What are the contributions of humans in space as researchers, as explorers, as motivators?
As a space shuttle astronaut who’s operated space, Earth, and life science experiments aboard the shuttle, I’ve had the chance to reflect on what contributions humans can make to the future exploration of space. My new astronaut candidate class chose as its patch in 1990 an emblem that included the embroidered images of the Moon and Mars. My group thought we would have the opportunity to make the initial steps in that direction within the decade. I now think, after Columbia’s loss, that we as a nation owe the astronauts of today a purpose great enough to justify the risk they take each time they strap into the shuttle or begin a tour aboard ISS. Americans for two centuries have been aware of their nation’s pioneering role as explorers, and the importance of exploration to posterity. Merriwether Lewis, preparing to lead the Corps of Discovery westward into the unknown from Ft.
