[meteorite-list] NASA could sell...

From: Richard Kowalski <damoclid_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 26 Jun 2011 17:29:45 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <1309134585.27166.YahooMailNeo_at_web113605.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>

Anne,

I knew that my post would be taken as hostile, but it was meant to be informative. Please excuse my typical curt style of writing. The 43C temps here in Tucson and a lack of sleep have me a little cranky too.

I certainly do not want to excuse these persons, nor discourage those of you who are ethical and responsible caretakers to continue to donate samples. I know first hand how desired and appreciated donated material is to those involved in research.


I just wanted to point out that sales of lunar material is a fun fantasy, but the reality is not like that.

There are two ways to change the way this attitude of some. With the recent multiple threads about scams & scammers, it will be a hard thing to do. More importantly, if those hunters and dealers who hold high standards continue to do so, and the rest of the industry continues to aspire to higher standards as well, attitudes will slowly change.


An important thing to remember is sometimes best described in a quote I have used before in the past.

"Science advances one funeral at a time" - Max Planck

?
As for me, selling any Apollo material is a non-starter. I'm sure you'd find a only very small percentage of planetary scientists would agree with the idea, if any. The vast majority will be against it and would vigorously fight against it.

--
Richard Kowalski
Full Moon Photography
IMCA #1081
----- Original Message -----
From: "Impactika at aol.com" <Impactika at aol.com>
To: damoclid at yahoo.com; meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
Cc: 
Sent: Sunday, June 26, 2011 5:02 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] NASA could sell...
Well, Richard,
Obviously, not all NASA people fell that way, as I have sold meteorites to 
NASA.
Very recently, two nice chunks of Almahata Sitta!
Besides that I agree with you.
(And I am just back from Ensisheim and still going thru 100s of emails!)
Anne M. Black
_http://www.impactika.com/_ (http://www.impactika.com/) 
_IMPACTIKA at aol.com_ (mailto:IMPACTIKA at aol.com) 
President, I.M.C.A. Inc.
_http://www.imca.cc/_ (http://www.imca.cc/) 
In a message dated 6/26/2011 5:29:34 PM Mountain Daylight Time, 
damoclid at yahoo.com writes:
Nice fantasy Steve, but the idea would never fly; Not even 1/2 second.
You have to remember that there are still many influential people at NASA 
who believe that no one should own any meteoritic material, period. (Yes, 
even highly weathered H chondrites.)
No need to tell me how much science has benefited from the meteorite trade 
and those individuals do not care one iota about all of the good done for 
science. Their position is hardened.
I recently had one prominent name tell me to my face that all "meteorite 
hunters and dealers are unethical..."
Now try to convince them that not only should individuals be allowed own 
meteorites, but you are going to sell our nations crown jewels for a very 
short term financial gain? Like I said, wouldn't fly for even 1/2 second.
Considering the United States is only a single flight away from abandoning 
manned space flight, that a return to the moon is at least 20 or 30 years 
away, and will not be the US returning then, if ever, the idea of selling even 
a milligram of this material is unacceptable, even to me.
--
Richard Kowalski
Full Moon Photography
IMCA #1081

Received on Sun 26 Jun 2011 08:29:45 PM PDT