Cassini: its cost and purpose?

Still a difficult concept for me, I'm trying to understand the reason for
spending the large amounts of money for a probe like this. A few weeks ago,
I would have been dead set against something like this, but after the
numerous responses to my post against the space program, I have tried to
open my mind to a degree. So, here are my questions:

1) What has (or will) this entire Cassini project cost when everything is
completed? I understand that the probe took 7 years to reach Saturn, will
be there for a certain time, and eventually expire. So, the cost factor may
be estimated but even finding out what the cost has been up until now would
be sufficient.

2) Now this is tough for me: its purpose? So far, I see detailed pictures
being sent back and a few scientists addressing what we're seeing on those,
but what good will it be to learn about all of this? Ok, so gases and
convection all have their places in the universe and many of these patterns
have been simulated in the lab, so why go there?

The point of the aforementioned, at least in my mind, is the question of why
probably millions are being spent on this mission to find out the
composition of clouds, their rotation, etc. and maybe something more about
Titan, when such studies could have been better conducted here for a more
useful purpose.

Jon

I haven't seen your previous posts, but I can detect from your questions
that your one of those people that
prefers to have a defined, usually positive result as an outcome to an
event.

For many, myself included, it can be as basic as a desire to learn more
about a place, or situation that I am
interested in.

Gains in knowledge are enough for me as a reason to explore, I don't need
more of a purpose than that.

I have found that this is a difficult concept for some to accept and that is
fine too. I'm sure that you have interests
that I would find pointless and useless, nonetheless, they are subjects that
are important to your well being. I have no
problem with that. Why should I? I'm comfortable in my belief system and
have no desire or need to convince others
to believe as I do, in order for me to be ok with myself.

If you can't accept that the government spends money on studies of this
nature, complain to your local state representative
and they will pass on you concerns to the next level of government. If
enough people complain, something might be done
about your concerns.

I believe it's like trying to explain the concept of anything that one is
morally or ethically against. If you don't accept it, not
much can be said to change one's mind. If you don't get it, you don't get
it. There's nothing wrong with that as far as I'm concerned.

Good day,
Anthony Sanchez

I haven't seen your previous posts, but I can detect from your questions
that your one of those people that
prefers to have a defined, usually positive result as an outcome to an
event.

For many, myself included, it can be as basic as a desire to learn more
about a place, or situation that I am
interested in.

Gains in knowledge are enough for me as a reason to explore, I don't need
more of a purpose than that.

I have found that this is a difficult concept for some to accept and that is
fine too. I'm sure that you have interests
that I would find pointless and useless, nonetheless, they are subjects that
are important to your well being. I have no
problem with that. Why should I? I'm comfortable in my belief system and
have no desire or need to convince others
to believe as I do, in order for me to be ok with myself.

If you can't accept that the government spends money on studies of this
nature, complain to your local state representative
and they will pass on you concerns to the next level of government. If
enough people complain, something might be done
about your concerns.

I believe it's like trying to explain the concept of anything that one is
morally or ethically against. If you don't accept it, not
much can be said to change one's mind. If you don't get it, you don't get
it. There's nothing wrong with that as far as I'm concerned.

Good day,
Anthony Sanchez

Jon Kickerston wrote:

Still a difficult concept for me, I'm trying to understand the reason for
spending the large amounts of money for a probe like this.

See: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/overview/index.cfm
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/index.cfm

Jon Kickerston wrote:

Still a difficult concept for me, I'm trying to understand the reason for
spending the large amounts of money for a probe like this.

See: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/overview/index.cfm
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/index.cfm

"Anthony G. Sanchez" wrote in message
news:I1zFc.19183$Oq2.3867@attbi_s52...
I haven't seen your previous posts, but I can detect from your questions
that your one of those people that
prefers to have a defined, usually positive result as an outcome to an
event.

Whenever money is involved, most definitely.


For many, myself included, it can be as basic as a desire to learn more
about a place, or situation that I am
interested in.

Yes, I'm beginning to see that.

Gains in knowledge are enough for me as a reason to explore, I don't need
more of a purpose than that.

To what end though and at how much cost? And what happens if megamillions
are spent and the result turns out negative or none at all?

I have found that this is a difficult concept for some to accept and that
is
fine too.

As you can tell, yes, it is difficult for me but I've been trying to
understand the concept.


I'm sure that you have interests
that I would find pointless and useless, nonetheless, they are subjects
that
are important to your well being. I have no
problem with that. Why should I?

The only thing here is that it's my own money, not publicly funded, but that
is a good point.

I'm comfortable in my belief system and
have no desire or need to convince others
to believe as I do, in order for me to be ok with myself.

