End of America's Human Space Program
Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 6:50 pm
This coming Monday morning at 6:21am will be the third to last space shuttle launch. As of this time, it is projected that the final launch of the shuttle fleet will occur before the end of 2010, leaving the United States without a vehicle to launch humans into space.
If you would like to see a launch I suggest that you visit the ksc.nasa.gov website and begin planning to be here for one of the remaining launches.
If you find yourself with plans to be here, let me know ahead of time and I will try to get a pass for you to see the launch on the space center.
For those of us who grew up with splash downs and ocean recoveries the first shuttle launch was a thrilling sight. I have seen triumphs (I saw the Hubble Telescope) up close before it launched and tragedies, watching as Challenger exploded in the bright cold Florida sky killing seven astronauts.
There are plans to develop a commercial vehicle but that is years away if even possible and though there are plans to begin taking civilians up to 400,000 feet within the next 2 years at $1million per ticket, it is a long way from there to orbit.
I have had a front row seat to witness our reach for the stars for 50 years, and this is the first time I have felt that the dream is no longer alive.
If you would like to see a launch I suggest that you visit the ksc.nasa.gov website and begin planning to be here for one of the remaining launches.
If you find yourself with plans to be here, let me know ahead of time and I will try to get a pass for you to see the launch on the space center.
For those of us who grew up with splash downs and ocean recoveries the first shuttle launch was a thrilling sight. I have seen triumphs (I saw the Hubble Telescope) up close before it launched and tragedies, watching as Challenger exploded in the bright cold Florida sky killing seven astronauts.
There are plans to develop a commercial vehicle but that is years away if even possible and though there are plans to begin taking civilians up to 400,000 feet within the next 2 years at $1million per ticket, it is a long way from there to orbit.
I have had a front row seat to witness our reach for the stars for 50 years, and this is the first time I have felt that the dream is no longer alive.