Greetings, loyal minions. Your Maximum Leader watched the lift off of the Space Shuttle Discovery just a few moments ago. So far all looks like it is going well. One hopes and prays that the mission is successful.

As excited as your Maximum Leader gets about the Space Shuttle, he wonders at what point we will look to the next generation of space vehicles. The Shuttle is, after all, 30 years old in its concept. (He knows the technology keeping the shuttle going it constantly updated.) But our goals and aspirations in space are different now than 30 years ago. Perhaps it is time to recommit ourselves to a new and bolder mission in space…

Carry on.