Et Cetera

Scientists hate NASA's proposed space station because it is almost useless for science. Some legislators hate it because it will cost $30 billion at a minimum. But other legislators, and aerospace contractors, love it because it means jobs, hefty profits and continuing American technological pre-eminence. Last week the lovers triumphed as the House approved $1.73 billion to keep the project alive for another year, defeating an amendment that would have shut down the undertaking.