[samtheman]

I didn't mean to denigrate them by calling them rambos. All our astronauts are heros and I salute them and I love to watch shuttle launches and follow the progress of their missions on the news. Their deaths are genuine national tragedies.

I'm only arguing one point: that military supremacy in space is very important for the survival of our country and that it is completely unrelated to the shuttle/ISS missions. Those missions might have their own valid justifications, but, in my opinion, the military dominance of Near Earth Orbits, which is crucial to US defence, does not depend on them at all.

[onedoug]

"...completely unrelated to the shuttle....

"...but, in my opinion, the military dominance of Near Earth Orbits, which is crucial to US defence, does not depend on them at all."

Please see....

Though the first all-military Shuttle mission was originally scheduled for launch on 8 December 1984, it did not lift off until 24 January 1985. Captain Thomas K. Mattingly, II was selected to command Discovery on the highly classified mission. The orbiter was piloted by Air Force Colonel Loren J. Shriver, and the mission specialists were Air Force Major Ellison S. Onizuka and Marine Corps Lt. Colonel James F. Buchli. Air Force Major Gary E. Payton served as payload specialist. The launch was delayed on January 23rd due to weather, and cold weather held up cryogenic fueling operations for two hours on the 24th. Those delays aside, the last four hours of the countdown proceeded smoothly, and Discovery lifted off Pad 39A at 1950:00Z on 24 January 1985. Details of the mission are not releasable. Discovery landed at KSC at 2123:24Z on 27 January 1985.

All the Best....