Last Space Shuttle Discovery Launch

Yesterday was the last day the orbiter called Discovery was launched into space. What does this mean as the shuttle industry is coming to a close?

To many families that live on the Space Coast and work in the Space Industry, this brings uncertain times closer on the time line. A closure of a number of jobs will increase unemployment leading to more foreclosures and more regression for a recovering housing market in Florida.

We can look at some positives from the shuttle business closing. The cost and waste of fuel to move a shuttle into position, let alone launch a shuttle should bring a significant reduction of the national debt. The sad part is the loss of the jobs will bring a reduction of out flow from the government as well.

Many people view this as being very bad for science and technology. We know much more about our universe, but more importantly we have technologies that we depend on everyday ranging from the Internet, cell phones and television. Not just satellite television, but cable television gets their signals from the satellites as well.

Where do we go from here? How will our technologies continue to advance with limits on Space?

Where one thing ends, there will be a new beginning! Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and the Wright Brothers were the beginning in many advances in technology of the 1900’s. The shuttle was a tremendous advance 30 years ago! Why hasn’t it changed during that time? Surely there must have been something that could have been done to be more efficient with safety included. There have been many different versions of the jet used commercially and privately over the past 30 years, why not a space shuttle?

As a private venture, the shuttle will have a rebirth. It may look quite differently and it probably will not require a dramatic liftoff. As a private venture, there will be sponsors and the opportunity for many dreams to become reality and go into space without being an astronaut. The Internet, cell phones and satellites will continue to advance and they will do it at a faster pace. We will find be able to establish settlements on other planets sooner then never.

All of this can and will be done with a minimal constraint on our national budget. Not only will the government save money, but they can impose new taxes on these private establishments to justify the new government regulation placed on the explorations.

The ending of the government sponsored space shuttle will be one of the greatest things to happen in American history as it will promote the entrepreneurial spirit that has made the United States home off all powerful inventions in history with the exception of the round wheel.