Reasons to pay attention to space

Sunday is the 45th anniversary of the original moon landing. By now, interplanetary travel seems routine with trips to the international space station and shuttle trips that seemed to be like subways to the stars. But there are still reasons to pay attention to space.

1 Think of the bravery of those original astronauts and test pilots, without whom we'd have no clue about the planets around us.

2 Space-age materials and inventions! They keep you warm in the winter, insulate your refrigerator, give you beverages (Tang, anyone), electronics, plastics and myriad other items.

3 Stars! Just take a look at photos from the Hubble Telescope, or look through a telescope at your home or an observatory. Truly amazing.

4 Exploring the world around you and learning more about the planet you're on.

5 Scientific experiments and satellites. Where would we be without 500 channels and cell phones?