 What is most ironic about the conclusion of the story?
Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Astounding Science Fiction December 1955. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. Phil Conover pulled the zipper of his flight suit up the front of his long, thin body and came into the living room. And the faint lines around his dark, deep-set eyes were accentuated when he smiled at his wife. Yes, I'm sure you did," she said, finishing the ritual; but her voice broke, and she turned her head away. We know exactly how it will be. If anything could go wrong, they wouldn't be sending me; you know that. I told you that we've sent five un-manned ships up and everyone came back without a hitch." "Mary, you know I can't back out now. Nothing would ever be right with me again if I didn't go. I won't be here because I won't be the wife of a space pilot for the rest of my life. She finished and took another cigarette from the pack on the coffee table and put it to her lips. "I wish you had told me this a long time ago, Mary," Phil said. "Yes, you did. I told you I could never be the wife of a space pilot. But I don't think I ever really believed it was possible—not until this morning when you said tonight was the take-off. "It isn't a dream.
 Mary's fear of losing Phil became a self-fulfilling prophecy
 While Sammy is the least qualified to go into space, he was the only replacement for Phil  Everything that used to give Phil joy will now represent pain and suffering  Mary's fear of losing Phil became a self-fulfilling prophecy  Phil trained all of his life for one moment, and gave it all up within the period of one day