There was a time when a failed shuttle system would have been abandoned for another avenue of space flight. When the destruction of two shuttles and the death of two crews would have ended a program of ill conceived agendas. The space shuttle was supposed to prove that flight to outer space was 'cost effective.' What is proved was that when the USA puts 'false' expectations on exploration it is doomed to failure.
Now, we have yet another space crew 'at risk' but alas, this time it's just a matter of minimizing the risk and keeping one's fingers crossed in hopes that all will turn out well when in fact it should never have been attempted in the first place. Sort of like Iraq. Iraq should have never been attempted in the first place.
The USA today is a risk taker nation at the expense of American integrity, standards and esteem. But, hey, who ever said the USA Constitution guaranteed Americans their dignity.
