And not just the next presidential election, which would give us at least
two years of actual progress, but the next congressional election, which
only gives the politicians one year before they start campaigning again!
Sigh.

Don Harrington
Sr. Systems Analyst
Facilities Applications Support
Shared Services Group
The Boeing Company
P.O. Box 3707 M/C 2R-32
Seattle, WA  98124-2207
(v) 206-544-5679  (f) 206-544-5788  (p) 206-797-6360

The opinions expressed in this e-mail reflect those of the sender.  They do
not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Boeing Company unless
specifically stated otherwise.



-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Browett [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2002 3:00 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [HP3000-L] OT: Asteroid Mining


Hello all

  Having moaned earlier in the year about off topic
posts....here's my Wildly Off Topic Post of the Year.

  The discussion about resources (Don't move here),
moved me to have a think about the posibilities of
mining the Asteroid Belt.  Surely enough resources are
floating about in a broad band just off Mars (OK,
"just off" in galactic terms), to satisfy greedy Man
for hundreds (thousands?) of years to come?

  With Mars now shown to have water, we could
synthesise the necessary fuel there, and grow food as
well.

  In the words of Oscar Goldman, "we have the
technology..."  Why don't we stop scrubbing around in
the dirt patch that is Earth and step outside for a
while.

  Strip mining the moon (far side of course, don't
want to spoil the view!) for resources might be viable
as well, as a stepping stone.

  Am I being to optimistic?  Is man not able to think
in longer timeframes than the next election?

Regards

Bob Browett

PS No more off topic posts from me, honest!
   Unless this starts a debate, in which case...
   :))

TTFN

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