The Constellation Program is NASA's initiative to return humans to the Moon -- this time to stay. It includes a constellation of new space vehicles: a new crew exploration vehicle, Orion, to carry crew and cargo; two new launch vehicles -- the Ares I rocket to carry Orion to low earth orbit and the Ares V heavy lift rocket to launch the Earth departure stage, a lunar lander, and lunar surface exploration vehicles and habitat modules. (click here)
The 'advance' of humans into space should not have been abandoned.
There is, however, decension regarding exploration beyond Earth even amoung those that work within the Space Program. It is felt by some in NASA, that the 'solar winds' of the Sun ("Sol"), will not allow deep space exploration by humans. It is a debate that should be known to all citizens of the USA. Space is a void in many ways, but, it is not a complete void.
But, to simply stop the curiosity and the inquisition has harmed the ambitions of the USA. Sometimes the inquiry is more important than the lack of it.
The most incredible and little discussed fact of July 21, 1969, was the world's reaction to the moon landing. The world stopped. People gathered around any television or monitor they could find, regardless of country or city, to view the first human step onto Earth's satellite. We were more 'human' together at that moment than ever before in history. I believe the astronauts of Apollo 11 accomplished something no world leader has been able to achieve before or since. That was nearly more interesting than the accomplishment.
It is still a uniquely American achievement. No other country has been able to match it or has even tried.
He placed his left foot on the surface at 2:56 UTC July 21, 1969, then spoke the following:
“That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind."
