One For the Jaded Souls of the Children of Apollo

[PPI Brian]

My generation was born at the dawn of the space age. We used to believe anything was possible. Something happened over the last 50 years, and it doesn't seem like Americans believe that anymore. Except for us old-timers. We are the Children of Apollo. And we still believe.

"Those who came before us made certain that this country rode the first waves of the industrial revolution, the first waves of modern invention and the first wave of nuclear power. And this generation does not intend to founder in the backwash of the coming age of space. We mean to be part of it - we mean to lead it."  -  John F. Kennedy

This is a great video of a Saturn V launch. The music is "Baltar's Dream" from BSG Season 2, composed by Bear McCreary. It's awesome, and I wanted to share it with you.  

http://www.liveleak.com/e/0e6_1294617702

[PPI Tim]

That is  cool Brian. Without a future in space we have no future earth.
Have our leaders condemned our country to a earthbound footnote in the book of human history?

[PPI Karl]

That is  cool Brian. Without a future in space we have no future earth.
Have our leaders condemned our country to a earthbound footnote in the book of human history?

Well said, Tim. 

I think we will eventually reach our spaceward goals, but I have this feeling that it will fall to the purview of private entrepreneurs and commercial endeavors.  The dream of space exploration as science for the sake of discovery will become, once again, typical  capitalist ambition and the competition for resources.  Mark my words:  they'll start bar-coding the asteroids, dagnabbit!  To be fair, though, NASA has been successful because it is has always been part of the military industrial complex; "exploration for the sake of man" (which I am quoting from an early 1980's New Romantics song, "Ex Lunia Scientia," by Dramatis--one of my faves from the period; hear the full song at YouTube; it's actually pretty cool: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jmFn-q8bRM) is a worthy ideal but difficult for any government sponsored science agency to practice without having to serve other agendas.

Great video, Brian.  Thank you!  Love Baltar's Theme, also.  Saturn Vs would have taken us to stars.

[PPI Brian]

http://www.youtube.com/v/ZZsJ0OZUwJ4