"Our New Neighborhood", these were the first words expressed about the landing site of the most recent Mars rover "Spirit" upon its successful landing and arrival to its new home, and I want to emphasize the energetic and jubilant tone of voice of the speaker of these words. All of his descriptions of the latest news about the landing and situation of this new Mars endeavor were spoken thusly. The enthusiasm was contagious and electric!

As I write this I am listening via Amateur radio to these news briefs as transmitted from Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL) on 4, January 2004 at 09:29 California time. At this point everything is looking pretty good, actually excellent, for the way this mission has gone so far. So far, these are critical words!

The tensions that have been evident in and for this mission have been present for good reason. In previous similar missions there have been mistakes, and there has been tragic loss. Yet another quotation that was made about a different space mission from decades ago speaking for the inception of the Apollo space program, "the most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure upon which man has ever embarked" still rings true.

Certainly we will never forget the losses we suffered during the Challenger, and Columbia shuttle disasters, and we will never forget Apollo 1. These tragedies though have not dispirited mans will toward achievement. I'm certain that if those whose lives were lost could speak, they would never wish us to stop or even delay our researches. This realization also makes success that more precious. Man genuinely can do whatever he has the will to do. Certainly though no life is threatened in this telemetric venture!

I look forward to and hope to live to see the day when U.S. Astronauts will once again land on planets of outer space. I had thought when I left school that I would likely work on such space related projects, and have been pleased to have at least contributed to the shuttle program, as well as some laser work for communications satellites. In these past decades, because of cost considerations, -- money was deemed to be needed to spend on the war in Vietnam -- we could not afford to continue that beetter ambitious space effort. Now though it seems we may once again have that freedom. I don't know when it will be deemed desirable or feasible to once again put men, and likely women on distant planets but, I am truly excited about what the inventions of man in the form of remote electronic radio telemetry will accomplish. We have the Spirit, and we have the Opportunity!