Re: Space Energy

Mike Combs wrote:
"James Nicoll" <jdnicoll@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:dsies7$oi5$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

You jest but in fact, I have seen at least one person object
to our reckless alteration of planetary orbits. Really.


Your story reminds me of one guy who told me I was an idiot to propose
mining asteroids in the Main Belt. He was convinced the Belt was the only
thing offering protection to the inner solar system from asteroidal
bombardment. I asked him to take a look at the moon with a pair of
binoculars to judge to what extent the inner system has been protected from
bombardment.

Heck, several years ago there was an individual who posted an email to the main Artemis Society listserv expressing his concerns that their plan would destabilize Luna's orbit and send it crashing into the Earth, 'all in the name of commercialism.' The worst part was, judging from his proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, and general use of langauge, this was not some uneducated crackpot, but someone with a decent education and general level of intelligence. He wasn't raving, either, just stating a concern that *he* seemed to take very seriously indeed, regardless of how pathetically inane it would strike anyone with even basic knowledge of the physics involved.
Perhaps even more regrettable was the fact that at least a few list members allegedly proceeded to respond to him off-list in what amounted to "j00 fr34k1n6 m0r0n" style.


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