Next stop Mars: Professor to develop rocket prototype

The Daily Princetonian ^ | 09/14/04 | Neir Eshel

[XBob]

RA - this is an interesting story, which you have to go to the original to read.

What do you think of the electric / plasma propulsion?

Is Boris correct? (post #12)

[Frank_Discussion]

As I believe I said, NASA and its cadre of personnel are by no means perfect. It's difficult to BE perfect, and the mistakes you site have happened.

I guess we should just fold up our tent and go back to wagons and horses, and reading by candlelight. [/sarc]

We either learn from mistakes and work past them, or we don't. R&D is often uncertain, indeed, the "R" part is meant to investigate the boundaries of the uncertain, and the "D" is to mitigate or eliminate those uncertainties. On the bleeding edge, you sometimes lose a lot of money. When it's people in the loop, uncertainty means peril.

Peril never stopped humanity before, or at least not for long. Why break that trend now?

[XBob]

22 - "I guess we should just fold up our tent and go back to wagons and horses, and reading by candlelight. [/sarc]"

Where did you get that stupid idea.

My message was essentially, "don't forget the basics".

Look at Iraq - 'ancient' gunpowder, and bullets, and knives are holding the most powerful and technologically advanced military in the world at bay.

[Frank_Discussion]

Per Fester:

"I'm just saying I don't have much stock in the space industry right now..."

"I was speaking to the space industry in general."

Not exactly the same sentiment, but that is usually where it goes. I have a better feel for his opinion now, and take it a little differently.

"My message was essentially, "don't forget the basics"."

I wholeheartedly agree, though the occasional brain flatulence occurs even with geniuses. And we're talking about merely smart folk, not geniuses. My message would be, then:

"Get back up when you trip on the path , and keep walking."

[RadioAstronomer]

1st; sorry for taking so long in replying.

What do you think of the electric / plasma propulsion?

I think it is great for long haul continuous low gee thrust.

Is Boris correct? (post #12)

He is right on the money. I will endeaver to post more tonight explaining why.