The Shuttle Finale

STS 135 is scheduled to depart earth today. The last shuttle mission.

And the government doesn't seem to have a fully executable system to replace it (or support the International Space Station).

30 years of history. The program is nearly as old as I am. When we went to visit NASA in May it was extremely humbling and enlightening to see all that the shuttle program has brought to the United States (and I'm not just talking about freeze dried ice cream)and the world. Challenger... Columbia... still remember where I was and the impact of those tragedies (part of why flight safety has interested me since I was a tot). Space flight and the moon landing, through disaster and good times, have repeatedly brought the country together.

During our visit we talked to the folks that have dedicated their lives to this program -- they are devastated, but were still completely focused on the mission. STS 134 was up at that time and we saw them doing final training for STS 135 -- its just a wonder what will happen to the thousands that work on this program (laid off) and the resources that have been put into it. Just the training facilities and manpower alone are astounding.

What can I say... I'll watch, and cheer and hope above all that we don't give up on space exploration and all of the passion, wonder and possibilities that it brings.

Cheers to the end of an era and those who have made it possible.