Newswise — As scientists and engineers struggle to get the computers working on the International Space Station, University of Maryland physicist Robert L. Park says, "This is yet another example of why the station is not worth all the trouble."
Park, author of Voodoo Science and a widely-read Web newsletter (http://www.bobpark.org), is a long-time critic of the space station. He's testified before Congress on the issue and has taken a strong public role in the debate over manned versus robotic space missions. Park says his views are shared by a large contingent in the scientific community, although many feel constrained about publicly discussing their views.
"What are we risking lives for?" Park asks. "The space station has not delivered on its promise -- it hasn't produced a single piece of usable science. The successes in space science have all come from our robotics programs. We'd be much better to focus our limited resources on those projects."
Here's Park's Web site entry just before the current shuttle launch and before the International Space Station (ISS) problems were reported: "With an astronaut love triangle and shuttle problems, it hasn't been a great year for the ISS, but then, there has never been a great year for the orbiting boondoggle. Atlantis is again set for launch at 7:38 pm ET today. NASA must complete the ISS so it can be dropped into the ocean on schedule in finished form."
More biographical information online (scroll to bottom of page):http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/experts/hottopic.cfm?hotlist_id=120
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