From: Nick Szabo <sequent!szabo@RELAY.CS.NET>
Subject: Re: Virtual Mars
Date: 16 Jan 91 21:22:43 GMT
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems, Inc



In article <14463@milton.u.washington.edu> uselton@nas.nasa.gov (Samuel P. Uselt
on) writes:

>Yes it is true that un-manned exploration generates MUCH more science per
>dollar spent.  I don't think you can expect it to generate the excitement
>that manned flight does.  Even expanding the base of "explorers" as widely
>as described in the previous post doesn't provide the same attention.
>The danger and risk are part of what grabs our attention. 

We can also get danger and risk by mountain climbing, skiing, etc. which
are much cheaper and accessable to millions instead of a handful.  There 
is no need to spend $billions in the name of science to provide danger and 
risk. 


(How long do
>you spend watching someone *else* play video games?  This would be very
>similar.) 

This tells me that people would rather go into space themselves (even
via VR) than watch astronauts.  

Followups to sci.space.


-- 
Nick Szabo                      szabo@sequent.com
Embrace Change...  Keep the Values...  Hold Dear the Laughter...