I really do not know what passes for rationality in your worldview, but smokeyjon's statements in reply 68 above are not rational.Here are his irrational statements "[] that does not involve in-flight repair, resupply, or rescue, which were impossible, [] I'm not pretending to be intellectually superior to anyone. I'm pointing out irrefutable facts"
Why is that irrational? Bcause smokeyjon has confused his opinion of what is possible, so far stretched that opinion to become irrefutable facts -- that any rescue, resupply or repair was impossible, is not a fact, it is an opinion. His own opinion. Which he raises up as fact! Rational people have a much deeper regard for truth and fact, keeping them seperate.
What are the mechanisms for turning opinion into fact -- into irrefutable fact? Many facts are show by clear demonstration to all. One such FACT is that the shuttle was destroyed during re-entry. That is an irrefutable fact, as well.
Another way that facts are decided, is by a fact-finding panel of peers or experts. Such a panel was the Warren Commission. They found as a fact that Kennedy was shot by a lone assasin, Oswald. Now we -- most of us -- no longer take that as an "irrefutable" fact, for many follow-on reserachers have found very plausible discrepancies and alternatives. Yet smokeyjon's opinions not only have become facts in his mind, they have become irrefutable facts.
In other words, he has fallen in the irrational vanity trap of the intellectually arrogant -- and his opinion is hopelessly confused with fact.
Best Regards,
--bvw