In a dispassionate comparison of the relative values of human and robotic spaceflight, the only surviving motivation for continuing human spaceflight is the ideology of adventure. But only a tiny number of Earth's six billion inhabitants are direct participants. For the rest of us, the adventure is vicarious and akin to that of watching a science fiction movie. At the end of the day, I ask myself whether the huge national commitment of technical talent to human spaceflight and the ever-present potential for the loss of precious human life are really justifiable.
I was a kind of a one-man army. I could solder circuits together, I could turn out things on the lathe, I could work with rockets and balloons. I'm a… - James Van Allen
I was a kind of a one-man army. I could solder circuits together, I could turn out things on the lathe, I could work with rockets and balloons. I'm a…
- James Van Allen
I am never as clear about any matter as when I have finished writing about it. - James Van Allen
I am never as clear about any matter as when I have finished writing about it.
My position is that it is high time for a calm debate on more fundamental questions. Does human spaceflight continue to serve a compelling cultural p… - James Van Allen
My position is that it is high time for a calm debate on more fundamental questions. Does human spaceflight continue to serve a compelling cultural p…
In a dispassionate comparison of the relative values of human and robotic spaceflight, the only surviving motivation for continuing human spaceflight… - James Van Allen
In a dispassionate comparison of the relative values of human and robotic spaceflight, the only surviving motivation for continuing human spaceflight…
I think we need someone in a responsible political position to have the courage to say, 'Let's terminate human spaceflight.' - James Van Allen
I think we need someone in a responsible political position to have the courage to say, 'Let's terminate human spaceflight.'
These days, it's really been uninteresting except when disasters occur. - James Van Allen
These days, it's really been uninteresting except when disasters occur.
I'm one of the most durable and fervent advocates of space exploration, but my take is that we could do it robotically at far less cost and far great… - James Van Allen
I'm one of the most durable and fervent advocates of space exploration, but my take is that we could do it robotically at far less cost and far great…
Certainly one of the most enthralling things about human life is the recognition that we live in what, for practical purposes, is a universe without … - James Van Allen
Certainly one of the most enthralling things about human life is the recognition that we live in what, for practical purposes, is a universe without …
Our family was very fond of the University of Iowa. We thought it was a good place to go. - James Van Allen
Our family was very fond of the University of Iowa. We thought it was a good place to go.
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