Earlier this week I attended the "DC-X/XA Reunion and Space Transportation for the 21st Century" conference in Alamogordo, hosted by the New Mexico Museum of Space History. I stayed at The Lodge in Cloudcroft, about 20 minutes and 9000 feet (in altitude) away. I was fortunate to attend the second DC-X launch in Sept. 1993 (I wrote about it at www.jeffkrukin.com/Love%20Affair%20With%20Space.pdf), and it was a wonderfully reaffirming experience to be with the engineers and managers who accomplished so much (12 launches) with so little (app. $60M) in a short period of time (1993-1996). Sound familiar? As the GLXP contenders struggle with the same challenges, the DC-X/XA team members, especially the late Apollo 12 astronaut Pete Conrad, their leader, are ideal role models.

Several nights ago, as I was driving up Hwy. 82 to The Lodge, a full and magnificent Moon appeared just over the mountains, and I found myself talking it. "It's all about you," I told it, "And don't be concerned about those who insist that we know you well enough to bypass you and go directly to Mars. Don't listen to those who say there is nothing more we can learn from you. We are coming, so don't give up on us."

As I continued driving on the twisting mountain road, the Moon would briefly vanish behind the mountains and then reappear, as if to say, "I didn't hear you, what was that you said?" I repeated my message and assured the Moon we had not forgotten its importance in our lives, and the Moon stayed with me for the remainder of the drive.
- Jeff Krukin