re: "Yield to the logic of the situation"--LCDR Spock (UFP-SF)
From ER above (submit to the logic o the situation) –“After a half-century of space exploration our achievements have been superb, but only one manned mission, the Apollo rocks, was of lasting and significant value.†I see your point, but I would like to differ. Mir was of great, perhaps equal significance. It proved unambiguously that a space station could be maintained in orbit for many, many years, and that a person could live in space for extended periods (400 days plus), and that there are health costs to pay for this. This was not trivial, and, if and when people figure out how to live in space long term will be seen as one of the milestones on that road.