pcmcgeer (11/21/82)
Robert's objections to NASA's hype are understandable, but, still, think of NASA's position: anything other than a total success will bring the Wisconsin Wolf down from the capital, waving golden fleece awards in his right hand and budget cuts in his left. Faced with that sort of reaction, it's not surprising that NASA tends to regard any flight that doesn't kill the astronauts or leave Columbia a smoking hole in the ground as a "total success". The Pollyannish rhetoric of NASA has a long history, for precisely this reason. Remember, in 1962 Gus Grissom lost his capsule on reentry, and NASA still called the mission - with all data lost - a "total success". Rick.
REM@MIT-MC@sri-unix (11/23/82)
From: Robert Elton Maas <REM at MIT-MC> Date: 21 Nov 82 15:57:36-PST (Sun) From: decvax!utzoo!watmath!pcmcgeer at Ucb-C70 Remember, in 1962 Gus Grissom lost his capsule on reentry, and NASA still called the mission - with all data lost - a "total success". Sigh, I must have missed that particular hype. Yeah, that one sure beats the STS hype.