Space cadets?

As a longtime space advocate, I must take issue with John Derbyshire's article "Space Is for Science" (June 5). Yes, space science is very important, but what really advances the human spirit is human beings' exploring, and eventually living in, new frontiers. Space, the "final frontier," needs to be explored by people, and money must be allocated to this, even, I would contend, at the expense of unmanned scientific missions. While the private-enterprise space industry is finally starting to become a reality, major projects like moon bases and missions to Mars must still be funded by governments, because the expense is beyond private resources. Reasonable minds can disagree about the proper allocation of limited resources between human and robotic exploration of space. But let us not doubt that there is a place for humans in the stars.

Frank P. Mann

Syracuse, N.Y.

JOHN DERBYSHIRE REPLIES: If "what really advances the human spirit is human beings' exploring, and eventually living in, new frontiers," then let's get to work populating Antarctica: It would be about 1,000 times cheaper. In any case, I think it was clear from my article that I have no objection whatever to the human exploration of space, only to the government funding of such exploration, which, it seems, serves no public interest justifying such large expenses.

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