The End of the Space Shuttle Program: A Reflection

Thanks to God for the safe return of Atlantis and her crew! Many thanks to the men and women behind the shuttle space program of the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) who have worked so hard to make the program a success.

After 13 days in orbit and to the International Space Station (ISS), the space shuttle orbiter Atlantis has touched down safely at 5:57 AM today at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida marking the historic end of NASA's 30-year space shuttle program. On board with her arrival back to Earth were commander Chris Ferguson, pilot Doug Hurley, and mission specialists Sandra Magnus and Rex Walheim, the crew of the STS-135 mission that delivered a year's worth of cargo supplies to the six residents of ISS and brought back their trash to Earth.

It has bee a long journey for the space shuttle program that has been marred by successes and failures, controversies, achievements, and uncertainty for the future of the space exploration program of the United States. We can't forget what happened to the two space shuttles Columbia and Challenger and the 14 crew member-astronauts who didn't make it back to Earth. After a couple of years, after the two shuttle flight disasters, America has to move on. And, we saw or witnessed the continuation of America's determination to space exploration, amidst all that were taking place on Earth---wars, terrorism, poverty, injustice, greed, natural calamities, etc. 

Well, now I know, there is a reason to celebrate at this very moment---that is the successful and historic mission and coming home of Atlantis---but there is also that bittersweet feeling and sadness to note that it's the end of the era of space shuttle program. That leaves thousands of dedicated and hard-working NASA employees to be out of work and unemployed. Their future is uncertain as a result of this ending.

In life, changes and challenges are inevitable. As we continue living, we encounter, and overcome, obstacles. We grow and outgrow for that is the law or nature of life. That we have to move on and accept the change to come, whether we like it or not. The same thing applies to NASA's space shuttle program. Its mission is complete and done and, therefore, it becomes a part of America's space exploration history. And NASA has to move on to the next chapter of its life story, and mission which is to pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research (NASA.gov).

Having been a frequent visitor to NASA television channel on youtube, since the final launch of the last shuttle orbiter Atlantis on July 8th, Thursday, I'm glad and thankful that Atlantis and her crew returned safely to Earth today. The truth is, I've been praying for all the crews of Atlantis and the ISS for their good health and safety,  and camaraderie up in orbit, since Atlantis made her final voyage to orbit and to ISS and back to Earth. Each day, I don't go to bed until I've watched, via NASA television channel, on youtube, the latest happenings of Atlantis and the ISS. From this experience, I've come to appreciate and become aware of what NASA has been doing with regards to space exploration. I know that there is always danger and risk involved in any job, especially if that job is going to space. But, with adequate funding, strong determination, cooperation, and teamwork, there is success in every project or mission. Thank you, NASA, for all that you have done for humanity.