tencati@JPL-VLSI.ARPA (02/05/86)
I do not feel that the moons of Uranus should be named after the astronauts who died. It was a national tragedy, the country is saddened, but I don't feel that the United States is any more special in this world than any other country. True, it was a NASA probe that discovered the satellites, but I don't see where that gives NASA or the US the right to name the moons after something that only affects Americans. I would like to believe that the new moons of Uranus belong to mankind (sort of like the movie 2010). The mexicans lost over 200 people in an air-related disaster the very next day after challenger blew up. In 100 years, the names of the seven who died will only be alive in history books. I think a more fitting memorial is to do something NOW. Like build or rename a school for schoolteacher McAuliffe (sp?). So that today's pupils remember and honer her memory and what she stood for. Naming moons of a planet that noone can see seems silly to me. Naming a crater on the moon is a nice idea, but we aren't going to have a moonbase in mine or my grandchildren's lifetime. It's a nice idea, but who is going to fund it. Let us not only concentrate on the loss of America's first civilian-astronaut either. There were six other brave souls whose lives were just as important as McAuliffe's. I feel the media is brushing the others aside, giving them "honorable mention", while McAuliffe get's "star" attention. The families of the other six are grieving just as bad, their loss is just as great. Most of them left spouses and children behind. I think a memorial to all the crew is fitting. Something we can all see, and touch, and experience....now while everyone who is alive can appreciate who those people were, and teach our children about America's first "space pioneers". Ron Tencati, JPL-VLSI.ARPA Jet Propulsion Laboratory 4800 Oak Grove Dr. Pasadena, Ca. 91109 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
mcgeer%ji@UCBVAX.BERKELEY.EDU (Rick McGeer) (02/06/86)
I'll bet you $100 to your $10 that we'll have Moonbase during my lifetime -- I'm 28. -- Rick.
ecl@mtgzy.UUCP (e.c.leeper) (02/08/86)
> Naming a crater on the moon is a nice > idea, but we aren't going to have a moonbase in mine or my grandchildren's > lifetime. It's a nice idea, but who is going to fund it. Someone who was 20 years old when the Wright Brothers first flew could have flown around the world. Her children could have flown in the Concorde. Her grandchildren could go to the moon. Don't sell progress short. P.S. Lots of people thought airplanes were a fad and not practical either. Evelyn C. Leeper ...ihnp4!mtgzz!ecl (or ihnp4!mtgzy!ecl)
dollas@uiucdcsb.CS.UIUC.EDU (02/10/86)
Accepting such a bet is not much of a problem, but how can one collect the
money if you lose (he,he) ????
Anyway, it's good that you plan to be around for a long time. You are
aware -I am sure- that space station and Moonbase are quite different
things, and even a space-station in not going to have a full-fledged
implementation until, say, the turn of the century (when you will be 42).
Not only we do not presently have the technology (propellants to carry us
back and forth at a reasonable cost comes to mind), but most importantly,
we probably have better things to do with the research money (and SDI is
*not* one of them). Maybe in 40-50 years things will be different, it is
rather hard to extrapolate this early. At any rate I would be willing to
bet you that within the next two decades there will be no Moonbase.
I am not against a Moonbase, I am just not sentimental about endeavors
that -pride aside- are ahead of their time (read: too costly for the
resulting benefits).
Apostolos Dollas
USENET: ...!{pur-ee,ihnp4}!uiucdcs!dollas
CSNET: dollas%uiuc@csnet-relay.arpa
ARPA: dollas@uiuc.arpa
(The usual disclaimer goes here - except for SDI which I still do not like
for purely scientific reasons)