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America Spacing Out

The End of an Era?

The lights are going out for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) program.

All American space shuttles are grounded.

President Obama has declared trips to the moon useless.

Is the classic dream that inspired countless fiction and childhood dreams over?

It's been many years since we haven't seen major debates over their so called "Black hole" budgets.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I'm not footing the bill but I am down over the thought of no American astronauts heading up in American ships.

It's clear we have some things to deal with right here on Earth that may outweigh the potential benefits of space exploration but I fully expected to have a pre-retirement party in the relative comfort of at least a dome on the Moon.

Re-Birth

This is not a doom and gloom post. I have firm belief that someone will continue our efforts in space exploration. China, India, Russia, they all have growing space programs, including and not limited to manned flights. In fact, American astronauts will be hitching rides with cosmonauts for the foreseeable future.

In my opinion, the real advancements will come from private enterprise. Most likely from Virgin Galactic or someone similar. Beginning with low orbital flights, I really do hope to see full fledged adventures in space. I can think of no where else I would rather spend my aging years rather than a gentle low gravity colony with a garden to tend.

Richard Branson, you have begun. Don't let anything or anyone hold you back. If necessary, follow the lead of D.D. Harriman, the main character in "The Man Who Sold the Moon".

It can be done. And it can be done to the benefit of all humanity, not their detriment. Do you agree? Are we entering a new era with new approaches to space or is this the beginning of a soft and slow decline of looking outward with hope?

The moon image is from The Woggle Bug book, by L. Frank Baum, illustrated by Ike Morgan

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