To infinity and beyond?

This year marks the 50th anniversary of John Glenn's flight in the spacecraft Friendship 7 on Feb. 20. He became the first American to orbit earth, and stirred the United State's passion for the space program. In the U.S., NASA has been the inspiration for many devices we use every day.

During the Cold War, we saw an international arms competition and from that emerged the space race where Americans were pitted against the U.S.S.R. for the title of the first man in space. We were 23 days late but since then our space programs have proven time and time again to be of immense value.

Early U.S. space programs began with launching small satellite's into orbit, since then, it has expanded and even contributes to the technology we use daily in order to keep in constant contact with friends, family and the world around us.

During the Apollo moon landings, Black & Decker developed a self-contained portable drill for NASA that enabled astronauts to extract core sample from below the moon's surface. The drill used a specialized computer program that helped develop the cordless mini-vacuum cleaner and other battery-powered devices.

In the 1980s, NASA engineer Frank Rudy pitched an idea to NIKE involving technology used inside of astronaut helmets to create an in-trainer shock absorber with a pad of interconnected air cells that we now know as NIKE AIR.

Most importantly, NASA research has led to improved life-support systems for firefighters, safer runways, and improved solar energy.

The missions of NASA engineers have provided Americans with orbital views of earth, planets, stars, and places we would not be aware of otherwise. The space program sparked the interest of many Americans, especially children who daydream about being astronauts and beg their parents for toy rockets.

NASA has even provided opportunities here at Clark. Students in the aerospace program were accepted into the "University Student Launch Initiative," a competition held by NASA, with the first-place winners receiving a $5,000 prize provided by ATK Aerospace systems.

With funding cuts and a decline in shuttle missions endangering the space program's future, citizens must show their support of America's space program. Most people don't realize the technology we have come to rely on - such as when a cell phone is pinging off a tower that uses concepts created by NASA.

Looking into the privatized arena, including astronauts traveling in spacecraft owned by other companies, we quickly see the space program changing. Our support plays a crucial part in advances and opportunities that touch every American in some way.