JetBlue Airways Corp. had six diverted planes on the ground, and jetBlue officials said all its captains were acutely aware of the tarmac-delay rule, which threatens heavy fines on airlines if they keep passengers on board grounded domestic flights for more than three hours (four hours for international) without offering a chance to deplane, with certain exceptions.

WSJ: How Snow (and Libyan Soldiers) Led to Airport Logjams

Not only is the delay a pity, it will also mean more budgetary squeezes and a longer wait before on-board science can begin and hence more pressure to do some of it on Mir instead.

ECONOMIST: Rocket science