You have my condolences then.
While I’m sure you were fulfilled by and enjoyed your work on the shuttles, our government failed all of us with no follow-on.
I’ve had folks tell me I was wrong to, but I always thought the SSTL space plane was a reachable goal.
I read the refusal to push for it to be the telling point, when it came to our future in space.
Our government refused to shoot for the higher ground.
I think refusing to accept that and develop our space capabilities, was tantamount to refusing to field a NAVY and surrender the high seas.
He who dominates space, will dominate the planet. He who dominates space, will dominate the development of the planets.
It’s the next frontier and we’ve abdicated it to any taker that wants it.
We could be slowly but surely developing our capabilities, but I just don’t see it.
The private sector isn’t going to fulfill our military needs IMO.