I remember when I was 3, 4, and 5 years old. We lived in Cocoa Beach, FL on Patrick Air Force Base. A lot of the mission of that base is to support NASA. And it did, I remember watching the shuttle launch several times from my own back yard. Usually early in the morning, before the sun came up. My dad would walk with me to the backyard and we would have a portable radio to listen to mission control broadcasts. It was magic then, and I didn’t even realize what all it took to make it happen. Now that I’m older, somewhat educated, and much more knowledgeable about flight and gov’t contracting, I’m in disbelief that we have been doing this for 30 years. It’s an understatement to say its remarkable. I still want to be an astronaut.
I’m watching the NASA feed online of this final flight and as I’m seeing things I’ve seen many times before, it saddens me to know that this is the last time. I’m sad I didn’t get to see it live one last time. I’m sad our government is allowing a lapse, in which will likely not end in the near future, in our own space endeavors. It saddens me to realize our government doesn’t care about innovating and striving to do the impossible any more. The symbolism of the space shuttle and space travel holds untapped potential that we are giving up on. 6300 patents have been filed as a result of NASA research. That all ends. Russia, China, who else knows will win and be that far ahead in the space race, and what ultimately is the race to be the best country in the world. If you are asking, “Is it a space program that defines you as a country?”, the answer is no. Its not, but its tell tale of status. And the fact that we are bowing out of the race for supremacy is revealing. It’s time for Washington to get it together. Figure out priorities that matter and are successful. As long as we cater to the lowest common denominator, we have no business in space. It saddens me to admit that.
All that being said, I’m ticked. It fuels my fire of wanting to be a politician. It drives me crazy that we elected people to allow this happen. I won’t die satisfied, unless I’ve done my duty as a statesman, patriot, and an usher of progress.
Pray for this mission. Pray that its successful, safe, and convicting to those who canned it.
