From: Spudboy100@aol.com
Date: Sun Jul 14 2002 - 19:19:13 MDT
Dan said:
<<Yeap. I suggest scrapping NASA all together and let the market rule in
rocketry and spaceflight. (Olga would, of course, disagree, but...
Well, you can guess what I'm thinking.:) >>
I think whatever little NASA is accomplishing, is being accomplished because
it is performing projects that are militarily applicable-someday. That is how
it squeaks by the US House and Senate.
If you are suggesting space stations and moon landings and trips to Mars
being performed by private industry alone, I am afraid we will wind up with
nothing at all. Because For-Profit will not succeed with basic research.
These companies will have to show a 'bottom line' to stock holders, with the
'payoff chances' slim.
If you are suggesting that the government fund and let private industries
operate space stations or Mars missions, that is typically called
outsourcing.
My suggestion is Big Prizes in return for Big Risks, awarded by a
scrupulously peered, governance team. This would be a contest open to nearly
everyone in the world. Please note that if what you are suggesting is a
private scheme for space travel, you need only to look to the Freshly Audited
fortune 500 companies and their deliberately, overvalued companies. Will
these clowns colonize the asteroids?
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