Monday, November 05, 2007

Oprah in Space   [John Derbyshire]

The sissification of America, Series #92,714: If you're heading into orbit on the Space Shuttle, don't forget to pack a good supply of Kleenex.

AP November 5, 2007—CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.—Still on "a major high" from Saturday's successful solar-wing repair, the 10 astronauts aboard the shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station cried as they hugged goodbye yesterday and closed the door between them.

The most tears came from Clayton Anderson, who's headed home after five months in orbit, and Daniel Tani, who's starting a two-month mission. They repeatedly wiped their eyes during the farewell ceremony a day before Discovery undocks for its return to Earth.

What happened to those laconic, ghoul-humored, cool-as-a-cucumber astronauts we used to breed out in the Texas plains and West Virginia hollows? Where are they recruiting this current crop from? The audience lines for Oprah shows?

11/05 09:00 AMShare