Re:No offense (Score 1)

Our record in the past few years is apalling.

well, it wasn't so great in the early days either. a sense of perspective here is useful - i just read this great book, journey beyond selene, detailing the history of the jpl, and it's early days were littered with failed missions. it's inherently part of the game - small ships, packed with stuff, with hopes that everything works.

but if you want the opposite effect, think about our voyager probes - long lived past anyone's expectations.

yes, we can and should strive to do better, but you don't learn nearly as much from success, as failure.