We never should have abandoned launching spaceships from American soil.
The last such launch was Atlantis’s liftoff on July 8, 2011 – about five months before I began this blog. On that flight was Douglas Hurley – one of a crew of four on that last shuttle flight. Nearly nine years later, Hurley joins Robert Behnken on the 326th manned spaceflight in Earth’s history. It will be the first manned launch of something other than the ill-fated Space Shuttle since 1975 when the last Apollo mission took place.
Forgive my strong opinion – but it’s about time we stopped hitchhiking with the Russians. The shuttles were dangerous birds, as evidenced by the Challenger and Columbia tragedies of 1986 and 2003, respectively. Who knows if we ever get back to the Moon (we should) or to Mars – but it’s worth it to make the attempt. And with all the terrible news that came out with COVID – America needs a good triumph that can bring the country together.
This could be such one moment.
A Slice Of Big Pauly 
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