(11-01-2014 12:59 AM)I45owl Wrote:  

(10-31-2014 09:46 PM)CameramanJ Wrote:  

(10-31-2014 08:29 PM)49RFootballNow Wrote:  

(10-31-2014 04:19 PM)I45owl Wrote:  

(10-31-2014 04:09 PM)49RFootballNow Wrote:  People have always died pushing the envelope of manned travel; whether across the oceans, the deserts, the mountains, the polar regions, under the seas or in the skies. Its par for the course and I doubt any of those who died questioned whether it was all worth it to them before the voyage began. They all made the decision to go after all.

Someone nearly died today basejumping off of a radio antenna tower. That doesn't mean that it's a worthwhile endeavor.

That would be your opinion. The basejumper chose to jump though. He clearly had a different opinion and was willing to take the risk. As for space travel, well let's just say I'm pretty glad folks decided to cross the Atlantic without knowing the risks or rewards ahead of time. Future generations may say the same about Neil, Buzz and Mike.

In the not-so-distant-future, endeavors such as basejumping may be considered petty earth gravity trips. The orbital rocket explorers are our time's equivalent of trans-Atlantic explorers. Although in this case, they're striving for something more than this rock somewhere in the folds of the Milky Way.

It's fine for you to make that assertion ... you should then be able to answer what it is that they're striving for? It's not so petty as something tangible... I get that. But it should be something that can at least be articulated.

As W correctly stated: scientific discovery, economic benefit, and national security.

Things that fly have an inherent problem with coming back to earth. Everyone involved with this knows the dangers. My prayers go out to the families.