Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Cugel
In 45 years, in my very humble opinion, there will be no manned spaceflight. At all.
|
No government-funded manned spaceflight, I can believe. But what makes you think people who can afford it will not be flying simply for fun (aka "tourism)?
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Cugel
But I do believe we will walk on Mars before that.
|
I do not. But assuming you are right...
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Cugel
Purely for psychological reasons. You know what they say about Mnt. Everest? You have to climb it, just because it is there. Mars is our next Everest. After that, the next mountain would be a planet around another star. And that is forever out of reach, so... manned spaceflight becomes pointless.
|
...why is Mars "the next mountain" and Pluto (or Europa, or Titan) is not?
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Clive Tester
That is an interesting idea Cugel; for different reasons to that which you state, I speculate too that a possible near-term future holds a cessation to manned space flight. My rationale is indicated in the recent ISS thread.
|
Same objection I have for Cugel -- what makes you think people who can afford it will not be flying simply for fun (aka "tourism)?