The Washington Monthly has reposted its April, 1980 critique of the Shuttle program, entitled "Beam Me Out Of This Death Trap," subtitled, "5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Goodbye, Columbia."
<http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2001/8004.easterbrook-fulltext.html> I have heard people mention that the Shuttle was designed by committee, but I don't think I ever wanted to realize the full extent of it. I don't think I've ever seen a larger group of people failing to take responsibility for *anything* than the Federal government. Even the Hubble is only there to justify the Shuttle's existence, as is the ISS. And the Shuttle seems to be just another thing to justify the government's existence. There are plenty of people now campaigning to get a replacement for Columbia built as quickly as possible. Perhaps ERPS (or a related group) should commit itself to campaigning *against* replacing Columbia, and perhaps to scuttling the Shuttle program altogether.
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