[FPSPACE] Caves on Mars

[E.P. Grondine]

Dave:

Ed:

>I gather that you cannot answer my questions.

Since enignieers already have taken this down to the number of photons 
thrown off by a
75 meter carbonaceous chondrite, the question is why you are oblivious to 
their work.  And that is a question which you can best answer, Dave.

>  I already know the answers to my questions,

Others have other answers, which appear to me to be better grounded in 
reality.

>but I thought I'd give you a chance to convince me that you might
be on to something.

I don't think that that was what prompted you to write.

>The amount of time it takes to get to the moon is irrelevant.

No, it never is.

>The lunar surface is not easily attainable at this time.

True, not easy, but easier than Mars

>The cost of reaching the moon is great.

True, but how much to do Flags and Footprints on Mars?  For costs, take a 
look at the Klpir architecture, and substitute CZ5's for Angara's and 
Protons.

>The cost of maintaining facilities there is greater.

No, once the infrastructure is in place servicing is relatively cheap.

>It is cheaper to do deflection and detection from Earth.

Neither can be done from the Earth.

>We have what we need to do detection.

No we don't

>We just have to adequately fund it.

Yes we do

>The threat from near-Earth asteroids is not great.

Wrong.

>Do you have data no one else has that refutes this?

Again, many are aware of the data: the craters on Earth from impacts are not 
imaginary.
nor is the geological and archaeological evidence of smaller impacts.

Since this data is available, and has been published, the question you need 
to ask yourself is why you are unaware of it.

Bottom line: Mankind has already nearly gone the way of the dinosaur, 
several times in fact.

>What we need is to adequately fund a search program and begin working 
>toward deflection technologies,

Yes - and the current budget for both is completely inadequate.

>not cloud the issue by asking for the moon.

Once again, David, teams of skilled engineers have examined this problem, 
and deteremined that the best and cheapest way of dealing with the impacxt 
hazard FULLY is using Moon based facilities.

What is at stake is the continued existence of mankind. Think of dealing 
with the impact hazared as the ultimate intelligence test, and its 
pass/fail.  Examine the program costs in that light.

David, The surface of the Moon has been compared to plaster of paris. The 
Moon is covered in fine dust. It is likely that several taikonauts will 
loose their lives in building a detection system there.  It is certain that 
many relationships will end up being consumed by it.

In terms of gross cost; building detection facilities on the Moon need not 
be large. That is why China is currently devloping the technological base 
for doing it.

Cao Knee Men
EP
E.P. Grondine
Man and Impact in the Americas

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