An ANN Editorial 

Almighty Ruler of the all,
Whose Power extends to great and small,
Who guides the stars with steadfast law,
Whose least creation fills with awe,
O grant thy mercy and thy grace,
To those who venture into space.        

Robert A. Heinlein

One of my favorite science fiction writers, Robert Heinlein, vowed to live until he could die on the Moon. Technology did not allow him that privilege, but he did see many of this predictions about the exploration of space start coming to pass before he passed away in 1988 a quarter million miles away from his goal. But goals in space are not about dying, they're about living... about doing all of the things (in one form or another) above the Earth that we are used to doing upon it.

For the time being, blazing that trail to the heavens is going to take people of uncommon courage and character... and now and then, they will be forced to give up their lives because the most important things this race has ever accomplished have always come with risk. And the greater the act, the greater the risk. Astronauts are people who are involved in great acts... upon behalf of all the peoples of the world.

While the pain of the moment is real... we must also note that these were people who knew the risks they took on, but also saw and did amazing things. And if one had to leave this life, doing so after nearly sixteen days among the heavens and wonders of the universe is hardly the worst way one can be called to meet God. I hope they had fun, I hope they were excited, and thrilled, and filled with a sense of accomplishment... and I pray that the last thing they saw was the cool green hills of Earth, and that they left this life gently and without distress.

The pursuit of space will undoubtedly be attacked as a result of this tragedy. Let the myopic naysayers not dissuade you. Space exploration is important to us all. Space exploration improves our quality of life. Space exploration feeds people. Space exploration makes this planet more livable. Space exploration helps us understand more about virtually every science we pursue. Space exploration is inextricably linked to what makes us human beings. Space exploration defines us as a species, and magnifies our souls beyond measure. Space exploration is a vital part of our future... and for all these reasons and many more, space exploration not only needs to continue, but needs to be expanded so that more and more people will know its benefits, glories and (yes!) responsibilities.

We can't let this tragedy keep us from our collective destiny. We must learn what we can, fix what we must, and get on with the journey.
Onward.
Forward.
Faster.
Farther. 

But... we must make some big changes for the future... we must expand this adventure and quit flying twenty year old spaceships that were poor compromises from the get-go... we must work to commercialize space in every way so that the benefits to come will be realized as economically and swiftly as possible, and we must broaden our horizons--it is an abysmal shame that thirty years have passed since man last walked on the moon and that no feasible plans exist for us to even explore the rest of our own solar system, much less the stars. It's time to quit taking baby steps and run toward our destiny and take our place among the stars. 

This is what we must do... for those we grieve for, and for those of us left to carry on. It is the human thing to do.

-- J.R. Campbell, ANN Editor-In-Chief