There was that recent item about how space is full of deadly radiation
(so is going outside in the summer and laying on the beach all day), now
this "threat" of meteorites smashing up a lunar colony and its denizens.

Are these legitimate concerns by well-meaning but incompletely informed
people? Or is it an agenda against the Bush Administration's Vision for
Space Exploration not because there is anything inherently wrong with
the plan but simply due to the fact that Bush supports it?

Or are we losing the will and nerve we once had? When Ernest Shackleton
wanted men to accompany him on his expedition to the Antarctic, this is
the ad he ran in a London newspaper:

"Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages. Bitter cold. Long months of complete darkness. Constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success."

Apparently he was flooded with more applications than there were positions
to fill.

I'm sure now there'd be lawyers pouring over everything, environmentalists
screaming not to step on the penguins, terrorists threating to blow up the
ship full of infidels, etc.