SPACE EXPLORATION IS MORE THAN TRAVEL

If you are a baby boomer you remember how exciting it was when we tried to beat the Russians at everything. We wanted to be superior in all areas of society. Space exploration was the brass ring, the Gold Medal, the success that said, "We're Number One". It was exciting and thrilling and full of breath holding moments. Orbiting the moon gave us the amazing shot of earth rise. Seeing the earth as an orb and not a plane was jaw dropping. Seeing Americans walk on the moon gave the nation a singular pride.

The success of the space program wasn't just setting goals and meeting them. First in space, first to orbit the earth, first to space walk and first to walk on the moon. These were merely icing on the cake moments. The real success of the space program was the call to science. The desire to create technology to make space travel possible. The program created a list of breakthroughs that we use in everyday life. Look at anything with a "brain" in your home or your hand. Much of the science for these items came from the space program.

Industries were developed around the products and  materials developed for the space program. Your cell phone has more computer power than the Mercury capsule. Your laptop has more capabilities that a lunar module. My favorite earrings have a substance in them that makes them iridescent. That material came from the space program. The space program gave me pretty jewelry. As a girly girl I could not be happier.

Why would we stop innovation?  Why shouldn't we set a goal to achieve by 2050 and push science in that direction?  "By 2050 we will have explored the entire Milky Way", can't you just hear JFK say that? OK, he would have that Boston accent and the great timbre of his voice, but the words....can you hear that?

People say that the private sector will take up the space program and, yes, they will. The private sector will build rockets and send rich people into space. The private sector wants to make money not breakthroughs. They don't want innovation, they want invoicing.

I think we are shooting ourselves in the foot here, America. Fund a new vehicle to travel in space. Set a goal to give us that feeling of pride when we accomplish said goal. Make people want to be scientists. Give us something that draws us together.

We are saturated with issues that tear us apart.

Aren't you lucky to get Lillybell opinion everyday?  :)

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