The God is dead statement simply means that God (or religion in general) doesn't influence the modern world. 'course you -and by extension we- is evidence against that claim since we're being guided by the Holy Spirit. More to the point, the idea that humanity has a specific purpose is a presupposition which couldn't be derived from an atheistic worldview, yet people have an inclination becoming and worshiping something greater ourselves since we've conquered virtually every power on earth and in the heavens yet we're still unsatisfied just demonstrates that we hunger something we lost not in the physical realm but someone beyond.
I too like the idea of intergalactic travel, but he thinks it's gonna be something more meaningful than spiritual husks traveling in a metal cans, then he needs Jesus.