There has been no real comparably focused and persevering government initiative in the sciences since that time. Could there be a correlation between this and the tremendous waning in science interest among American students since the space race?
It is human nature to push the limits of the most advanced tools that we have at any time to prosper. President Obama’s speech to NASA promoting cancellation of future lunar landings, with the emphasis refocused on manned missions to new frontiers such as Mars and near earth asteroids, echoes Kennedy’s push to put a man on the Moon in some ways. America has been to the Moon numerous times, so it is natural to want to discover an entirely new frontier and reap the associated technological benefits.
On January 8, 2014, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy issued a press release announcing the U.S.'s decision to support the extension of the life of the International Space Station from 2020 to 2024. The press release also stated that the United States has a goal of sending humans to "Mars, asteroids, and other distant destinations."
The decision by the U.S. to extend its participation in the life of the ISS is an exciting development in scientific news. This will undoubtedly lead to further medical and technological developments, commercial space activity, research, and international cooperation.
An interesting video, Benefits for Humanity: In Their Own Words, explores many spinoffs from ISS technology that are benefiting humanity on Earth and can be viewed on YouTube at http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HhsaKTFz0TM. Fifteen nations are collaborating in ISS research which melds their talents to make our planet a better place.
I am hopeful that our nation's schools are informing students of the exciting developments occurring every day as a result of the ISS and that those students will locate within themselves the sense of passion and fascination expressed during the Space Race era.
"The best scientist is open to experience and begins with romance - the idea that anything is possible."
~Ray Bradbury