The end of the space shuttle marks a retreat in America's ambitions

[Lief 🗽]

We're an empire in (increasingly rapid) decline. What do you expect? I'm sure the Chinese and the Europeans and perhaps the Hindoostanis will do a good job of exploring space in our absence.

[Lief 🗽]

Since when does the left not believe in government-supported scientific research? NASA and space exploration is incredibly cheap, compared to so many other things we spend money on, and the scientific breakthroughs and technology developed because of the space program have impacted our lives and advanced our society in so many ways. It's not just shooting rockets into space because it's fun and looks cool; there's very real research and advancement that has come about and hopefully will continue to come about because of it.