STS-135 left Launch Pad 39A for the last time today.  A sad day indeed for America.

I feel bad for the thousands of dedicated NASA workers that will be loosing their jobs in the next few days as a result of the cancellation of what basically amounts to America’s space program.  I guess the cadre of “brilliant” politicians that unfortunately run things in America these days – starting from the very top to the very bottom – has decided this is no longer an important priority.  So much of what we enjoy today as “technology” found its origins in the space program.

Perhaps I am a little one-sided.  After all, I remember the day when “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” was the news of the day.  I watched it on a small black and white TV – imagine that in today’s world of 50+ HDTV’s…

Critics claim there is not enough money for luxuries such as a “space program”.  I say not.  If only politicians in our country were responsible and instead of pissing our resources on countries that have no desire to be associated with America perhaps we could invest those resources in things that matter:  ourselves.  Don’t take me wrong – I am not an isolationist, but I do have a problem when I read about how such a great portion of our wealth is squandered in “nation building” or corrupt governments all around the world.  The same can be said on the domestic front.

Yes, I guess I’m one of the millions of pissed off Americans that hate to see our glory days in the past.  I am optimistic however, in that good will eventually prevail.  We are in such desperate need of true leadership.  Leadership that can utter words that ignite the imagination of Americans.  Words such as “we choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too“.

God Speed, Atlantis.  God Speed indeed…