 Why is Si retirement so significant to the Space Exploration Team?
They also had a banquet for him, complete with speeches by such bigwigs of the Department of Space Exploration as Academician Lofting Gubelin and Doctor Hans Girard-Perregaux. Automation being what it is, only a fraction of the population is ever called up. He is now legally eligible for retirement. He was drafted into the working force reserves, served his time, and is now free from toil for the balance of his life. If it is admitted that our organization has degenerated to the point that we haven't a single pilot, then it might well be that the Economic Planning Board, and especially those cloddies on Appropriations, will terminate the whole Department of Space Exploration."
 Training new spacemen is costly and time consuming. They won’t have anyone else ready after him.
 There aren’t enough working people in the world. They won’t be able to find a replacement.  As one of two remaining spacemen, it would likely mean the defunding and shut down of the Space Exploration Team.  Training new spacemen is costly and time consuming. They won’t have anyone else ready after him.  His retirement may inspire others to stop working as well, which would be hugely detrimental as most people don't feel the drive to work as is.