KOS, it saddens me to see a person I respect and admire at odds with a board (whose principles, objectives and many members) I also admire.
The folks at BAUT probably do not know your education and expertise. It might help if you told them, in general. In fact, they might call on you for advice.
This kind of reminds me of one of those kung-fu films where the hero is attacked from all sides and, spinning and kicking, defeats all the bad guys (or there, woo-woos.) Then his buddy taps him on the shoulder from behind, and he spins around, fist cocked …
If the buddy was wearing a mask, the hero would lay him out, for sure.
BAUT is not a generic organism. It is composed of many diverse individuals constrained by an admirable code of conduct. Some push the limits.
A lot of space exploration falls under pure science rather than applied research. Hard to justify economically, looking forward. Looking backwards, in the long run, generally very worthwhile. {Queen Isabella: “You want me to fund WHAT??” Columbus: “Did I say - just to see what is out there? I meant, to find a shortcut to the Orient. And gold. Lots and lots of gold.”}
BAUT (pro space exploration) folks are a little sensitive about their ox being gored in its most vulnerable area, funding. The scientists and engineers perceive your questions as an attack, one they are not equipped to counter. You need to make them understand that in the long run your important economic questions will determine the fate of the space program.
I dimly recall something called “the multiplier effect.” If the government pumps 20 billion dollars into the private sector for applied scientific research, the benefits should be exponential, no? {With umpteen caveats, of course.} To demand that any given scientist or engineer name and quantify those benefits, however, is probably unfair. :?
(If they don’t like an economist, wait until they meet an accountant. {“An auditor is one who goes in after the battle is over and bayonets the wounded.”})
In fact, the economics of space exploration/SRED would be worthy of a forum there. Perhaps if you let BAUT know your credentials, and intent, they would ask you to start it. Maybe contact To Seek. (Sadly, just as with the science, it would mostly be way over my head.)
FSM help us all if experts in their fields fight turf wars rather than pooling their knowledge for the common good.
A board is made better, or worse, by its members and what they choose to contribute.
You are not an enemy of BAUT, or vice-versa. Make sure they know that before you tap them on the shoulder.
Hope no offence is taken. None is intended.
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."
-Friedrich Nietzsche