As a final adjunct. Briain has it right, obviously, because YOU DON't HAVE TO SCReAM and ShouT to get over this simple message. And it's not a political message. It's about what scientists call the Next Step in Evolution, what the Transhumanist may call the next step in the development of stellar civilisations.
On this issue, of the final frontier and taking all the crap to which we have been subjected, - 'out there':
This attitude to life for instance, we must leave 'at the door'.
Additionally, tomorrow STS-135 which will be the final Space-Shuttle Mission sets off on it's return to Planet Earth.
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ATLANTIS HISTORIC LAST FLIGHT
Return 20 Jul 7:06am EDT
Vehicle: Atlantis, Mission STS-135
Will carry the Raffaello Multipurpose Logistics Module to the ISS
www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/schedule.htmlRemember the 14 lost astronauts on the 'death-trap' STS cargo transport system that has been the Space-Shuttle Mission. Challenger and Columbia of course. When The outcome of the Columbia Accident enquiry (CAIB) had reached it's conclusions, it omitted to mention that the entire shuttle project was designed for the US military. The 'bay' onboard the shuttle being designed for military satellites. The spacecraft piggybacks behind the boosters making it vulnerable to both SRB explosions (1986) and debris impact (2003) with no chance of escape for the astronauts. The STS remains a death-trap.
http://www.nasa.gov/columbia/home/index.html