>Uh, Walter -- the Russian space program outperformed the U.S.? Are you kidding me? Quoting the late, great American comedian Sam Kinison, "If you want to impress us, bring back our flag!!!" Sam included an adjective I will leave out.

So, when did the US capsules start landing on dry land?

>Now they're selling minor space flights to the rich. I think Charles Simonyi (annoyingly referred to in the news as "Martha Stewart's friend") is still up there even as we speak. It's a Russian bake sale.

Sour grapes? How many tourists did NASA accomodate? What's stopping NASA from doing the same thing, or from doing that 20 years ago?