In praise of the International Space Station

Guardian : The International Space Station has not been popular among scientists, who see it as a costly, ineffective venture. An editorial in a British newspaper takes a contrary view. While conceding the station’s expense, the Guardian‘s editors argue that

to declare that it should never have been built is to miss the point. It has been occupied for more than 10 years: a high-rise apartment in which humans can practise long-duration survival in microgravity; a gymnasium in which there is no up or down; an observation platform beneath which the planet turns every 90 minutes; the limitless universe beyond. Any future journey to the moon, or Mars, will build on lessons learned aboard the ISS. It is the costliest project ever undertaken: the challenge now is to make it truly valuable.