News Analysis: Airborne Photographic Analysis by some observant individuals produced an awareness in Siberia of the now famous “Yamal Crater”. Russian Scientists have descended into the crater to extract samples for inspection. Some earth surface explorations are as exceptional as the current comet surface exploration, European Space Agency Rosetta’s Philae Lander on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, which is occurring today by the Europeans.
Since the Yamal Crater is an enigma as to its origin, in a similar way is the comet, being landed upon. It is interesting that while man goes millions of miles in Space to decipher the questionable, Earth Surface Enigmas are merely ‘down the street’.
One might argue that expenditures for Earth Surface exploration are much more relevant to Man’s Survival on this “Blue Marble”; this, rather than millions of miles away on a common Ice/Rock Matrix of questionable Cosmic Significance. Yet, both investigations are worthy in that they increase Man’s Knowledge of: What has been, What is, and, perhaps, What will be. More than that, such projects provide “Job Security” for many scientists, technicians, and others who work on such long term government funded cosmic programs. International Businessmen understand this “Make Work Need” of governments. Yet, one might opine that in recessionary economies, such expensive long-term projects provide logarithmic drag on any hope of economic recovery.
The basic problem is most projects are extremely (one-of-a-kind) capital intensive up-front with anticipated YEARS LATER ‘Return on Investment’ (if a mission is a success – of which many are not). Should not such programs should have a “Trust, But Verify” of each and every element of proposals submitted for “Cost/Reward” Analysis?
If projects can be accomplished, as India just did for its Mars Atmospheric Analysis, for a fraction of the cost as America’s NASA Mars Atmospheric Project, should not people ask “how?” Although NASA sought more expanded data than the Indian Project, “Data Per Dollar” results may have been won by India.
Projects can be done in a ‘Smart Manner’, better yet, they can be accomplished in a ‘Wise Manner’. Something to think about.
Reality.
