This Wednesday, July 13th 2005 marks a special day for the United States Of America. It marks our nations return to space. For the first time since the Space Shuttle Columbia was lost on Feb. 1st 2003, Americans will fly into the heavens on a craft built in the U.S.A., the Space Shuttle Discovery will carry a crew of seven astronuats, including commander Eileen Collins into space for a service mission to the International Space Station(I.S.S.).

"We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade, and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard." was one of the key points made in a speech by John F. Kennedy on September 12th, 1962. Well, we achieved that goal.

Now, faced with an uncertain future, Those words and those goals seem more distant then the nearest star, Proxima Centauri, which is 4.24 light years away.

Many people have a severely pessimistic view of our psace program. But think of this; Many of the products we now don't even give a second glance too probably wouldn't exsist in their present form without the innovations made by NASA crews. Your microwave, cell phone, computer, hell even some of your pillows and matteresses all owe themselves to NASA. If it wasn't for them, you might not even be reading this.

Those of you who use air travel, a lot of the safety innovations in modern day aircraft were made by the U.S. space program and it's subsidaries. Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Gruman, all these companies have major ties to NASA.

On January 27th, 1967, the crew of Apollo 1, Ed White, Virgil "Gus" Grissom, and Roger Chaffee perished in a fire during a simulated launch exerscise at Kennedy Space Center. Much of the launch tower where the tragedy occoured is gone now, but part of it remains, on one of the walls is a plaque.

The Plaque says "Ad Astra Per Aspera", translated, it means "A rough road leads to the stars."

It has been a rough road indeed, but if you've ever seen a shuttle launch, be it in person, or on televsison, you have to admit, it is indeed an awesome sight.

Personally, I get a chill and a bit watery eyed every time I see one. Rarely do I have more pride in my country then when I see American ingenuity roaring skyward on machines that are the most complex craft on the planet.

This is something that our country cannot simply turn a blind eye to. Are we that jaded that we can't stop for a bit and marvel at the extraordianry sacrifices these men and women are making for us? They have families just like us, they have a paycheck, just like us.

They're daring to dream and use their imagination which is something many people seem to have forgotten how to do. When that shuttle goes up wednesday afternoon at 3:51, will you realize this?

We can't forget about the hopes and aspiriations of these indviduals any longer. When President Bush made his speech on January 14th, 2004 about going to Mars, many people laughed it off. When Kennedy made his speech, many people cheered. Has our nation really lost it's imagination that much? Imagination is what got us to the moon in the first place. I for one applaud the notion of visiting other planets. Thats right, I'm proudly admitting the fact that going to Mars is a good idea.

For too long now, Americans, and people the world over have lagged behind in giving thought to this notion. Many people say that there is nothing out there to see. People laughed at Tom Cruise and at others who believe in extra-terrestrial life.

Well for those of you I have a quote from the famous astronomer Carl Sagan. "If it is just us, seems like an awful waste of space."

Think of that for a while. This a wonderful opportunity to explore, Another thing many people seem to have forgotten how to do. It's a chance to go on the ragged edge and see things that have never been seen, its a chance to open new horizions and expand our knowledge.

The crew of the Columbia, the Challenger, and the crew of Apollo 1, all of whom gave their lives for their country should not have passed away in vain. They want us to continue reaching for the sky. What they did is not heroic, it is legendary.

If this isn't enough to make you beleive, I want you to go find a secluded area, a dark field, a quiet spot on the beach away from everything, and look up at the sky one night. Look up and just wonder for a bit. Stare up and look how beautiful it is and wonder and hope and dream. Dream.