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Old June 27th 12, 02:22 AM posted to sci.space.moderated
Alejandro Zuzek[_2_]
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Default When is manned spaceflight preferred?

On Monday, April 7, 2008 10:41:21 AM UTC-3, Jeff Findley wrote:
(snip)
It's also interesting to note that with a man on the spot, equipment like
the lunar rover can be made a lot "dumber" than an unmanned piece of
equipment. The man in the suit can be the control system, communications
system, and even the maintenance system for the equipment. I believe I
recall one of the rovers getting an improvised fender, installed by an
astronaut on the spot. That's more than a bit difficult to do remotely.

(snip)
Careful there. Fixing the LRV fender is not a good example of an advantage of manned missions. That fender wouldn't need fixing if an astronaut hadn't broken it in the first place. Your point is still valid. A person can fix equipment on the spot and the equivalent capability is next to impossible for unmanned missions givent the current technology.