[gputhrowaway630]

Hurley is going to be the "Spacecraft Commander" as mentioned in the article. The parent comment also indicates that they will be bringing the flag/memorial/token back. I'm not sure what "large implicit assumptions" you are referring too.

[martythemaniak]

He means that flight or its currently designated commander may not make it to the ISS for various reasons.

I don't think those are "large" assumptions, they're pretty standard things that can go wrong with every flight. Not that useful to have to enumerate them every time anyone talks about spaceflight.

[jacquesm]

- mission not being scrubbed for a variety of possible reasons

- mission commander not being changed

- rocket not blowing up on the pad

- rocket reaching correct orbit

- mission not being completed, for instance docking issues

- everything that could possibly go wrong on the return flight

Really, the ease with which everybody seems to assume that this will go off without a hitch is impressive, this is not exactly walking to the corner store to pick up a small parcel.

[hanniabu]

You must be real fun at parties.....

Friend: I'm going to grab more drinks from the store

You: There are several very large assumptions implicit in that sentence

Friend: ?

You: Your car can break down, you can get in an accident on the way there, the store can be robbed and you can get shot, you may get a call about your parents dying on the way, a meteor may strike and kills us all...

[sitkack]

I would love to party at jacquesm, we could talk about all the ways that civilization is a rube goldberg machine.

[martythemaniak]

Why do you assume people assumed that? I mean, these are things that apply to every human spaceflight on any rocket in any country.

Imagine if anytime anyone spoke about spaceflight, they saw fit to include a giant disclaimer of everything that could go wrong. We'd all just end up sounding like drug commercials.

[philwelch]

> walking to the corner store to pick up a small parcel

* You could sprain your ankle and not make it

* The parcel might have been stolen by a robber

* The corner store might be on fire

* Feral dogs might chase you to the other side of town

[gibolt]

You forgot falling space debris

[dnautics]

I feel like you missed the biggest risk these days: failure of preflight quarantine.

[Koshkin]

One (unmanned) mission has already been accomplished without a hitch.