Except the opposite. The race in the 60's prompted a huge push in technology advancement that transcended aeronautics and space flight and found its ways into other industries, which reaped hug rewards and helped grow economies with new technology advancement. A new 'space race' would no doubt excite many young people into becoming scientists and engineers who would create new technologies and advance us further.

Unless they come up with another form of propulsion, gong to another star system will never happen in our life time. Alpha Centauri is the closest star system to us and at 20,000 mph it would take 178,000 years to reach it. Even at the speed of light (186,000 miles per second) it would still take 4.5 years to get there. No need to start saving money for a plan ticket.

LMAO

Dude...this is like trying to explain the operation of your iphone to a Neanderthal. It's a complete waste of your time and his.

It's so damn unfair.

There has never been a more ardent supporter, a more fervent believer in the space program than me...I have watched it since I was a little boy, watched the first steps on the soil of the moon, when I could barely contain the emotions I felt.

Back then in the late 60's I was so sure we'd be planting a flag on the surface of Mars in the 1980's and planning incredible voyages and feats of exploration I could barely imagine...and we just turned our back on it all to buy a few votes with what amounts to a few crumbs of our national budget in a typical short-sighted, penny wise, pound foolish idiocracy run wild.

Now, with my health failing and man still exploring the stagnant pools of low earth orbit, I will never get to see the incredible journeys man might have made and the huge benefits mankind could have derived from them.

I guess in my own way I am as selfish and bitter as BWillie...

That form of propulsion is already in use, its just that it will never be admitted to like the stealth bomber etc.

:spock:

You think we've presently got a form of propulsion which can power a ship at the speed of light and/or faster?

Artificial singularity caused by the sheer massiveness of Direckshun's mother.

The Orion engineers at Lockheed Martin will be hosting a Reddit AMA on Monday from 1-2pm EST (again, if you're into Reddit)

https://scontent-b-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/...3d&oe=54E1E410

Orion's in orbit!

Watch Live:

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/#.VIGkTMlNcsc

Maybe when you can post "Americans are in orbit once more!" there will be a little more excitement.

High orbit insertion burn was good, and Orion is about to separate from the Delta IV booster and head home.

Splashdown in 30 minutes, 270 miles west of Baja and 450 miles SW of San Diego.

We had a great view from the west coast of Florida