myths

--- "Omar E. Vega" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> > Please go and join the group of people over there
> who said space
> >travel,
> > heavier than air flight, radio, the lightbulb, the
> printing press
> >and
> > (probably) the wheel were all either impossible or
> a waste of
> >time.
>
> Do you see? You believe in myths. "The fountain of
> the ethernal
> youth". What's next : "El dorado"?
>

El Dorado is a very good myth. It will be the myth
that brings a big wave of settlers to space.

Suppose for instance that a company sends a similar
payload to several asteroids, full of robots and tools
and other equipment. Each payload lands on (or docks
with) an asteroid, releases the bots and starts
sampling.

Most asteroids they visit will contain economically-
interesting compositions. But suppose that on one
asteroid gold is found. Imagine the media reaction.
It would start a gold rush into the asteroids.

... and I want to be the guy selling shovels.

Ed