XPost: sci.space.history, uk.tech.rocketry   
   From: KevinWilloughby@acm.org.invalid.retro.com   
      
   In article <402024d1.20654384@supernews.seanet.com>, derekl1963   
   @nospamyahoo.com says...   
   > Kevin Willoughby  wrote:   
   >   
   > >In article <401eb79e.3815714@supernews.seanet.com>, derekl1963   
   > >@nospamyahoo.com says...   
   > >> I always find it odd when people insist the ISS should already have   
   > >> accomplised great things.   
   > >   
   > >ISS Expedition 1 was launched over three years ago. [...]   
   >   
   > Accomplishing "something" and accomplishing "great things" are two   
   > very different expectations.   
      
   uh, yes, I'm aware of that. I'd be happy if ISS accomplished   
   "something". If it had accomplished "great things" or even one great   
   thing, that would be more I asked for. Far more.   
      
      
   > Why is it reasonable to expect *anything* to have been accomplished in   
   > something that isn't even finished abuilding yet?   
      
   Well, let's see. Gemini 3 demonstrated orbital maneuvering. Gemini 4   
   demonstrated a controlled space walk. Gemini 5 demonstrated a longish   
   duration flight. Gemini 6 demonstrated rendezvous. All of this before   
   the first Gemini capable of its design-point endurance of 2 weeks in   
   space. Apollo 8 was a "great thing" despite not having an LM. Apollo 11   
   was a "great thing" despite a limited duration and lack of a lunar   
   rover.   
   --   
   Kevin Willoughby         kevinwilloughby@acm.orgNoSpam.invalid   
      
   Imagine that, a FROG ON-OFF switch, hardly the work   
   for test pilots. -- Mike Collins   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)