[Aubs]

Kind of extreme there. DDT was still used, but it became so ineffective that most just pollutes the environment. There are other, more expensive, yet more effective methods of insect control. DDT was kinda bad for people anyway, being an organochlorine which accumlated in fatty tissues. That meant that we ended up with high concentration in our bodies. I was born in 1984, 14 after DDT's death in the US, but I probably have a significant amount in my body left over from it's useage.

Anyway, on the subject, if the freon based foam worked, they should have continued using it. I'll admit that the foam issue is a problem. But the shuttle program is really a billion problems that are just waiting to appear. Something new could happen on any launch, and then that would be the focus of attention. Basically, space travel, especially shuttle travel, is a dangerous proposition. There are always risks, but they're acceptable risks. The foam is obviously an acceptable risk. NASA could risk losing the entire shuttle program if this shuttle fails. I think the foam is just an issue in the press. NASA has many other systems to worry about, and the foam is probably one of their lessor concerns.