From the article:

"This is solid, needed science and unfortunately we still have this GoreCam baggage around our necks. I wish the connection to GoreCam could be broken," said Geary, who worked on Triana for more than two years. "If we could just get that name to go away, and quit waving a red flag in front of the Republicans. . . . From a pure science standpoint, it's too valuable not to fly."

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Already built - and paid for, too, one would assume. If the current administration continues to insist on keeping it in "political football" status, I think it'd be a fine idea for ESA to buy it (at surplus prices) and launch it themselves, or partnered with Energia. After all, the Euros seem to be the only ones left who give a damn about the future of the planet, now that the Japanese have been pulled into line behind Bush II (a.k.a. Reagan III) on the greenhouse issue.

A space enthusiast who thinks a bird - any bird - should not fly? Now I've seen everything...

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