Uh huh, this policy has really increased the quality of the posts in this thread hasn’t it.

“ProfRaze’s comments in this thread prove that all professors are unfamiliar with logic, and innumerate.”

I demand that you disprove that statement, ProfRaze.

You’d better take something, Rand, because you have nothing of your own.

“ProfRaze’s comments in this thread prove that all professors are unfamiliar with logic, and innumerate.”

I’ll leave it to the students to point out the flaw in my argument, even if ProfRaze doesn’t get it.

And you completely miss the point.

I repeat the question. Have you ever taken a course in logic? If so, did you pass? Many of your comments in this thread would indicate that if so, you cheated. They also indicate that you have never done anything requiring an actual quantitative analysis.

I gave you the link once, but I’ll do it again, with a bunch of them, because maybe you don’t understand how the Intertubes work.

Google “fallacy of hasty generalization.”

Not sure about that, Donald. I have to say that I’d take the professor, logical fallacies and all, over Elifritz.

They also talked about NASA’s genesis statute, their mandate from Congress. Looking over it, I found this gem: “The most effective utilization of the scientific and engineering resources of the United States….”

I like that mandate alot – Most Effective Utilization. I suspect I’m going to be coming back to that.

A few criticisms of space economics by the LA Times, which I’m sure you’ve heard before:

“John Mankins, chief operating officer of Managed Energy Technologies in Virginia, was seeking support for an idea to create a network of space-based solar power satellites that could supply consumers on Earth.

A power-receiving station on the ground, covering “an area the size of Long Beach Airport . . . could supply gigawatts to the city of Los Angeles,” he said.

Such blue-sky imaginings drove investor Shubber Ali crazy.

“They’re smoking crack,” said Ali, a director of Dallas-based George Group Consulting.

He mentioned one popular idea in the space community, to mine an asteroid for its resources, specifically platinum.

Even if it could be done, “when you increase supply, the price drops through the floor,” Ali said. “There’s no such thing as a trillion-dollar asteroid.”

Those who talked about building cheaper rockets to launch satellites were likewise off-base. Satellite factories are already underutilized, he said.”

And only hinted at in that article, the idea that space toursim might just be a fad. “Even though Virgin Galactic has collected millions of dollars from tourists wanting to fly into space aboard their SpaceShipTwo, the big-money guys want to know if it’s only a “one-shot deal,” Valentine said.”

Anyway, back to the converted. Though I’m not going to get into taxes, that’s a whole topic unto itself. Of course we need a complete overhaul.

Ray – government contract out the ISS? Hmmm, interesting idea. I’m not sure I could stomach a launch vehicle with the word “Halliburton” printed on it though.

Rand – “It may be true that there is no economically viable use of space (it’s not actually–for instance, just ask the comsat people), but to think that the Shuttle somehow proves the proposition is nutty. Have you ever had a class in logic?”

You’e a bit confused. The topic is exploitation of manned space, like space stations and off world bases. Obviously communication satellites are useful, that’s why we have them. Try to stay on topic. Always read and follow the directions on psychopharmaceuticals.

Kert – Same advice. Plus:

“Yes, all the african starving children.”

When did I reference African starving children? Oh, I see, you are totally ignorant of the fact that there are homeless children right here in the US. You see, the space program uses US tax dollars. Social programs do too. The democrats are likely to take power in 2009. That means, the space program is going to have to compete for dollars with social programs that have been starved to death under Bush.
– In 2006, poverty rate for minors in the United States was 21.9% – highest child poverty rate in the developed world.

You don’t live in Camelot. And poor people are American too.

“Who cares if 3D manufacturing using raw material feedstocks is already a reality today, on hobbyists desks ?”

Yes, because a hobbyist’s desk is months away in the vacuum of space. That was sarcasm.

“Right, because Hubble and MER probes provide Kelloggs and Fritos for an average American.”

What they provide is a better understanding of the Cosmos, something we’ve desired since the Stone Age. Why not a Lunar Base then? Less science per dollar, plus the justification is economic develoment, hence a need to prove economic viability. No such proof is required for Hubble, a purely scientific endeavor.

Donald – I respect some of you, certainly not all of you. Respect is earned. I’m not the one cussing on this forum.

As the old saying goes, the good points he brought up aren’t new, and the new points he brought up weren’t good.

— Donald