You know, maybe "Space" gets a bad rap just because it followed directly on the heels of one of our favorite episodes, "Ice."

*considers*

Naaaaaaaah.

There's not really all that much wrong with this episode. Except that it takes a subject even the most jaded schoolchild enjoys and makes it boring. And Scully conveniently forgets she's a doctor when a national hero collapses in front of her. And both Our Heroes spout more supposedly patriotic psychobabble than you can shake a pointy stick at. And the science is screwy. And any episode containing the phrase "specious artifact" is automatically suspect. 

Thank God it wasn't one of Our Heroes who said that.

Okay, okay, so we did learn a few interesting things during this mostly-wasted hour:

• Mulder wanted to be an astronaut when he was growing up, but Scully -- the scientist! -- managed to miss that phase. She did, however, want a pony. 
• Mulder in hero-worship form is not a pretty sight. "Colonel Belt. Fox Mulder. I'm a big fan. It's an honor to meet you. Y-you were a big hero to me when I was a kid. ... I-I stayed up all night when I was 14 to watch your space walk." Yeesh. GeekBoy on the rampage. Sometimes the stutter is cute. This is not one of those times.
• Love Scully's comeback, though: "Didn't you want to get his autograph?"
• Of course, the geekiness is apparently contagious. Witness Scully's way-out-of-character reactions at Mission Control. At least she didn't high-five anyone.
• Sunflower seeds addictions are also contagious, it would seem. Scully eats them for the second time in six episodes here. But has she ever eaten them since?
• Mulder can't say "trajectory," no matter how hard he tries.