When Cassini was launched in 1997, a galaxy of the usual stars of the environmental and anti-nuclear lobbies lined up to protest. Green-left bible Mother Jones claimed that the probe “could wipe out mankind”.

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Punk rock philosopher. Liberalist contrarian. Grumpy old bastard. I grew up in a generational-Labor-voting family. I kept the faith long after the political left had abandoned it. In the last decade...