I sympathise with Adrian Betts's letter about the halt of progress in aviation (Flight International, 18-24 November), but I fear he and his child are to be disappointed.
Mankind has conducted space flights for more than four decades, walked on the moon, and sent unmanned probes to neighbouring planets. Other than the obvious benefits of orbital and geostationary satellites in the fields of communication and observation, what have we gained, besides knowledge?
I cannot recall the announcement of a major discovery of practical economic significance for all the money expended on Mir, Skylab and the International Space Station. The moon, it seems, is dry dust, Mars is hot dry dust.
Are there no potential rewards to recoup the costs of planetary exploration? Proposals exist for a manned station on the moon, but to what purpose? NASA, or others, must promote a clear motivation to inspire future efforts, or they will suffer growing opposition while so many problems remain closer to home.
Peter Johnson
Gloucester, UK
Source: Flight International
