.
3. Fun and adventure. (More Heinlein oriented)
4. Mineral Wealth of Asteroids and Planets.
5. Better factory conditions for producing flawless "stuff".
6. Evolution of Man.
7. Expansion of Man's empire.
8. Gain in knowledge about just about everthing.
9. Immediate gain in technology. IE. Pocket Calculators,etc...
And Most Importantly,
The SURVIVAL OF THE HUMAN RACE.
Hope it helps
--
"A is A" - Ayn Rand
Name: Brian Keves USnail: UCSD Computer Center
Usenet: ...!sdcsvax!sdccsu3!keves C-010
...!sdcsvax!sdcattb!za62 La Jolla, Ca. 92093mikeha@tekig1.UUCP (Mike Van Handel) (08/09/84)
#nonblank
It may not be possible to convince Joe Average of the
benefits of continued funding of NASA and research in space,
generally.
Still, an attempt should be made. For "ammunition", I
refer Mr. Brandt to "the dean of space-age fiction".
Robert Heinlein has made a living of pointing out in
many not-so-subtle ways that the exploration of space is one
of those rare government-sponsored projects that has created
more wealth than it has consumed, one way or the other.
Apropos (and, most especially apropos) Mr. Average's
preference for having his medical care subsidized, see
"Spinoff" in Heinlein's _E_x_p_a_n_d_e_d _U_n_i_v_e_r_s_e (c. 1980, Robt.
Heinlein, published by Ace Books, N.Y., NY)
The article is primarily an abridgement of Heinlein's
testimony before the House Select Committee on Aging and the
House Committee on Science and Technology on the subject of
"Applications of Space Technology for the Elderly and Handi-
capped."
Heinlein points out a number of the life-prolonging
medical spinoffs of space technology, rather colorfully
illustrating his points by relating the use of these spin-
offs in the case of a medical problem of his own.
Joe Average might consider what another ten years of
life is worth. No, I don't mean ten years of decrepitude,
but ten healthy years made possible by a technology that
would not exist but for the space program.
<from M. Van Handel, Tektronix mikeha>