Funmurphys: the Blog

A Funmurphys: the Blog First!

OK, my first two parter! Sadly, this was not a case of following a plan, but having to leave the computer before finished with the last post. And then I couldn't get back until just now (the six hours I spent playing MOO3 over the weekend were absolutely vital to my mental well being and doesn't count). Now I'm going to talk about the objections to the Bush Space Initiative (hey, the other night the guys on the local TV news were calling the storm that went through here on Sunday "The Ice Storm Of 2004" complete with graphics and theme music) that I discussed below.

First there are the philosophical objections. One objection is that since Bush proposed it, it must be bad. This is idea is either irrefutable or self refuting, depending on your view of President Bush.

Another objection is that the money should be spent here on Earth. Well, it will be spent here on Earth. Seriously, the amount of money is trivial compared to all that is spent on the social programs wanted by the people who feel this way. The choice between space exploration and curing every want here on Earth is a false one. We can try to do both, although I will note that the Government spending money has been tried as a cure-all and while it can be pretty effective, has been shown to not be 100% effective.

Then there is the objection that people get in the way of good science. To which I say, so what. I don't recall a vote to give everything above the earth's atmosphere to the exclusive purview of science and scientists. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - only this time with the words of President Bush, the goal of the space program is the "establishment of a human presence throughout the solar system."

Then there are the technical objections. Cost is a big one. No, not what the President is projecting, but what the critics are. Rand Simberg, where you should always head first for your space needs, has a crack at the cost. I have to agree - we went to the moon over thirty years ago, we've continued to work on rocket engines etc. since then, so it should less expensive now. But I think you have to consider further - if you go to a car dealer and tell him you're willing to spend $40,000 for a car, you'll walk out with a car that costs at least that much. If you want something that costs only $10,000 you have to ask for a car that costs no more than that. I know some of you are thinking, yeah, but this is the Government we're talking about here, but the principle is the same. And I know it can be done since I've lived through the revolution in munition costs - where once a single Tomahawk cost more than a million dollars, now you have JDAMs costing around 20 grand each. How did that happen? The government demanded it.

Then there are the technical hurdles - a heavy lift vehicle, why are we going to the moon to get to Mars (i.e. why leave one gravity well just to climb down another). The non-space enthusiast, and even the casual enthusiast, would be surprised at the full range of study and work that has been done in this area for decades, from space cottage industry of space enthusiasts, grad students, and professors all the way up to the big boys like Boeing and Lockheed Martin. It's all engineering people, and we've done it before. Well, a lot of it, anyway. You'd be amazed at the amount of thought, study, and sheer ingenuity that has gone into how to get to Mars by a huge network of people over the years.

And finally, there is the objection that it was all government (and NASA hasn't done a good job the last 20 years or so). Yes, President Bush gave NASA marching orders. I'm not sure what more people want him to do, since he cannot command private companies to do anything. Yes, NASA will most likely turn to the usual contractors for the official program. But there is nothing stopping the little guys from continuing their programs, and I think the renewed interest in space exploration can only help them -- especially financially, which is where they need it the most in the short term.

There is a type of engineer who every engineer has encountered - the guy for whom nothing will ever work. When asked for thoughts, he spews forth problems. When presented with a task, he immediately begins looking for reasons it won't work, not how to make it work. I had an older engineer explain to me that you need somebody like that around, because they made you solve all the problems and look for ways to make it work.