i had a realisation reading this story, the NASA report and the apollo transcripts. very often i use the shorthand, "oh but this is not rocket science" & "if we can go to the moon, this is easy stuff." i think this same approach led to us designing thermodynamically & aeronautically elegant machines, but completing screwing up something as basic as a toilet.

toilets are as important as rockets. and oftentimes because they're unsexy, more difficult to solve for. after all, i remember neil armstrong, but not the person who made this modern amenity in my own household.

what a wild rabbit hole

there's limited mention of satyajit ray and his feud with spielberg a la Aliens. would have been fun to read about it-- https://harpercollins.co.in/product/embark-on-an-intergalact...

here's a list of future articles we are looking to commission btw: https://altermag.com/pitch-us