Prompt : 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.

Essay:

The letter to the editor of a national aeronautics magazine proposes that we should invest our resources in unmanned space probe since various risks and expenditures are involved in manned space flights. The argument, however is not credible because it is based on several unwarranted assumptions.

First of all, the argument assumes that since several unmanned space probes have been successful in the past, they would continue to be successful in the future. The argument does not provide any evidence regarding the rate of success of unmanned space operations or chances of failures that such unmanned operations are subject to. It also fails to take into account technical glitches and faults that can cause the whole operation to aborted.

Secondly, the argument assumes that unmanned space probes are completely capable of fulfilling the responsibilities of astronauts and handling any crisis situation that may occur during the operation. The argument does not take into account that that some situations can only be handled by trained and qualified humans. The machines and robots can only perform tasks that they are programmed for and cannot use their judgements in case of a crisis.

Thirdly, another unwarranted assumption that the argument is based on is that it assumes that the resources required for unmanned space operations are less as compare to manned space operations. It is possible that unmanned space operations are costlier, since they require more efficient space crafts, machinery and equipments, capable of replacing humans.

In conclusion, it can be said that the argument, as it stands now, cannot be evaluated properly since it is based on several unwarranted assumptions. Had the argument provided some evidence in terms of a detailed survey report, suggesting the rate of success for unmanned space operations and the resources needed to undertake an unmanned space operation, it would have been more convincing.[/size][/size]