If you can't accept that the government spends money on studies of this
nature, complain to your local state representative
and they will pass on you concerns to the next level of government. If
enough people complain, something might be done
about your concerns.

Only problem here is that by the time something would be done, I would have
been long dead and gone for many, many years. I no longer have faith in the
political system, unfortunately.

Jon

I believe it's like trying to explain the concept of anything that one is
morally or ethically against. If you don't accept it, not
much can be said to change one's mind. If you don't get it, you don't get
it. There's nothing wrong with that as far as I'm concerned.

Good day,
Anthony Sanchez

"Anthony G. Sanchez" wrote in message
news:I1zFc.19183$Oq2.3867@attbi_s52...
I haven't seen your previous posts, but I can detect from your questions
that your one of those people that
prefers to have a defined, usually positive result as an outcome to an
event.

Whenever money is involved, most definitely.


For many, myself included, it can be as basic as a desire to learn more
about a place, or situation that I am
interested in.

Yes, I'm beginning to see that.

Gains in knowledge are enough for me as a reason to explore, I don't need
more of a purpose than that.

To what end though and at how much cost? And what happens if megamillions
are spent and the result turns out negative or none at all?

I have found that this is a difficult concept for some to accept and that
is
fine too.

As you can tell, yes, it is difficult for me but I've been trying to
understand the concept.


I'm sure that you have interests
that I would find pointless and useless, nonetheless, they are subjects
that
are important to your well being. I have no
problem with that. Why should I?

The only thing here is that it's my own money, not publicly funded, but that
is a good point.

I'm comfortable in my belief system and
have no desire or need to convince others
to believe as I do, in order for me to be ok with myself.

If you can't accept that the government spends money on studies of this
nature, complain to your local state representative
and they will pass on you concerns to the next level of government. If
enough people complain, something might be done
about your concerns.

Only problem here is that by the time something would be done, I would have
been long dead and gone for many, many years. I no longer have faith in the
political system, unfortunately.

Jon

I believe it's like trying to explain the concept of anything that one is
morally or ethically against. If you don't accept it, not
much can be said to change one's mind. If you don't get it, you don't get
it. There's nothing wrong with that as far as I'm concerned.

Good day,
Anthony Sanchez

On Sat, 03 Jul 2004 13:36:41 GMT, "Jon Kickerston"
wrote:

Still a difficult concept for me, I'm trying to understand the reason for
spending the large amounts of money for a probe like this. A few weeks ago,
I would have been dead set against something like this, but after the
numerous responses to my post against the space program, I have tried to
open my mind to a degree. So, here are my questions:

1) What has (or will) this entire Cassini project cost when everything is
completed? I understand that the probe took 7 years to reach Saturn, will
be there for a certain time, and eventually expire. So, the cost factor may
be estimated but even finding out what the cost has been up until now would
be sufficient.

2) Now this is tough for me: its purpose? So far, I see detailed pictures
being sent back and a few scientists addressing what we're seeing on those,
but what good will it be to learn about all of this? Ok, so gases and
convection all have their places in the universe and many of these patterns
have been simulated in the lab, so why go there?

The point of the aforementioned, at least in my mind, is the question of why
probably millions are being spent on this mission to find out the
composition of clouds, their rotation, etc. and maybe something more about
Titan, when such studies could have been better conducted here for a more
useful purpose.

Jon


There's more to life than money.

On Sat, 03 Jul 2004 13:36:41 GMT, "Jon Kickerston"
wrote:

Still a difficult concept for me, I'm trying to understand the reason for
spending the large amounts of money for a probe like this. A few weeks ago,
I would have been dead set against something like this, but after the
numerous responses to my post against the space program, I have tried to
open my mind to a degree. So, here are my questions:

1) What has (or will) this entire Cassini project cost when everything is
completed? I understand that the probe took 7 years to reach Saturn, will
be there for a certain time, and eventually expire. So, the cost factor may
be estimated but even finding out what the cost has been up until now would
be sufficient.

2) Now this is tough for me: its purpose? So far, I see detailed pictures
being sent back and a few scientists addressing what we're seeing on those,
but what good will it be to learn about all of this? Ok, so gases and
convection all have their places in the universe and many of these patterns
have been simulated in the lab, so why go there?

The point of the aforementioned, at least in my mind, is the question of why
probably millions are being spent on this mission to find out the
composition of clouds, their rotation, etc. and maybe something more about
Titan, when such studies could have been better conducted here for a more
useful purpose.

Jon


There's more to life than money.

In guid0
wrote:

There's more to life than money.

Especially when it's not your money that you're spending.

--
Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN