I don’t think this is all doom and gloom. We have always been looking back on the Apollo program as the golden age and have always wanted to see it happen again ever since the 70s. The truth is, that was a rare moment in human history where technological advances, politics, and patriotism all lined up. It is not something that can be sustained. Humans have always been pushing the bar, but it is not a continuous process; it comes in waves and peaks. Sometimes the bar stays where it is for decades or centuries, and then jumps forward unexpectedly.

The things that allowed the Apollo program to happen are no longer around. There is no cold war to give us a sense of urgency, there is no one exploration goal that the country can get excited about, no politician wants to attach themselves to a large budget, and our rocket technology has reached a plateau. Although we have made huge advances in computing power, that won’t get our spacecraft to go faster.

We are waiting for the next jump in rocket technology. Maybe we will look at nuclear rockets again or centuries from now develop antimatter engines. While we wait, we can still push the limits in other areas. Just because we are not doing something new doesn’t mean humankind has stagnated. We can develop cheaper and easier ways to launch satellites which will one day aid in another manned space mission in the future. Commercial space travel is still something to be impressed with. Sure, SpaceShip Two is not going any higher than NASA’s earlier efforts, but they will do it with much less money and much more frequently. I remember the day SpaceShip One was launched and I am sure I will look back on it as those who remember Neil Armstrong walking on the moon.