I don't know about the others here, Tom, but the color of shampoo is unimportant to me. I believe we can all agree that we're mostly taken by the science-hype on what it does to and for follicles. After all, it all foams white and rinses out.

And, as I recall, the main body of Skylab -- about the size of a school bus -- missed the preferred 75% of the planet and the splashdown was dry, hitting hard earth, somewhere in Western Australian, so the splash on impact included a trail of ocean, followed by a very loud >THUD!< and a lot of dust. We learned a lot about reentry and ripples in the upper reaches of the atmosphere, then.

The main profit for space exploration comes from small discoveries, as with Tang, Velcro and the Vomit Comet. Smaller investors gamble that a discovery may be garnered and exploited for financial gain, thus bolstering further investor interest in their company, as well as their continued support for space funding. Company first (me), then them (space). If the primary investigator has no problem sharing its wealth of discoveries, just from building an exploration vehicle, whether successful or not, in becomes a boon for an investor, for he now holds intelligence data that others may wish to buy, and this same data then becomes theoretically priceless as a guide for future development.

We know it's not all fun and games, Tom, and is 99% dull deskwork, but still an incredibly cool involvement. We all wish the steps taken could be broader, as well as heavier, but understand the need for cautious scrutiny, to sort of sneak up on the Moon. Lives are at risk, in space, in the air, as well as on the ground. Anyone who has cracked the most vague reference book on space exploration knows this.

For this e-explorer, your direct involvement over the years is impressive, and typing with you is an honor.

Now, settle down and pretend you're among friends.

Vacation time -- maybe? I know I need one.