By James H. Burns: It just occured to me, as I was shaving (perhaps in reaction to contemplating some of the sad news this week):

Has there ever been a stupid person in space?

With all the folk who have bought passage, and the countries that have used their influence to place one of their own on a shuttle or with the Soviets…

Has there been a doofus in ascent?

Surely, this scenario will occur as Virgin Galactic and other tourist services take anyone with the price of a ticket past the stratosphere…

Which could lead to another question:

Who WILL be the first stupid person in space?

It is not a particularly Heinleinesque notion, I know, and perhaps more Sheckleyan…