On 26 May 2005 16:13:54 GMT, Martha H Adams wrote:

I think this is a good topic, but it misses the elephant in the room.
In two ways.  Firstly, it's over *peanuts* of money at the federal
level.  I don't think it costs a "lot" to spend a few megabucks a year
to get data back from the heliopause and beyond.  Not on today's money
scale established in Washington.  *It's just not that much.*

And secondly, look at the military money going into Afghanistan and
Iraq (among others).  What's *that* cost?  What's the cost/benefit for
that?  Well, what's the benefit?  Vs, any scientific spacecraft out
there is extending our boundaries and we need all of that we can get.
If no "benefit" today it's a sure bet for tomorrow.  As vs that
military thing which costs us yesterday, today, and for two or three
generations to come.

Grump.  ...Martha Adams

SINCE you asked...the payoff from Iraq and Afganistan will probably
not be fully realized for a generation or two. We are making an
investment and the payoff could be a friend in the area where they are
VERY hard to come by.
Same as Israel, we pay them MILLIONS per year JUST to be our friend
and let us use their Country as we see fit. Within guidelines but
basically if we need it they will let us use it. Airspace, runways,
ports, etc. In the case of Israel they even do some of our dirty work
and then take the heat for it!
As to your question, should we spend the money of Voyager, I would
vote...ABSOLUTELY, YES!!!!!!