The  Queen  and I were out on the deck this morning at about 5:40 … waiting for the sound of the Atlantis returning to earth.  Just after we heard NASA Mission Control say that the Shuttle was passing over the coast of Florida at Naples we heard the twin sonic booms (Listen).  We’ve heard it before .. but this time it was bittersweet; we’ll never hear that sound again.  None of us will.  What made the morning even more amazing is that as we heard the twin booms we could see a bright object traveling overhead from west to east .. and it was hauling.  Some said it was the International Space Station .. but I checked the tracking here, and it doesn’t look like the space station was anywhere near Florida at the time … so the Atlantis it was. 

Mixed emotions here.  First of all – the decision to end the Shuttle missions was not made by Obama.  Bush made that decision back around 2004.  Obama is the guy who slowed down – almost completely stopped – the mission of putting Americans on Mars.  Dear Ruler thinks going to an asteroid is a better idea.

It is now up to the private sector to develop the capacity of putting Americans into space.  Until then we’ll be buying seats to the ISS on Russian Soyuz spacecraft – at $60 million each with no frequent flier program.  There are several private sector efforts underway to develop a low orbit capability, and the technology is certainly there.  The question is whether or not our government will get the hell out of the way and let these people do what they do best --- innovate and create.  I’m betting that as the private sector steps up the eco-radicals, who’s true goal is to weaken America rather than to protect our environment, will step forward with legal challenges to gum up the works. 

Now maybe I’ll be able to do the Space Tour again.  Prior to 9/11 when I had the occasion to fly my Mooney around the Cape Canaveral area, I would call up the Shuttle Landing Facility tower and ask for the Space Tour.  They would identify me --- then clear me to fly the length of the 15,000 foot Shuttle runway.  I was warned not to DARE touch down.  I have pictures … couldn’t find them to post with the Nuze today.  Probably on my computer in Atlanta.

At any rate --- glad our astronauts are home safe.