New Mars Forums

Clark, what I am saying is that people have an fundumental equality at oppoturnity.  I myself am a case in this point.  I was born hearing, but I lost most (90%) of my hearing at age 4-5.  I had to be taught to speak.  if I had not been taught to speak, I would had limited chance to suceed at all.  Now that I have a chance to succeed, I believe it would be better to sieze that chance and go for the greatest glory.  Anything less would make my contribuation to society as a whole worthless (I was taught to speak in public school, mind you) and would undetermine the efforts of these educators. Even though many children in other nations do not recieve the education I get, it is a waste to lay down my arms and forfeit it in the name of fair play.  I believe pushing these inequalitys will spark others if they see that they, too, can work hard and achive.  It is a sin not to use what was given to you, to die with potential unrealized.   
            Will going for the glory hurt someone?  It might.  But so what?  No things in life are done without risk.  and if we never took risks we might still not be in america. . .we still might not have the internet. . .we might still be in caves, huddling in the dark because no one is brave enough to find fire. . .fire burns but it also lights the way.  I might get burnt, even badly, but I would rather see with risk than stumble blindly.  The only way to see if knowing is better than blind ignorance is to find out. 
            I believe any kings in space will have to suffer for their crowns. . .it not an inheirance but is granted by the sweat of their brow.  If they do not, it is.  No kings will ever be at rest, for they must be on top of the game, never stoping lest another take his place, in the great game of competition we call life.  It is equal oppoturnity, but not everyone will seize that oppoturnity.  No, only those who work for it will seize it.  It will not be handed to them, and if it is, it will not be theirs for very long. 
            I want my chance to go and be a king, I want it myself. . .but so do many.  I will work my butt off to achive something, and I want to stand in the light of it.

I do not believe a heavy lift shuttle to be feasable simply b/c it is designed to return to earth. . .that is a lot of extra weight that goes up into orbit, weight that costs fuel and payload.  It would be more economically feasible in my eyes to revert to saturn five (which launched skylab in one launch, which is larger than ISS according to my knowledge).  Unfortantly, all the blueprints were destroyed by the government, but I believe it could be found if pressured hard enough.  Even if it is not found, a more powerful and efficient heavy lifter could be created with new materials techologies and CAD programs

I believe the reason we have not is because the poltics of our time are not very accepting of such a mission.  I do not think it will happen for a very long time if the government assumes the lead.  I do not think it will happen for a long time if the private sector takes the lead in manned exploration.  I believe only a massive PR drive could capture the imagination of americans at large during these times will provoke both sectors to spearhead this mars direct mission.

space  colonization won't just make the astronauts rich (if at all)  Mankind will benefit as a whole by space colonization, and i'll admit that there will absolutly be some of those who will benefit more than others.  So what?  that is the way life is.  If we can make it more equal opputurnity it will definatly be as fair as possible economically. . .and who ever said that the space colonists would be getting favors and privillages. . .think about jamestown where people starved, died and suffered for their wages. .the people there were nobilty but they suffered like peasants for their so called riches.  most of them never found the money they were looking for. I believe it will be nearly idenical for any colonist.