Rick Evans wrote:
Shouldn't they have to explain the purpose of this
$100 billion Moondoggle besides 'The purpose of the
Moon base is to have a Moon base'?

Those of you who go along with the people like Mr. Evans, who constantly
criticize the ISS, take note. Now these same people are going after a
moonbase. If there was a plan to go to Mars for a 2-year, 3-day trip I
guarantee you these same people would criticize that too, but on the
basis that we should not bother to go just for a publicity stunt. One
begins to question whether or not these people share the dream of human
spaceflight at all...

The fact is the ISS and moonbase are baby steps toward developing a
capability for humans to be free of the earth. Anyone who truly shares
that dream should be able to see that; as they say, you have to crawl
before you can walk. Remember *that* the next time someone says the ISS
is a huge waste of money and you are tempted to agree with them. You
can't have it both ways; either you support human spaceflight or you
don't. Instead of whining about goals and questioning whether or not we
should do these things now, if you share the dream of human spaceflight
then support it! And then demand that your money be spent efficiently.

"Chris L Peterson" wrote:
It is important to get ourselves off the Earth, but
we aren't quite ready

And we never will be ready until we make the effort! The ISS, and a
moonbase are us trying, are us moving forward! Every long journey
begins with a few small steps. I'll never understand how so many
apparently smart people fail to see that!

Greg

--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)

SkyTools: http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html
Observing: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html
Comets: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/comets.html

To reply take out your eye