Starship simulator (was: VAX 11/780s...)

From: Ian Koller <vze2mnvr_at_verizon.net>
Date: Thu Jan 10 06:01:12 2002

Hello Ben,

> I say dump this simulation idea and build the real thing!

I doubt you'd want to, or be able to, commit the real level
of resources necessary for this.

> We have the computing power!

But that would only be one piece out of the many required
to complete that puzzle.

> NASA is busy building BIG projects because the Aero-space
> companies make more money this way on R&D stuff

That's not the sole motivation there. I do not doubt that
large aerospace lobbying has some influence on project
funding, but the real reason their projects cost what they
do is the fact that they are held to very high standards.
People's lives and the taxpayers' money are at stake,
accountability to the US government and the american taxpayers,
etc. won't allow them to work like hobbyists or shadetree mechanics.

> a simple-reusable space craft

I doubt that such a thing would ever really be "simple"

I really hope that you were actually joking. This analysis
of the requirements is very innocent in it's point of view.
Much like a child's view of the world. And note that I'm
not calling you childish, just that simplistic statement
of the requirements for projects of this scope.


> putting ORDANARY people in space!

This will happen someday soon though. Maybe another 30 to
50 years?

Seeing the work Henk has done, I'm sure that he has invested
a lot of time, and a fair amount of money, just in creating
such a well done simulator project of that scope.


                            Ian


Ben Franchuk wrote:
>
> Larry Anderson wrote:
> >
> > Look for the book Star Ship Simulation by Roger Garrett - Dilithium
> > press, it is a very well thought out full-fledged simulation idea (no
> > real code, just a complete (I think) system structure for all the
> > 'stations') Back then it would have been a monumental task to get all
> > the computers and newtworking worked out but now it would be nearly a
> > cake walk.
> >
> **** OFF TOPIC ****
>
> I say dump this simulation idea and build the real thing!
> We have the computing power! NASA is busy building BIG projects
> because the Aero-space companies make more money this way on R&D stuff
> than building a simple-reusable space craft and putting ORDANARY
> people in space!
>
> *********************
> --
> Ben Franchuk - Dawn * 12/24 bit cpu *
> www.jetnet.ab.ca/users/bfranchuk/index.html
Received on Thu Jan 10 2002 - 06:01:12 GMT