Godspeed, Atlantis

Weather permitting, the final launch of America's space shuttle program will take place tomorrow. As Atlantis awaits its moment on the pad, the retrospective commentaries have been plentiful. This is particularly true locally, as Huntsville is home to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, the heart and brain of NASA's propulsion technologies. Understandably, the final launch of Atlantis - and of the United States' manned space program for the foreseeable future - is sort of a big deal around here.

I am sad that I never managed to get the family down for a launch. I've always wanted to see it live, but the one opportunity we had resulted in a months long launch delay. For all the typical naysaying about the costs and benefits of the shuttle program, the fact that we have made the non-routine seem routine for 30 years is a remarkable achievement.

As for what comes next, it is hard to say. This article in the New York Times talks about the obvious consequence of ending a program: the loss of institutional knowledge and experience. Perhaps some of these will take on with private firms that will help usher in a commercial launch capability. Too soon to tell, I suppose. But losing that capability will have a commensurate cost should we ever decide to go back out there. Arguably, of course, the space program is still active, from a military perspective (the Delta IV is the current workhorse). Private firms are up and running, and NASA is still looking at a deep-space program. But for a while, there will be no launches, no missions to capture the pioneering imagination of the young, and the young-at-heart.

In the near term, any Americans going to space will do so courtesy of the Russians. It is almost a bitter irony, isn't it? They were the first, and while the greatest achievements belong to NASA, the Russians will still be there after we stop flying.

From the confines of my workdesk or the TV at home, I will be watching Atlantis. I will be watching when she lands for the final time following a 12-day mission to the International Space Station. Godspeed, Atlantis, and good luck.