Orion Expectations

Orion Shall Rise, CHAPTER NINETEEN, 2.

Could the first spaceships really have been large, maneuverable and reusable? Did NASA and the USSR do it all wrong?

Dreng's expectations are utopian, unlimited energy for everyone, whereas Mikli's are cynical. According to him:

the first fleet will be needed indefinitely "'...to maintain the upper hand...'" (p. 337);

it will take a long time to build a second fleet;

it will not be easy to get investment in such a costly and uncertain venture;

(your blogger observes that I think that that is the current problem);

"'...Dreng is ludicrously optimistic about the possible pace of development. He closes his eyes to any economic or social hurdles.'" (ibid.)

the only certain prediction is that "'...we will never, never see Earth turned into a residential garden supplied by industrial parks throughout the Solar System. It is the nature of man that he fouls his own nest.'" (ibid.)

Dreng had indeed told Plik:

"'...you may find us living in a pastoral paradise.'" (p. 326) (See here.)

I totally reject Mikli's closing statement. I have argued before that there is no unchanging human nature. Our species is differentiated by the fact that it changes its environment with hands and brain and has changed itself in the process. Some societies foul their own nests whereas others guard against doing that but Mikli, like many, identifies his kind of society with "...the nature of man..."