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It turns out that manned space flight capability just isn't very useful.
by aardvark291 9y ago
It turns out that manned space flight capability just isn't very useful.
- sterlind 9y agoTaking a page from Seveneves, what is the minimum set of robotics required for parity with the general-purpose abilities of a human astronaut? Humans can repair electronics, perform assembly in space and run a wide variety of experiments. Automation works, but it's hard to make as general-purpose.
- greenhouse_gas 9y agoIt's much cheaper (and safer) to throw away a satellite than to develop and fly a shuttle.
- sterlind 9y agoI'm in agreement with you there. but launching a new satellite for every task rapidly gets expensive. could you imagine the ISS being assembled by satellites alone? humans are good at assembling and maintaining things. asteroid mining will provide an impetus to develop assembly robots capable of matching human flexibility and autonomy. we're not there yet, though.
- njarboe 9y agoUntil people want to go to space and especially other planets. Get the cost down and many people will pay their own way. This is Elon Musk's goal for SpaceX. Tim Urban gives a good explanation here[1]. [1]https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/08/how-and-why-spacex-will-colonize-mars.html https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/08/how-and-why-spacex-will-colon...