End of an Era

The Shuttle Program comes to an end with this weekends final launch.  This makes me sad.  The shuttle program has not been the only space program in my life time, but it is the only one that I remember and it is what I think of when I think of space flight. 

In a weird cold war reversal, we are now going to be catching lifts with Russians on their flights.  This is the first time since the program has started that we will not be launching our own rockets into space.  We currently have no replacement for the Space Shuttle and I don't even think a concensus has been reached for the replacement at the design stage.  In fact, a vast majority of those working in the space program have been laid off.  With budget woes, our space faring days may be over with this final launch of the Atlantis. 

For the first time since the start of space travel, it looks as though the United States will not be leading the way in space exploration.  The future is passing us by as we lose our will to search space.  Make no mistake, this weekends launch is a sad day for the space program and a sad day for space exploration.  If you are from the U.S. it is a sad day for us as well.  For science fiction fans, it is a sad day indeed.  Instead of moving into the future we have given up. 

Fare the well space shuttle, I only wish you were retiring because some young whipper snapper was replacing you, but alas your position is being phased out.