The loss of the shuttle Columbia today was a tragedy, and yes it was a tragedy for America. But it was a tragedy for the world too. Curiosity alone has driven mankind to the stars, the shuttle was carrying an Indian, an Israeli and 5 Americans back from the International Space Station. Space does not belong to America, its exploration belongs to mankind. I am very glad to see that in his speech this afternoon, George W. Bush said:
The cause in which they died will continue. Mankind is led into the darkness beyond our world by the inspiration of discovery and the longing to understand. Our journey into space will go on.
The loss is more than a shuttle and 7 brave astronauts, the loss is our faith in space exploration. We cannot allow this loss to stop us moving forward, we cannot allow hope to be lost. Mars is next, people should not just be walking on Mars within my lifetime, they should be living on Mars, hell there should be people living on the moon.
One day we will go to the stars.