Earlier this week the Expedition 12 crew, commander Bill McArthur and Flight Engineer Valery Tokarev, arrived safely at ISS. Along with them came Dr. Gregory Olsen, the third space tourist - pardon me, "Spaceflight Participant" - boosted aloft by his drive to go, considerable work in preparation, and last but not least, a $20M ticket. Next week Expedition 11 is set to return, to a new world record for a human in space for Krikalev and hot pizza and cold beer for Phillips. (Also real coffee, out of a mug and not a bag!)

The transfer of control from crew to crew is underway, creating a busy situation for all as they go over procedures and tools. (This is the second trip for both Tokarev and McArthur. Godspeed Expedition 12!) As I was researching this column, the following item caught my eye:

Another handover task between John and Bill was a 1-hr. review of the current version of the DOUG (Dynamic Operational Ubiquitous Graphics) software, to be followed tomorrow by an operational run on the SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System). [Used during Robotics/SSRMS operations, DOUG is a software program on the MSS RWS (mobile service system robotics workstation) laptops that provides a graphical birdseye-view image of the external station configuration and the SSRMS arm, showing its real-time location and configuration on a laptop during its operation.]

I can't imagine the level of detail that must be mastered by the ultra-competent crews aboard ISS. Olsen reports that they're pretty friendly too. Would that all our energetic and qualified astronaut-types could have their hands equally occupied, all the time. There's plenty of work to do. Can't be soon enough for me.

But as for others? I was surprised to read some disparaging (albeit ignorant) remarks about Olsen. Some don't care to see taxpayer dollars spent on such things, I suppose. I guess in the end it comes down to priorities. Some that object to the space station do so because they disagree with manned space exploration in the first place; others object just to the expenditure required. (Maybe down deep there's a little green man in some critics, and I don't mean Martian.)

I can't help but think it's not an either-or proposition though. Were we not foolishly squandering our treasure (say, killing innocent people?) we could easily have our space station(s) and take care of our people and environment too. It's certainly good to address human needs first. And it's OK to be a tree hugger. But the stars need hugs too.