Re: NASA "LSAM" and where's sci.space.xx gone?

Ian Parker <ianparker2@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

:
:Well Andrew Ng at Stanford is developing a flatpack assembler. Put
:that on the Moon and any maintainance task can be performed, always
:assuming you have the parts to begin with. To my mind any flatpack
:assembler knocks stone dead the notion of the value of Man in Space.
:

Then there's no reason to be in space other than right near Earth.

:
:Not really. It would be interesting to play a game of Quiddich (I have
:indeed been reading too much sci fi - Harry Potter) would be
:interesting to play. I am quite serious about this. If it were not so
:expensive I would indeed be interesting.
:

Harry Potter is not sci fi. It's fantasy.

:
:I think if you want to go the the Moon (or Mars) and you can raise the
:money by public subscription, sponsorship etc. If you can get
:broadcasting rights for a 60m board championship, or Quiddich no one
:should stop you. What is wrong - very wrong, is that public money
:should be used.
:

Great! Let the toasters and your AI follow the same rules and stop
sucking on the public teat as well.

:
:I am inclined to believe that perhaps (eventually) an emphasis on
:robotics might indeed reduce the cost.
:

Yeah, and monkeys might fly out my ***...

If people aren't going there's no reason to send toasters. If you
demand that sending people anywhere must be done totally without
government funding, apply the same rules to unmanned space and your AI
development (which is unnecessary to practically everything).


--
"Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute."
-- Charles Pinckney
.