Ten years from now when my son turns 12 years old the chances that his dreams will be somewhere high above the clouds orbiting the earth or even walking on the moon are pretty slim.

That is where his father’s dreams and aspirations were 30 years ago when he was 12 years old, kneeling in front of the television watching the first space shuttle blast off into space.

Columbia carried with it the space dreams of many American preteens that day.

From that very first flight, I had the vision of one day standing on the Florida coastline watching a space shuttle launch in person. It did not occur to me that there would be an end to the space shuttle program, but that dream ended when Atlantis made its final space voyage on July 8. With the landing of Atlantis Thursday morning, another chapter in the U.S. space program is complete.

Born just one year after man’s first steps on the moon, I grew up in the space age, sleeping below pictures of astronauts and moon landers. It was a time when anything seemed achievable.

Books, televisions, even theme park rides like Spaceship Earth at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT Center touted the limitless possibilities of space exploration and travel.

Despite the long gas lines of the ‘70s and the recession of the early ‘80s, the country never wavered from its final frontier pursuits. Of course those were the days when space exploration was a win-at-all-cost race.

Those days of limitless imagination and the courage to pursue impossible challenges have faded away to a time when the country’s leaders focus on our scarce resources and offer little optimism.

Watching Atlantis liftoff a couple of weeks ago, a coworker asked me what we ever achieved with the space program. She wondered if our exploration in space was worth it.

The preteen boy in me answered back, “Sure it was worth it.” But the adult in me could offer little proof — until I did my research.

There are many advancements in medicine that are either wholly or partially attributable to space exploration.

Advancements in mammography systems that have reduced the need for biopsies were developed from space radiation research.

Light-emitting diodes developed for plant experiments in space are now used to treat cancer and heal wounds faster.

GPS devices, ear thermometers, advancements in satellite television, cordless tools, scratch-resistant eyeglasses, portable vacuum cleaners, cochlear ear implants for the hearing impaired, improvements in house insulation, new materials for asphalt paving, improved baby formula all came from NASA space exploration research.

The Hubble telescope would have never happened without the shuttle. With it we have gained a greater appreciation for our connection the universe.

Those are just a sampling of the technologies and everyday conveniences that we enjoy today. Imagine the mysteries we might unravel if we try to conquer the other space challenges that lie ahead.

Despite the insistence that the U.S. will continue its space exploration, it will be at least another generation before an American is once again launched into space.

In 1981 when the first space shuttle launched into the sky, our country took pride in its courage to explore new worlds and brave impossible challenges.

I hope that it is a time that my son will get to see one day.

Ben Hillyer is the design editor of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-442-3540 or by e-mail at ben.hillyer@natchezdemocrat.com.