[extropy-chat] Space and evolution

[Robert J. Bradbury]

Random notes on the state of the universe...

Robots to maintain Hubble?
  http://www.news-leader.com/today/0319-Robotmight-42679.html

Not much discussion about how one can make a decision to
make the boss happy but in the process *really* annoy a lot
of other people.  Nor any discussion about an XX% chance
of losing a billion dollar piece of hardware to save the
certain loss of a different billion dollar piece of hardware.
Nor any discussion with respect to how many astronomers or
astronauts would volunteer for the mission even at very
high risk levels.

Interestingly (for those of us who are longevity followers) --
it would take a detailed analysis but just a quick guess on
my part would seem to put the loss of an astronaut trained
to work on a Shuttle mission at $50 million+ -- that is
probably an order of magnitude over general value of life
evaluations (in wrongful death legal actions).

There is an interesting principle at work here -- in military
engagements (though everyone knows but they don't talk about
it) there are situations in which there is a very low probability
of return.  But people still execute these missions because
the payoff is worth the cost.  It would seem that we are
getting into a framework where one cannot have an opportunity
to sacrifice ones life for what one believes in.

Robert