On Wed, 12 Nov 2003 11:16:29 +0200, "Kaido Kert"
wrote:

Like some said, for shuttle it was "cheaper space flight". Well, for Joe
Average it doesnt mean squat. So what if Delta V will cost ten times less
than its precedessor, Joe still cannot even imagine going to space himself.

You assume Joe WANTS to go to space.

Newsflash: Most people, 99%, would never want to. Very few would ever
care if they could or not. They'd be damn happy to have some other guy
do it.

Hence, astronauts: The 1% who DO want to do more than sit on their ass
and who want to get into space; the 1% of THOSE who could actually
SURVIVE and WORK in space with any degree of competence. Somehow, I
doubt many average people (assuming "average" physical fitness) could
sustain the G-forces of launch without either getting themselves
killed, or hurting themselves.

Even if they could, I'm not sure many people DESERVE to go to space;
Joe Q. American generally has too short of an attention span to
appreciate such a thing.

John