I had hoped to welcome Endeavour home from the ISS after her crew successfully completed such a fantastic mission. Yet strange as last time the weather poops the party (there's your an ENT connection), interfering first with launch and now too with landing. A small matter then to delay my large salute to the eagle-eyed space-walking team, saving the day unsnarling the mobile transporter on the P1 truss they so deftly installed. Problems happen, people fix 'em, and frankly the universe runs better that way, piloted. It's why we're aboard her if you ask me.

Nearly at 200 tons the station now masses roughly twice a servicing orbiter (or if you prefer, about one-thousandth the size of NCC-1701). Though many construction missions remain the accomplishment to date silences early critics. The completion of the station draws within sight; moth-balling Alpha is simply no longer an option, any temporary proposals to do so notwithstanding, Abandoning such advanced work would evidence such a national lack of guts that we'd have to publicly issue bags of shame to place over our heads. Like it or not, we must finish what has been started with whatever help arrives. There are those who call that, responsibility.

After all, even the Jiangy-come-lately dragon grasps into space: Shenzhou 4 soon plans to carry its yuhangyuans (braver than me!) into orbit and return them to earth (safely at least as that tiny menagerie they've sent up so far, one hopes). Boldly growing, the world altogether reaches for the stars, and we must favor every element that contributes to global cooperation and peace with our actions and support. What - the world is good enough yoked to slaughter innocents in the idolatrous name of Mars but not similarly to realize a vision of peaceful unity? Like it or not, the time has come to get along … and like it (nothing new to that for Trekkers). There are those who call that, wisdom.

With completion now estimated (~$7B) as only a third of a Drug-War-Year, the price tag for the station has all but settled and you know what? I still don't care. Where tax dollars by the horrific billions are violently squandered, alternative spending on something peaceful, useful, and productive holds tremendous appeal. NASA's crumb remains less than 1% of the national outlay, and like it or not the United States must shoulder the load till the world shakes its monetary malaise. There are those who call that, leadership.

Anyway, welcome home Expedition Five! Godspeed to you Expedition Six!


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