The OWL is scrapped

Dave, thats brilliant writing :lol:
You should be writing for "have I got new for you", or some rte equivilant...

In all seriousness I'm very sorry to see the OWL go. Recently it seems that a number of ambitious programmes are being scrapped- The Space Shuttle is being decommissioned, The Russian Klipper craft is not getting much in the way of funding and now OWL.

When Arthur C Clarke wrote 2001 back in the 60's the year 2001 seemed a plausable date for moon bases, manned stations orbitting Mars and a pretty Space Stewardess who'd serve you a zero G G&T. What happened?

I know there has been superb science carried out with the Mars rovers, teh Cassini Huygens probe etc. but they just don't seem to capture the publics imagination. This generation will not have the equivalent of a moon landing, and to me that is sad.

Supposed to be another moon landing in 2018 Dave, although I wonder if the plug will be pulled on that one too???