We Still Choose To Go

[mikailborg]

Taking a short break from reporting on weather and virtual worlds:

Tomorrow is Yuri's Night, the anniversary of the first human spaceflight, and of the first space flight of the Shuttle. Forty-seven years ago, a Soviet cosmonaut took mankind's first step toward the final frontier. Twenty-seven years ago, the American space program began our first experiment with reusable spacecraft. On April 12th we celebrate a milestone which will stand as long as we reach for the stars.

There are Yuri's Night parties in Richmond, DC, and the Raleigh area, and more all over the world - even in Second Life! The Yuri's Night website has plenty of information about the celebrations, including a chance to win a ride on G-Force One, a plane that performs weightless simulation flights.

Our space exploration efforts have faltered in recent years, but mankind hasn't given up; whether it be aboard an Orion capsule, a Soyuz spacecraft, or a Rutan spaceplane, a steadily-increasing number of us will have the chance to see the world from above, and dip their toes in the vast sea of stars that awaits the human race.

EDIT: jameshroberts correctly points out that our robotic exploration efforts are remarkably successful; it's just the manned side which has faltered somewhat.

Comments

[jameshroberts.livejournal.com]

Clarification: Our manned space exploration efforts have faltered in recent years. Our robotic space exploration efforts are ridiculously awesome.

[mikailborg.livejournal.com]

You are completely correct! I apologize for my bias. It seems like in robotic exploration, we just keep doing amazingly more with ridiculously less.

I'll correct that in the entry.