The Space Shuttle Columbia’s successful flight represents tremendous developments in technology, but its greatest legacy to the American people may be renewed pride and selfconfidence. Too many Americans still don’t realize how significant and widespread the technological benefits of the flight are. Too many still think the launch of the 107-ton winged shuttle into space, from a financial standpoint, meant that many millions of dollars were lost in space even though the craft itself and the rocket boosters which were retrieved will be reusable. Aside from the tremendous potential for broader exploration of space the reusable shuttle vehicle represents, we on earth will reap incalculable benefits from the applications of shuttle technology in other areas of our lives. Past space programs have given those of us who remain earthbound benefits in medicine, communications, computers. electronics of all kinds and in aviation. Shuttle pilots John W. Young and Robert L. Crippen. the ground crew which saw them through the successful voyage. and the many companies and workers who designed and built the shuttle and its components have done more than expand the vistas of space exploration and make life better for many of us who will never get a ride in space. Historians probably will look back on the successful three-day flight and not mention those technological strides in citing its significance to the nation’s history. They may see the greatest dividend of this flight as a renewal of Americas self confidence and her industrial self respect. They may cite a rekindling of that traditional American desire to be the best. Columbia has shown that America’s industrial complex still is capable of excellence. Our engineers and designers still have what it takes to be Number l. Our workers still can turn out technologically sophisticated products that work. Now the rest of our industry needs to take advantage of that psychological boost. Our managers. engineers and designers must see that no matter how imposing our problems with regulation. productivity and modernization may be. solutions exist. We just have to find them. Our workers need to realize that the greatest reward for their work can’t be measured in wages or the fringe benefit package in their contracts. – That was expressed best by Larry Leyshon, a retired auto worker who drove to Cape Canaveral and camped in a nearby campground where prelaunch conversation topics included the Iranian hostage debacle and the p nuclear accident at Three Mile Island. “Doggonnit,” he said after the successful launch, it’s about time we showed somebody we could do something.”