Astronaut Ed Mitchell’s death is a great loss.  He is a true hero, one of the many who worked so very hard, who risked so much, with such diligence and camaraderie, to get us to the Moon. I wonder what happens as those, who did these amazing things, and lived those times, are “succeeded” by those who are technologically ignorant. What happens when those who prefer to believe that the Moon is painted on a celestial sphere and spun by a mythological entity gain political power and control?

As someone who had a very small part in unmanned space flight, but who got to experience some of the tremendous rushes of success and heartfelt loss, I hope that somehow this country pulls its collective head out of its nether regions and focuses on science and exploration, not bombing others back to stone.