No, I would much prefer to have our own robust U.S. space program.

But, yes, I agree with the decision. This is just one of what will become a long, long string of changes in the U.S. because we simply can't afford to continue to fund this kind of program. If we are to even come remotely close to balancing the federal budget, there will have to be lots more visible and emotionally-charged spending cuts than this one.

By the way, we won't be totally reliant on the Russians. As I understood the decision, that will be only until 2015. I think the plan is that by then the space program, or a large part of it, will be privatized.

What does that mean? I don't know for sure, but I'd guess that the federal government would provide some "seed money" for research and maybe agree to turn over some facilities to private companies. I'd be pretty sure that whatever documentation that underlies this decision will outline what it means. But whether or not the space program continues would depend on whether the private sector could see some economic benefit in investing in the program. Like anything else in the private sector, if private companies can see a way to make a profit, they'll invest. If not, they won't. Kind of takes all the politics out of the equation, doesn't it?