nasa summed up in a quick point.
(i think i got this from someone one this board, if not then neato)
nasa realizes that pens don't work in space, spend assloads of cash and resources (in the millions-i think)and we get the wonder nasa pen, a wonderfully great little piece of stationary that can even write underwater - it was an issue on an episode of seinfeld-
neat huh.
the russian space agency (forget the name) encounters the same thing and they use a pencil. which can be purchased in packs of 10 for a little over a dollar- and unexplicably have the same abilities of the nasa pen but also could be easily erased...
the bigger ticket item does not make it the best for the job. a fork is a fork. if you were to purchase a fork from a thrift store and then another fork from say a fork specailty shop dealing with only the world's finest forks that cost in excess of $500 a pop, you will still be able to eat with both of them as they are used for the same purpose and contain the same design principle and function the same. you get to eat your spagetti.
too many brains overthinking a situation results in completely overengineered and impractical solution, that has a near endless supply of variables that escalate and result in disaster.
the delivery system for space bound objects is as it stands lacking the benefits of current aeronautical advancments and improvments and needs a major overhaul.
if the space shuttle computer is less powerful than my gameboy or home game entertainment center then there is a SERIOUS PROBLEM.