[FPSPACE] Why Exploring is Better for Us[Scanned by MAIL]

[DSFPortree at aol.com]

Tom:

You didn't read my email. Space entrepreneurs are trying to impose stuff that 
works here on space. Economic systems, societal structures (for example, 
nations) - that's naive, and little that's being tried now by space entrepreneurs 
will yield results anyone will look at with pride in the future. See what I 
mean now? 

Some of the folks who think space entrepreneurs are actually doing something 
useful (you included) deride space exploration. That's just dumb. That's what 
the article is about. The article is saying that the benefits you think you 
can get from doing what everyone has always done are not always as great as 
exploring unknown realms. Space entrepreneurs want to do what people have done 
here on Earth for a long time, they just want to do it in space. They aren't 
doing anything new, really.

I want to see what space has to offer on its own terms, so I support space 
exploration. What wonders await us? Surely more than advertisements during EVAs 
and selling the spare Soyuz seat!

Spain wrecked itself with its New World wealth. That feudal society tried to 
take on challenges it couldn't handle. Is that really the kind of analogy you 
want to throw around? The late-comers are the ones that got it right in the 
New World. Going by your analogy, we should be looking to India and China to 
lead humanity to the stars.

David


David S. F. Portree
author & educator
dsfportree at aol.com
Flagstaff Arizona USA

DSFP homepage
http://members.aol.com/dsfportree/dsfp.htm

"You know, one day just maybe I'm gonna meet someone who gets the whole 
'don't wander off' thing. Nine hundred years of phone-box travel, it's the only 
thing left would surprise me."