October 4, 1957: Russia launches Sputnik into space. Thus began the seemingly eternal battle for control of space exploration. Who would take the first man into space? towards the Moon, towards Mars? Whatever could be done by either country was done to give the advantage. It quickly became clear to all that neither country was going to back down from the challenge. However, much has changed since 1957, governments have collapsed and privatized exploration has taken over. . . what happened? Where is space exploration going? Where is the human race today? NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, was established in 1958, shortly after Russia launched Sputnik and the R-7 ICMB rocket. The administration was created to research and advance anything related to space, flight, or other aeronautical fields. A little over a year after the launch of Sputnik, on October 11, 1958, NASA launched its first rocket: Pioneer I. The primary purpose of this rocket was to measure the magnetic fields around the Earth. Even though the Sputnik projects had largely the same capabilities, the fact that the United States finally launched a rocket meant that they were actually in the race. On April 12, 1961, Russia became the first to send a manned spacecraft into space. The name of the craft was Sputnik 11, also known as Vostok 1. Yuri A. Gargarin became the first man to observe Earth from space. The flight lasted only one hour and forty-eight minutes before returning Gargarin safely to the Earth's surface. This happened just twenty-five days before NASA's first suborbital flight. This only added fuel to the fire of American passion to become the first nation to send a man to the Moon, thereby gaining an advantage over Russia in terms of total achievements in space. This, however, only happened halfway through......learn to accept. The question is not whether space should be privatized but whether space should continue to be privatized. SpaceX, Orbital Systems Co., Reaction Engines, Sierra Nevada Corps., all of these companies are working day and night to try to make the promise of life beyond Earth possible. Humanity has for hundreds of years been searching for the opportunities that present themselves today. Privatized space is finally achieving a scientific and technological breakthrough that simultaneously strengthens the financial and emotional situation of the United States. After all, space is the final frontier, which must be conquered. Governments have tried and failed, privatization may be the key to unlocking the secrets, give it a chance. Give private companies a chance to be recognized, let space be their drawing board. May space be their achievement, may they show the way to humanity.