Space: I've seen a few inevitable articles floating around suggesting that the NASA manned space program has outlived its usefulness. Authors question the value and cost-effectiveness of space research, and ask "how many lives are we willing to risk for this program?" Well I don't know how many lives "we" are willing to risk, but the astronauts in the program seem to think the cause worthy enough that they choose to risk their own lives for it. The New York Times yesterday pointed out that if the US continues falling behind in funding for space research, China will soon be the dominant power in space. The conclusion is clear: There will be space exploration. There will probably be manned bases on the moon and elsewhere. If the US doesn't do it, it will be done by some other country. Perhaps the public has developed a sense of complacency following such a long-held dominance in space. I think, if nothing else, it would be an injury to national pride if one day we all woke up to the realization that someone else in the world is forging ahead in space while we are all sitting at home getting fat. Bush is proposing more funding for NASA. We will go further into space. The Space Elevator will take us there.