Today marks not only the 100th blog I've posted---a personal milestone---but the end of an era: the last journey into space for the shuttle Atlantis. The launch this morning went off without a hitch, picture perfect. It was a sad occasion, for Atlantis is the final shuttle to go into space and will be retired to a museum upon her return to Earth.
Atlantis' 12-day mission is basically to dock with the International Space Station and restock it with enough supplies to last through 2012. Thereafter, we'll have to rely on Russian shuttles to resupply the ISS, and those vehicles cannot carry as much cargo.
While the launch of Atlantis is somewhat sad for space enthusiasts like myself, most of us are eagerly looking forward to the future adventures of "Orion", the vehicle designed to bring us back to the Moon as well as on to Mars. And I for one am particularly excited about the plasma rocket scheduled to be tested at the ISS in 2014 ( if the date hasn't been pushed back yet again! ) If that newest form of propulsion works, it could be capable of powering a vehicle to Mars in a mere 5 months! Quite an achievement.
Admittedly, I am not a scientist, but I am an avid, long-time supporter of the space program. I look forward to future space travel and exploration. Until reality catches up with science fiction, we can continue to dream and read about possible futures in space---and even some not-quite-possible adventures!
MRTighe
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