But why man? Why not do these things with machines? What is it about man’s physical and mental abilities which separates him from machines? Here are some of his attributes: he can discriminate, filter, manipulate, cope with the unplanned, and analyze or interpret all in near real time. He can react to targets of opportunity in photographic experiments, make repairs or adjustments to malfunctioning systems, eliminate non-essential data, and make judgments on the validity of automated information systems. He has tremendous ability to adapt and react to the immediate past. These qualities have made man unique in his laboratories on Earth, and they will continue to make him unique in his laboratories in space.
Dr. George M. Low, former NASA Administrator, 1971
