If we don't have our Dreams...

"If we don't have our dreams, we have NOTHING."
     --The Movie "Astronaut Farmer"

The above quote is from one of my favorite space movies, "The Astronaut Farmer."  It's not one of the more marquee space flicks like "Apollo 13" or "The Right Stuff" for example but I really enjoy it.  Recently that quote and its sentiment have spurred more than a few lively conversations and debates. With the final shuttle mission, STS-135, barely more than a week away the thoughts of many in the space community have begun to look backward, with some sadness, on the 30 years that were the Space Shuttle Program.

Back in May of 2010 I was part of the #NASATweetup for STS-132, the first final flight of Atlantis, it was a very personal dream realized to see a shuttle launch up close for the first time in my life. As it became clear that Atlantis was going to get another go many of us who were at 132 expressed the desire to return and give Atlantis here true send-off. For me I only barely dared to dream that I might get to be there for the final flight of the shuttle program. In a mere eight days I will travel to Cape Canaveral again and be there to give Atlantis one more send off. For me the dream realized is a direct result of meeting and interacting with so many great people who share the same passion online, making many friends, and getting to share with them for the end of a program that has meant to much to all of us. That is a dream come true. I can't imagine any place I would rather be as the shuttle program draws to a close then reminiscing and celebrating with a couple 100 of my closest "SpaceTweeps!"

The legacy of the shuttle program, I believe, will be one of dreams realized. Dreams of both individuals but also of a nation and a species. The lasting shuttle legacy and most visceral example of the dreams it helped make real is of course the International Space Station. Lots has been made about moving beyond low Earth orbit but humanity has long dreamed of orbiting space stations, outposts and colonies. Watching the Soyuz fly-around video as it backed away from the station with the shuttle docked for me evoked images of Arthur C. Clarke's vision of a space station and the docking shuttle in the iconic movie "2001: A Space Oddessy." A dream realized. There are other examples of course humanity has since its beginning wondered and dreamed about "What's out there?" The shuttle was of course the delivery vehicle for the Hubble Space Telescope which has helped both realized dreams and inspire many more.

It is natural to feel a bit down as we bid farewell to the shuttle. Just as it is natural to feel a bit bitter and cynical about the fact that there is nothing yet to replace it. Commercial? No so-called 'new space' commercial company has yet to deliver cargo or crew to the ISS. Heavy-Lift? Will it be SLS? Direct? I admit I worry about the sustainability of a heavy-lift program. The Saturn V was not sustainable from an economic perspective even if we had kept building them. Will we find ourself in the same place after a few HLV launches? Destination? Where are we going anyway? The Moon? An asteroid? Mars? (I wish!).

I'm excited though and not just to be heading to The Cape. I'm excited because I know that there are still dreamers at NASA. It gives me an incredible amount of hope to hear people like Bill Gerstenmaier, Mike Moses, Mike Leinbach, Astronaut Mike Massimino, the crew of STS-135 talk about where we are headed...they inspire me. As long as dreamers of their kind remain at NASA I'm excited about what the future holds for humanity's efforts in space.

Many are worried that as the shuttle program winds down we will see a mass exodus from the Astronaut office. I'm curious I hope that isn't the case what a statement it would make if our Astronauts stick around as champions for a new age of exploration. There's a lot of talk about space tourism, and easy access to space. These things are important and should happen of course. But they must not happen at the expense of exploration. It's interesting to think of what Astronauts symbolize. We tend to think of Astronauts as people who are willing to push the boundaries of what humanity can do. Cliche yes, but they are those who we call upon to boldly go.

There's been talk of what does Astronaut really mean in the age of expanded access to space? Is anyone who makes it to orbit then an Astronaut? It seems to me that is something akin to asking is everyone who flies on an plane a pilot? I'm no more a pilot in that scenario than flying to Florida will be a mission of exploration. So too will be it be in space. Part of increasing the access to space is to make it routine the pilot of a Virgin Galactic Flight will be no more than today's 747 pilot just as the flight itself will be no more exploration than today's 8am to Orlando International. I believe the vital role of NASA and its Astronauts will actually increase as we continue to need the reminder that exploration is something special, something more, something that pushes the limits and takes us in to the unknown. We must not loose sight of both the vast differences but vital importance of BOTH of efforts and of coure each will require its own correct tools, skill, equipment, and personel to be successful.

So as many have said it is in our nature to explore, and I couldn't be more excited to see where the dreamers will take us!