|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Questions about "The High Frontier"
Johnny1a wrote: O'Neill's plan called for totally unrealistic space access by the standards of the 70s, he was assuming not only that the Space Shuttle would live up to NASA's hype, but that it would do _better_ over time, and he was assuming radically unrealistic constructions costs at every stage of the game, including assuming the availability of working models of technology that just hadn't been proven yet (and much of it still hasn't been.) He also assumed the development of huge reusable heavy lift boosters if the SPS constellation was to be built using Earth-launched materials, and if it ever is built, that's almost certainly the way it will be done, rather than going to all the trouble of building the Lunar infrastructure. What really makes me a critic, though, is not that O'Neill dreamed big, I admire that. The problem is that his dreams became so hyped that they actually became a negative force from a POV of space exploration and development. Critics used them as 'proof' that the entire concept of space exploration/exploitation was silliness, empty pipe dreams, while they raised supporters expectations to levels guaranteed to be disappointed. That probably had a lot to do with the enthusiasm shown by the aerospace industry for the concept; they full-well knew that the thing was wildly optimistic...but on the offhand chance it would get funded, they were willing to to play it up as a brilliant idea, because it would make the Apollo program look like a minor project by comparison. Pat |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
The "experts" strike again... :) :) :) "Direct" version of my "open Service Module" on NSF | gaetanomarano | Policy | 0 | August 17th 07 02:19 PM |
Great News! Boulder High School CWA "panelists" could be infor it! | Starlord | Amateur Astronomy | 0 | June 2nd 07 09:43 PM |
"VideO Madness" "Pulp FictiOn!!!," ...., and "Kill Bill!!!..." | Colonel Jake TM | Misc | 0 | August 26th 06 09:24 PM |
why no true high resolution systems for "jetstream" seeing? | Frank Johnson | Amateur Astronomy | 11 | January 9th 06 05:21 PM |