save the orbiter or the crew?

[Andrew Koenig]

If it comes down to a choice of saving the orbiter or the crew,
I save the crew, regardless of how plausible the arguments on
the other side may be. Here are my reasons:

1. If I ever did otherwise, the political backwash
would scuttle the space program entirely.

2. The crew won't fly as well if they believe the
spacecraft is more valuable than they are.

3. In an emergency, it is a bad idea to stop and think
about what it's going to cost to get out of it.

4. I'm not the pilot in command.