On June 18, 2018, President Trump ordered the establishment of the United States Space Force as the sixth branch of the U.S. Armed Forces intended to have control over military operations in outer space. Is this something that brings us closer to the dissemination of information about aliens and our connections to them? Humans destroy each other on land, sea, and air. Are we programmed to continue the battles of humanity in space against each other and/or against extraterrestrials? Let the games begin and take us away from the destructive throes of everyday life on planet Earth. Are you ready for a greater adventure in space? I think most of us are. Sign me up.

Sally Ride, the United States' first woman in space, who flew 35 years today, has inspired countless people, as she lived a life committed to science, education and inclusion. And while she only "came out" publicly as gay in her obituary, written by Tam O'Shaughnessy, Ride's surviving partner of 27 years, Ride is still the first and only acknowledged LGBTQ astronaut. Today, Ride's legacy and life story continue to inspire, as she has set a leading example, conquering what before seemed truly impossible.