Comments on: From the editorial pages

By: Leonard C Robinson

Leonard C Robinson — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 03:21:10 +0000

Greetings, Captain Oler!

As we know, not all who went West stayed. Some returned to the East, broke and busted, while others remained West and settled it. “The cowards never started and the weak died on the way.”

Case in point, Skipper: The Oregon Trail and the settlement of California. Also, I add the settlement of Texas.

We forget, Skipper, that the Western Migration was not only Anglo. The Iberian Emigration to Latin America in the 16th & 17th Centuries is forgotten in our Anglo textbooks. Our Roman friends can show us the evangelization of Latin America (not always peaceful), culminating with Dioceses and Archdioceses in the Latin American countries. I fully expect the election of a Cardinal from Latin America to the Chair of St. Peter and the Bishopric of Rome, this century, and the election of a Cardinal from Lagrangia in the 22nd.

“The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream will never die.”

By: Robert G. Oler

Robert G. Oler — Thu, 02 Dec 2004 05:33:49 +0000

But retiring to the Moon would have two advantages over retiring to a cruise ship: low gravity, and no seasickness.

Posted by Arthur Smith at November 30, 2004 05:07 PM

By: Philip Littrell

Philip Littrell — Tue, 30 Nov 2004 23:58:15 +0000

Robert,

I agree that space settlement is not exclusively a technology problem.

However I don’t think people are the limiting factor. The limiting factors are technology, economics and some politics.

By: Arthur Smith

Arthur Smith — Tue, 30 Nov 2004 22:07:40 +0000

Lots of people effectively retire to cruise ships – I believe it’s in the 10’s of thousands at any given time. Most sailors work on the oceans pretty much full time, as do those who staff cruise ships and related vessels.

But retiring to the Moon would have two advantages over retiring to a cruise ship: low gravity, and no seasickness.

By: Robert G. Oler

Robert G. Oler — Tue, 30 Nov 2004 19:08:02 +0000

Many technological developments have been laughed at when first proposed — the airplane, the rocket, a man on the moon — and space settlement will probably be among them.

Posted by Philip Littrell at November 30, 2004 01:25 AM

By: Brent Ziarnick

Brent Ziarnick — Tue, 30 Nov 2004 08:35:48 +0000

Why isn’t there a 4th type of space enthusiast for the space industrialists? I guess those interested in space to mine the moon and build orbital factories for money are most closely associated with O’Neillans. How about Randolphans, named for Bova’s space mogul in Privateers or Empire Builders? Maybe Bovans. Maybe Lewis-ians for John Lewis’ work on space resources in Mining the Sky and others?

Are there any other industrialists out there?

By: Philip Littrell

Philip Littrell — Tue, 30 Nov 2004 06:25:43 +0000

Many technological developments have been laughed at when first proposed -- the airplane, the rocket, a man on the moon -- and space settlement will probably be among them.

By: Robert G. Oler

Robert G. Oler — Tue, 30 Nov 2004 05:31:58 +0000

People at NASA need to use the words “settlement” and “colonization” more often.

Posted by Philip Littrell at November 29, 2004 08:41 AM

By: Dogsbd

Dogsbd — Tue, 30 Nov 2004 02:23:54 +0000

Yes, Sagan was a lifelong proponent of unmanned exploration but it seems he did undergo some amount of “conversion” later in life. That later part isn’t widely known.

By: Philip Littrell

Philip Littrell — Tue, 30 Nov 2004 01:13:54 +0000

"(1) Sagan-auts: Space is for science. Look but no touch! Take only pictures, leave only footprints" This should not be named after Carl Sagan. How about "Parks" (after Bob Park). Sagan promoted unmanned science most of his career, but he wrote a book on space colonization (Pale Blue Dot) and supported manned missions to Mars. Sagan's Planetary Society and some of his former students (Mars rover scientist Steven Squyres) support manned missions to the planets. Read this Space Review article on Carl Sagan.