The endgame plays out - and the winner is not the USA

Tomorrow marks the end of an era. After a thirty year program the very last space shuttle mission will be flown.

And no surprise the end is here - after thirty years the shuttles have grown a bit tired. Two have been lost of course.

So fine what are American Astronauts going to use to get into space now, for missions to the International Space Station for example?

A jolly good question with a very interesting answer. They will hitch a ride with the Russians on their Soyuz craft.

Have the Americans got a replacement system lined up?

No - not even on the drawing board. Not even the germ of an idea of where to from here.

Guess who has a monopoly on manned spaceflight?

So who has won the space race?

A sad day.