Lunar elevators

Collin wrote (on the Bush Mars initiative):

>I'm inclined to agree. I think his time frame for Mars is rather
long, when we could do it within ten years if we do it the Zubrin
way. Even if we don't use Mars Direct, I think we could still pull
it off long before his 2030 date.

Yes...and it's conveniently far enough away to be quietly forgotten
about, eventually. Not unlike his Dad's Mars plans from (uhh?) 1989??

>But, on the other hand, the National Space Society is 100% behind
Bush's move, and even boasts that the space initiative is EXACTLY
what NSS has campaigned for. I guess NSS knows a bit more than I do
about how to get us into space. Their board of governors includes
such folks as Buzz Aldrin, Freeman Dyson, Arthur C. Clarke, and Ben
Bova. I usually take them seriously.

While I note their luminaries, the NSS "know" that Mars was always going
to be next on the list after the Moon landings. Whether in 1980, the
1990's. Whenever. It's inherently "obvious" from the point of view of
their mindset. Personally I think they're not thinking out of the box
enough. ;-)

>> Andy Goddard

>Umm, stupid question...you're not related to Robert H.??

I'm not sure. He's the American-born liquid-fuelled rocket pioneer. I'm
in the UK and related to a few ne'er-do-wells who were transported in
the 1800s to the Caribbean for sheep stealing. I'm just known for
researches on Medieval underwear. (Google "re-enactment braies" for the
true horrors.) :-D

That said, it's nice to have the US Space Flight Centre named after me,
though. ;-)

Andy Goddard