Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to Is man in space scientifically useless?

re: Is man in space scientifically useless?
Tom Brosz — (archived)

I don't have the time to dig up references for the below, but I have read a lot about how things were discovered and observed by astronauts on the Moon, particularly when they started sending geologists and other scientists, that would have been very difficult for a robot.

Here's a good way to look at it:

Imagine what an astronaut/geologist on Mars could do in a week compared to what one of the rovers can do, especially if he or she had some kind of "jeep" to buzz around in.

Compare the films of the astronauts driving a lunar rover with any film of a Mars rover moving around. The latter can be found in Earth testing films. I don't think most people have a good idea of how excruciatingly slow a Mars rover is.

Another good way to look at it:

Ask any Earth geologist if he would be just as effective if he had to do his work by remote control through a camera.

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