Re: NASA gets SGI 2048-core Itanium 2 supercomputer

In article <474fa7bd$0$7608$157c6196@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Dr. Dweeb" <spam@xxxxxxxxx> writes:
Neil Rieck wrote:
On Nov 28, 4:31 pm, VAXman- @SendSpamHere.ORG wrote:
In article
<303adb89-0e85-457b-861e-9ce261885...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Neil Rieck <n.ri...@xxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:

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Firstly, it's a long time since I had a W2, so I have no vested interest in
this question ...

Can someone give me one, clear, unequivocal reason why manned space flight
out of earth's orbit in any way justifies its cost relative to unmanned
missions (which are massively less expensive) to other solar system bodies?


Human beings are more flexible - both physically and mentally.
The latter becomes even more important on more remote missions eg to Mars where
the speed of light means human beings on earth have no direct near realtime
control of machines on the Martian surface but have to rely on uploading
commands and then waiting and hoping that everything then goes OK. Of course
these requirements drive developments aimed at improving the abilities of such
machines to cope on their own but we are nowhere near having what would really
be required ie Human Level AI systems.

Note. It isn't a choice between manned missions and unmanned missions both have
their place.

Another reason for manned missions is to prepare for eventual human
colonisation of the solar system. You may dismiss this as Star Trek fantasy but
why should humanity deny itself the resources of a whole Solar system ?


David Webb
Security team leader
CCSS
Middlesex University



Star Trek is TV, not reality.

I simply do not see the benefit, other than political prestige.


Dweeb


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