meghav

The following opinion was provided in a letter to the editor of a national aeronautics magazine: “Manned space flight is costly and dangerous. Moreover, the recent success of a series of unmanned space probes and satellites has demonstrated that a great deal of useful information can be gathered without the costs and risks associated with sending men and women into space. Therefore, we should invest our resources in unmanned space flight." Write a response in which you examine the stated and/or unstated assumptions of the argument. Be sure to explain how the argument depends on these assumptions and what the implications are for the argument if the assumptions prove unwarranted RESPONSE :- The magazine article claims that as manned spacecrafts are more costly and dangerous , future investments should be made on unmanned flights . The writer proposes a opinion taking into the dangers involved in manned flights . however the writer fails to propose a cogent argument to support the case . The article mentions that quote 'manned flights are costly and dangerous ' While this may be true , the writer does noit mention how costly , a clear data backing this assertion is needed . what is cost difference between the manned and unmanned flights ? Is it too much ?It is possible that it may of negligent amount . The article also discusses the safety of the manned space flights . However there is no specific details on the the plausible hazard of the flight . Has there been any recent incident where the safety of the astronaut was jeopardy ? Has there been any virtual simulations that prove manned flights are dangerous ? Thus the assertion of the writer is incomplete . further , the article mentions the recent success of the unmanned probes . But what was so successful about the unmanned probe . Was the data collected more accurate and precise than the manned space craft . or is it just a compromise between security and accuracy . Author maintains that a series of unmanned satellites have been successful . Considering this as true , there is no information on where and how many space probes were sent . Isn't it possible that all the space probes were sent to the same space destination for eg to the moon . While this might marka successful unmanned probe to the moon , nothing can be inferred about the success these unmanned probes might have on other planets and on their other ventures . . A unmaaed space probe which is allegedly so successful on the moon might prove to be futile when sent to mars What was the complexity of the missions . Was the mission as convoluted and conundrum as the human missions . was it easier than than ? No comparison has been made .. Without the clear distinctions and accolades of unmanned space crafts , the argument is based on incomplete reasoning and can be considered to be naive at best . On of the most important advantage of man over algorithm run machines is intelligence and ability to thinbk . A computer is more accurate than human but it cannot be considered wiser than humans . the ability to improvise is non existent in machines . If the idea of the writer of unmanned space probe is to be accepted , We need 'thinking' machines . Has ehe technology been implemented ? was it successful ? We need clear answers to these questions before reaching to any conclusion .