Space Shuttle

There is considerable hype about the 'end of an era' and an uncertain space future for the American Space program. Several pundits are painting their usual 'doom and gloom' scenario reporting upon the apparent 'end of the space program.'

It is time to get serious. Didn't NASA recently sign a contract with Space X where the latter will be supplying the former with heavy launch capabilities and a design to confortably lauch 6 astronauts into outer space?

If Space X doesn't step up to the plate, there are another nine American companies that I've read about who are also experimenting with heavy launch capabilities. Didn't Canada have the Silver Dart program a couple of years ago capable of launching three astronauts into orbit? And what about the European Space Agency and the Japanese Space Agency? India is launching a polar satillite in a few days. They shouldn't be ignored in their quest to conquer outer space.

We live in a very exciting time. We will see someone on Mars in nine years,not 2035 as some would have us believe, and we will see cities in space capable of housing a quarter of a million people in 50 years. Of course, some will say I am dreaming. I've been known to be a dreamer from time-to-time.

When I was 8 years old and played with what I called my Martian spacecraft (a small three-wheeled plastic toy) and read comic books like Tom Corbit Space Cadet and others about missions to Mars, I dreamt of a time when people would be orbiting our planet. I was a dreamer. Never in my wildest dreams had I ever envisioned the technological marvel that we call the International Space Station. The reality of the ISS went beyond my dreams.

So I say "Nay" to the 'doomers' and 'gloomers' of this world. Dare to dream for you ain't seen nothing yet!