Complete tour of the International Space Station

Most of the design and architecture we cover here on the Met is awesome but this one is literally out of this world. In this beautiful high def video we are taken on a complete tour from one end of the International Space Station to the other. The video ends inside the Space Shuttle docked to the Station. I worked for NASA for 13 years and got to go into the Space Shuttle many times. The Space Station though was just really getting underway when I left. I saw several of these pieces on the ground but this is the first I have seen the inside of them assembled and working in orbit. This is a wonderful example of what we can accomplish if we put aside petty differences and work together for the common good

President Obama is having to make some very tough choices in his budget now. One of them I do not agree with though is to completely cut funds for manned exploration in space (Project Constellation). So many good things have come from our work in space and we are just beginning to get our feet wet there. I understand he wants NASA to spend what meager funds they are allocated on earth science, primarily climate change. That is important work but there is SO much more we could do.