Today, the U.S. human space program is severely handicapped by a paucity of forward-looking leaders. Consequently, it struggles from one self-created crisis to the next, not having any solid foundation of purpose and direction on which to make sound recommendations and decisions. A Great Power needs forward-looking visionary leaders pushing it forward towards the next horizon.
In the 1950’s, Dr. Wernher Von Braun gave America a clear vision of becoming a true human space exploring nation at a time when rocketry was still quite novel and the technologies needed were quite immature. Regardless, his visioneering set America on a path towards space. The familiar image below, from the 1950s, illustrates his reusable orbital spaceflight vehicle and his space station. The YouTube video below has Dr. Von Braun talking about one version of his space station. Imagine, as an American youth, seeing this video for the first time in the 1950s. America needs new space leaders that can recapture the visioneering of the 1950s to inspire a new generation and right the course for American’s human spacefaring enterprise.
