The Future We Dreamed Of
This iconic image, one that still captures my imagination and evokes awe as it did when I was a child, will cease to exist in 2010. It makes me more than a little sad that by the time my two-month-old nephew, Eric, is four years old, the Space Shuttle program will be no more. Yes, the “next generation vehicle” will replace it, but it’s Apollo-era space capsule technology. Do they even need a pilot in the traditional sense, when return to Earth means “splashdown” again? And as the International Space Station ages, even before it is completed, then what? We’ll be left with a dying ember of the once-blinding fire of human curiousity about outer space, clouded over like the Hubble Space Telescope’s failing “eyesight”.
I don’t know how, but I hope to witness a Space Shuttle launch in person between now and 2010. I can’t fathom a future where spaceflight is more exciting from a civilian perspective (Virgin Galactic) and less so from a scientific and human endeavor perspective (“to boldly go where no man/no one has gone before.)
Burt and Dick Rutan are our modern-day Orville and Wilbur Wright. Maybe they have something up their sleeves and future generations will have something equally iconic and awe-inspiring as the Space Shuttle was when it first ascended to space in 1981.
… ‘cuz I’m still waiting for my flying car!
P.S. 70% chance of another “No Go” today due to adverse weather conditions at the Cape. I’m glad, actually. Even with Mom & Dad taping the launch for me (actually, burning it to DVD), I’ve been bummed/stressed that I can’t watch and process it live… especially now, given we’ll be on the road headed from DFW to San Antonio around launch-time if it lifts-off today. 
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MommaCat said,
July 3, 2006 @ 2:16 pm
I know I should “do my homework” before making any comment, but. . . . Why?! What For?! Do the powers-that-be (from our country’s ‘leaders’ on down to NASA’s promoters/planners/cheering section) really believe that reverting to stale technology (read “Taking a giant step backwards”) is going to A- Capture the attention of bright young minds, and encourage them to strive to become astronauts, B) Encourage the public to become/stay interested in the space program, C) Advance NASA’s ability to explore the cosmos? I will freely admit that I am completely baffeled by the plans to return to capsule technology! “O.K. – the Spaceship Enterprise was very successful – let’s back off and concentrate on earth-orbits now.” “Sure, we can bring a replacement panel/motor/air-scrubber up to the Space Station – - -just give us months/years to ready a vehicle capable of carrying it!”
Shannon said,
July 3, 2006 @ 7:29 pm
We already know our country’s leadership has its eyes, for good or ill (that’s a whole ‘nother topic), elsewhere. Funding for space exploration, manned or otherwise, ranks somewhere below the Save The Spotted Owl Society, to hijack a quote from a movie we’re both familiar with.
That said, I admit I am probably taking an overly pessimistic view. I can’t fathom how all of the intelligent and energized minds in the U.S. and international scientific and aeronautic community could stand mute if we truly were taking a quantum leap backwards back to true Apollo-era human and cargo launch capability. Still, my reading on the subject thus far has yielded no “AHA!” moments that indicate this isn’t a sad case of politics killing a very good idea (manned space exploration with the capability to continue building/refurbishing a Space Station.)