To Infinity and Beyond

Today, a few of the NASA top brass spoke to JSC employees about the Vision for Space Exploration and such. It was really neat, because a lot of the topics they discussed were things Gavin and I have discussed (or fought over, if you will) in the last couple weeks. At least we're that much in line with management, that we are talking about the same topics. I specifically liked the following:

1) Focus ISS research on things needed to forward the Space Exploration programs.
2) Modularize the design of CEV so that it can be reused or at least expanded to accomplish future missions.
3) A prize approach to some technology development is at least being considered, pending permission from congress.

Of course, when we got back to our building, the first thing that happened was that a co-worker got onto the elevator with us and immediately went on a rant about how it is never going to happen, they won't fund it, they won't follow through, etc. So that kind of brought me down - I'm not the eternal soul of optimism myself, but I also don't like eternal negativity. He's been around for a decade more than me, though, so I suppose I should reserve judgement until I've been trampled down a few more years. :)

Golf tomorrow is probably going to get rained out - go figure. It's actually a good thing for me because golf was going to require vacation time that I don't really have, but I was looking forward to not working. Four more work days before I go on vacation.