I was born three years after Neil Armstrong's moon walk. I've known no time without space travel, space shuttles, space stations. And yet, we're still earthbound. Which may be what NASA needs. Though the Bush White House has expressed renewed interest in space, the days of Cold War goals, and national pride equaling NASA pride, are gone.
Jingoism is an awkward way to achieve the next step of human intellectual and technological growth.
I'm OK with that. And NASA should be too. Space, or NASA for that matter, will not be cheapened by Tito's visit. Frankly, I'm surprised it took this long. If you told me, at age 8, that by the time I was 28, the closest I'd get to space would be that plane heading to L.A., I wouldn't believe you.