Darlene's Digest

Image by TopTechWriter.US via Flickr Once upon a time, the words "The Eagle has landed" sent a shiver up my spine and made my heart race faster. Now I can add the phrase "The Phoenix has landed" to my memories. We've sent a machine to Mars to peacefully explore our neighboring planet. It's the 21st century and we're exploring Mars! I don't have my flying car yet, but that's pretty cool. We humans are still capable of doing great things and advancing knowledge of the worlds beyond our doorstep. Kudos to all the scientists who worked to make this happen! Nerds rock!

I watched 2001: A Space Odyssey last month, and part of what I felt as I watched it was an aching sadness for the future that wasn't. A future with commercial travel to the moon, and manned missions deep into space. I still believe in space exploration, but one of the greats who also believed in it is gone. Sir Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008) died today. He will be missed, not only by his legions of science fiction fans, but by all who shared his vision of a better tomorrow, where humanity would keep reaching for the stars.