| The U.S. space program was compromised by more than the no-growth ideologists and the decision-makers they hoodwinked. At the other end of the spectrum appeared a radical pro-space culture: Homo plagiarius and Homo amator tyro. Among their contributions was promotion of the most expensive post-Apollo step bearing the least relevance to our needs on Earth. Yes, manned Mars exploration, as essential as that is in the longer term. Also included: building large orbiting space colonies in order to evacuate mankind en masse from Earth. That one inspired Senator William Proxmire to call space colonization “a nutty fantasy” and “the best argument yet for chopping NASA’s funding to the bone.” |