Well now we've done it. Broke the planet.

The oil spill in the gulf is pretty bad. Probably the worst ever.

Hell, the planet is leaking. That's pretty bad.

What's this have to do with space exploration you ask?

We've been relying on 100 year old internal combustion technology to get around on our world for too long. Sure, we've tweaked it and made it more efficient. But Americans are too stubborn to drill for oil where we should. We're dependent on drilling in the hard places, where it isn't so easy to fix things when they break -- or blow up. We rely on fuel from people who don't like us very much - but like our money.

The technologies to replace this aren't there yet. Alternative fuels such as corn based aren't perfected - maybe never will be. Hybrids are crazy expensive, and still reliant on petroleum. Straight electric needs to be better. Hydrogen is a still a fantasy.

Why? Very simple -- we lost our focus in the 1970's. I remember as a kid hearing about 'Space Age materials' and thinking 'Wow, that's gotta be awesome.' It was, way back then. Now those materials aren't space age anymore, they are the norm.

Where are the new 'Space age materials'? There are none. We've quit exploring, quit inventing. The men who had ideas to develop 30 years ago are gone. Now we have to re-invent the wheel.

Well we had better get to it quickly. New innovations are long overdue.

It's time to Boldly Go!