SPACE SHUTTLE’S LAST VOYAGE IS NOT THE END OF HUMAN SPACE EXPLORATION

21st July 2011

Guardian online

After both the crew of Atlantis and mission controllers in Houston confirmed undocking, the familiar voice of the commentator came in: “Undocking confirmed at 1:28am central time. Atlantis weighs anchor from the International Space Station for the last time.” A few moments later, a bell rang out. It was astronaut Ron Garan ringing the station’s bronze ship’s bell in the traditional farewell to a departing vessel.

I heard that “weighs anchor” as a reminder of the continuity of human exploration, and I heard that bell’s ringing as a promise, to past, present and future generations, that our irrepressible human instinct to venture ever outward will not let us down… Read more