Hurley is going to be the "Spacecraft Commander" as mentioned in the article. The parent comment also indicates that they will be bringing the flag/memorial/token back. I'm not sure what "large implicit assumptions" you are referring too.
He means that flight or its currently designated commander may not make it to the ISS for various reasons.
I don't think those are "large" assumptions, they're pretty standard things that can go wrong with every flight. Not that useful to have to enumerate them every time anyone talks about spaceflight.
- mission not being scrubbed for a variety of possible reasons
- mission commander not being changed
- rocket not blowing up on the pad
- rocket reaching correct orbit
- mission not being completed, for instance docking issues
- everything that could possibly go wrong on the return flight
Really, the ease with which everybody seems to assume that this will go off without a hitch is impressive, this is not exactly walking to the corner store to pick up a small parcel.
Friend: I'm going to grab more drinks from the store
You: There are several very large assumptions implicit in that sentence
Friend: ?
You: Your car can break down, you can get in an accident on the way there, the store can be robbed and you can get shot, you may get a call about your parents dying on the way, a meteor may strike and kills us all...
Why do you assume people assumed that? I mean, these are things that apply to every human spaceflight on any rocket in any country.
Imagine if anytime anyone spoke about spaceflight, they saw fit to include a giant disclaimer of everything that could go wrong. We'd all just end up sounding like drug commercials.
