The last space shuttle launch was today. I watched it on a live stream and took screencaps in lieu of not actually being in Florida. A sad thing, but necessary, I think--the shuttles are old and definitely need to be retired. The sadder thing is the lack of a new program to replace them. I realize that America just does not have the money right now... but is paying millions to the Russians to launch our astronauts into space that much better? Aren't those millions that we could be putting into a research program for new and improved shuttle designs?
I'm not an engineer or scientist. Sometimes I regret not having taken physics in high school. But I still dream of space. Anyone who has read as much Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Orson Scott Card, Douglas Adams, Madeleine L'Engle, and Cory Doctorow as I have knows what I'm talking about.
I didn't want to be an astronaut when I was little. I do now. And I most probably won't be.
(The link takes you to a free download of Cory Doctorow's Makers, which has nothing to do with space, really, but is definitely a good read for anyone interested in technology, the future, and making things awesome.)
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EDIT: This was the last launch of the space shuttle DISCOVERY. I believe Endeavor and Atlantis are scheduled for one more each in late spring early summer. NASA's website has all the information, look at Future Missions at the bottom of the page.
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