Most people will probably protest and tell: "Are you crazy man ? Who could imagine more professional people in space than our current astronaut crews ?!"
Indeed our current work force in space are men and women who were educated and trained continusously for many years to fulfill their respective missions. Who could imagine a more professional work force ?
The answer is: I could.
But why? - Because I just call those guys semi-skilled: They trained hard to become an expert in handling almost everything. But they were never trained to become a plumer, a carpenter or an electrician. And Mike the astronaut was an engineer in space travel down on earth but he was not a Master of Science in Biology or Physics. Or if he was a Master of Science in Physics, then he was no Master of Science in Chemistry.
Almost every Joe the plumer or Fred the carpenter would beat their handling skills here on earth.
"So what", people might say: Space is different. We need another kind of specialist there.
I say: "No, that's the error in reasoning: We don't need semi-skilled specialists who can handle stuff in space, we need another space environment for craftsmen, engineers, scientists and tourists !"
I think technical progress in three deceisive areas will make this possible:
- a cost effective method of going into orbit
- the presence of artificial gravity
- re-usable space ships and a carefree re-entry method
Ad 2) Based on the spinning wheel concept artificial gravity is possible.
Ad 3) a cost effective method to protect space ships from the dangers of re-entry is essential. When there is such, many more real specialists can be brought into space and work there effectively.
We don't need specialists up there who can just handle stuff, we need specialists up there who can do stuff because it's their job, their profession !
If we have those people up there, not every broken pipe or problem will cost millions or take weeks to repair.
