When the final space shuttle lands next week at Kennedy Space Center, it will begin a long stretch when the American space program will not be putting people in space. Between Russia, Elon Musk, and Virgin Galactic, it’s very possible that NASA will be the 4th or 5th next entity to do so. Is the US space domination officially over?

Will NASA be able to make up any lost ground when funding recovers and focus is given to manned space expeditions?

This video helps us to visualize what all this means and helps to put into perspective what is potentially lost.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXcrYje1m4E