I’m a huge fan of NASA (the idea), but not so much NASA the government agency.
After six more launches, human space flight – at least for the next decade – is a total question mark for NASA.
We frequent the KSC Visitor Complex at least once a month. We go to Shuttle launches. We attend Camp KSC.
And all I can do is wonder – why are we about to mothball a brain trust that we have spent the last 50 years developing?
I’m not a huge proponent of continuing to tread water in low earth orbit. If the U.S. is to continue HSF, it needs to go big – or go home.
As we often do, sometimes we’ll drive the Space Coast and come to KSC north from Florida Highway 3 (which runs right through the Space Center). When you drive north on FL 3, you have to take a left on Space Commerce Way to get to the Visitor Center – about a 5 mile drive.
Space Commerce Way is a fantastic metaphor for the state of NASA today – it is nothing but a hard path with swampland on either side. And absolutely no space commerce of any kind to be found along the way.
All I can do for now is hope for someone with vision – maybe my kids’ generation – to rekindle the dream.
Because for now, it all but appears to be dying.
