Back to Space

Just watched the 140-somethingth successful launch-and-return of a first stage rocket by Spacex.  They've done 40+ this year.  Feels like I'm back in the early days of spaceflight... even though I wasn't alive back then.

I was born 2 years after the last man walked on the Moon.  My earliest launch memory is of the first Space Shuttle launch.  I remember sitting in front of the TV to watch it.  The large fuel tank was still white at the time.  

After that, there were effectively no human spaceflight innovations for the next 40+ years.  The Shuttle was designed in the late '60s.  NASA hasn't launched a spacecraft to carry humans in over a decade.

If it weren't for an eccentric billionaire, the USA would still be without a space-worthy launch vehicle.  Of course, that's the way innovation typically occurs.  Someone decides to risk their own resources to satisfy their curiosities, resulting in a benefit to everyone.

Still, it would be awesome if Artemis is successful.  The limitlessness of space is bounded only by imagination.  Any attempt to access it by anyone is inspiring.