"Rostyslaw J. Lewyckyj" wrote:

:Fred J. McCall wrote:
:
: (D.K.) wrote:
:
: :P.S. First American woman in space was what - 20 years after
: :Tereshkova?
:
: Yes, the difference being that we didn't send one until she had an
: actual purpose in being there. 'Parachute packer in a can' as a
: 'first' is hardly something to be beating your chest about.
:
:Sour grapes?

Not hardly.

:I believe that in addition to the obvioous political political
urpose, they even manufactured a set of 'opportunity knocks'
:scientific, medical, purposes for launching her.

As I understood it, she was sealed in with instructions not to touch
anything.

:As a slight parallel, What was the purpose of Senator John
:Glenns' 1998, STS-95 return trip into space?

Funding. He's a Senator and can help get it raised.

[And no, we shouldn't have sent him, either. But you don't see us
touting it as a great 'victory'. However, in your case, I suppose you
have to grab what little glory you can find wherever you can find it.]

--
"Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute."
-- Charles Pinckney