There is one additional remark I would like to make and it is this. If
posters are cofusing Iraq with Palestine one wonders how competant
they are in general. What about the costs for a manned expedition to
Mars? $80 billion? No sir more like $300 billlion.

The operation in Gaza was called "Cast Lead". I can't help remembering
that the Shuttle carries 2 tons of the stuff! The issue to be is one
of credibility quite apart from anything else.

You can look at Mars in two ways. You ask yourself the question as to
whether a manned expedition is sound Physics. Even if you think it is
two questions remain. Is it worthwhile? Can it be delivered within
cost. At some point ad hominem arguments enter. We know that virtually
no space program has been delivered on time and on budget. We were
told that the Shuttle would reduce the cost of spaceflight. It hasn't.

Talking about the Middle East is both off topic and not off topic. As
I say there must in any project be the ad hominem issue of confidence.
Can we have confidence with the record shown. If a total incapacity to
put forward logical and coherent arguments has been demonstrated, can
they be trusted with billions of dollars? The answer must surely be
"no".

Now the stated goal of Constellation/Ares is for men to spend 4 days
on the Moon. Big deal! Not even a credible Moon base is on the drawing
board. To me it is abunantly clear that all the scientific informaton
and more could be gained at much lower cost by sending things like
Spirit and Opportunity to the Moon. Of course they could be made a lot
more sophisticated as these designs are by now quite old.

Do we have confidence that they can do it? - NO. Already the budget
seems to have been stretched.

To me the only rational decision is to pull the plug.


- Ian Parker