From: BBracey@aol.com
Subject: From Mission Control... no kidding
Date: Mon, 7 Apr 1997 19:06:36 -0400 (EDT)
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla, April 7 (Reuter) - Mission control on Monday
offered the crew of the space shuttle Columbia some tongue-in-cheek reasons
for the early end to their mission.
A list of the ``top 10 reasons why we are really coming home early'' was
faxed to the astronauts in their morning mail.
Officially, a malfunctioning power generator was blamed for cutting short
the planned 16-day mission and bringing it home on Tuesday. Among mission
control's alternative explanations were:
-- Crew forgot to do their taxes before they left and tax day is
approaching April 15.
-- Hale Bopp comet aliens got way too close for comfort.
-- NASA TV ratings were low.
-- 0.J. Simpson trial is over and CNN needs something to cover.
-- Crew left stove on back in Houston.
-- Need to be home to see soap opera ``Friends'' on Thursday.
-- Energiser bunny wasn't on board.