I have a hard time breathing during a launch. I love it but it scares me too. I can’t breath until MECO. And then I’m just waiting to not breathe during re-entry. lol It’s quite sad to have this gap. It’s sad to know how many great people have to leave the space program they love because of this gap. But I believe you’re correct. When it comes to future space exploration it needs to be more international. That causes it’s own problems, but countries don’t have the resources to do space travel properly. It’s too political. In the end, what I read is we don’t become the explorer race of Star Trek fame until the year 3400 or so. In the mean time we have a lot of work to do. lol You know, I bet things change a lot in the next decade as the Federation members make themselves known to humanity on a large scale. I feel pretty positive that it will happen in a very safe way – as safe as can happen when humans are idiots and get scared of everything. But, if I’m wrong that’s ok too. We’ll keep doing what we’re doing, with or without aliens. 😉 Reply
I like that the NX-class ships were named after our shuttles too.. I also recall a certain galaxy class named USS Challenger. Reply
I’m not familiar enough with Star Trek to know. lol But we do have a long tradition of renaming things after other things. Humans are so creative 😉 Reply
Could be. If those darn aliens would just let us use their technology… lol From what I read, Gene Roddenberry’s last lifetime was in the future during that time frame. The timing of his current life (well I guess now it’s technically past since he died) was purposeful so he could bring those stories and concepts to our generation in time for our big first contact. When you think about it, there aren’t many positive portrayals of aliens in our culture. Star Trek is one of the best, along with Star Wars. But Star Trek is far more in depth. I’m not a Trekkie, or even a Trekker, but I do enjoy the show when I get around to watching it. Reply
I met a guy once who claimed to be Klingon/Vulcan and born into a human body. Let’s just say he certainly looked the part. Not only is it one of the few positive portrayls of aliens in SciFi… its also one of the few portrayals of a human future worth achieving. Reply
Also true. I don’t know if the guy was Klingon, I don’t know if they actually exist, but it’s possible I guess. Lots of things are possible. 🙂