The race to explore the next frontier—to complete the unthinkable, to reach farther, to see more—has been a constant since the pioneering days of space technology. There was the race to space, then the race to the moon; new milestones stretched out as far as man’s mind could take him. With each milestone came the prize of singing its accomplishment by the nation that reached it.

The next milestone has been reached.

The latest marvel in the space race has been the European Space Agency’s (esa) landing of a probe on the barren, pockmarked face of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

While the Europeans are out breaking boundaries, the United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (nasa) is downsizing its space exploration program. nasa astronauts now need to hitch rides on shuttles to get to the International Space Station.

Consider the benefits that have come from space research. If you wear glasses, check your lenses—scratch-resistant lenses are the work of nasa. Look up. Can you see an adjustable smoke detector on the ceiling? That too is nasa handiwork. If you are reading this article from your phone, notice the camera. You guessed it, nasa again. And the list goes on. Chances are you could find technology all around that has been designed or influenced by space technology research.

Technological advances are just one aspect. Consider the honor that comes with such achievements. Few things can express and inspire national pride like seeing a nation’s flag on the moon, or a nation’s satellite touching the outer rim of the solar system. This week, that pride was no doubt stirred across Europe as mission control in Darmstadt, Germany, announced the historic touchdown on 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

The culmination of the first phase of the mission by the Rosetta Stone mother ship and Philae across a 4 billion mile, 10-year journey is an incredible achievement. But it is also reproves the U.S., which once stood at the forefront of such work.

The U.S. space program is now a shell of its former glory. Nations that have kept their programs running—such as Russia—now mock the U.S., suggesting they get trampolines to get their astronauts into space.

So much of space is yet to be understood. The Hubble telescope—another invention of space research technology—has identified billions upon billions of galaxies full of stars. (Read Richard Palmer’s article “A God’s-Eye View of the Universe” to begin to comprehend the size and scale of it all.)

Sadly, the U.S. has lost track of that awesome vision displayed in the night sky. Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry has written that “in this world full of terrorism, we need our universe dream.” But the U.S. space program has been down-scaled to the point where it is essentially grounded.

Man’s future goes far beyond 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Such a vision is hard to wrap your mind around.

As Mr. Flurry said, in this time of trouble, we need to look to the heavens and comprehend the stars that fill the night skies. Read our free booklet Our Awesome Universe Potential. It will impress upon you the incredible, awe-inspiring future in store for mankind. Our future truly is out there among the stars.