...In Response to "The Star"...

I'm aware this story is set in the future. With talk of space travel to far and distant places, it is definitely of this era. Also, the site for this story is the search for the one Star of legend, the star that shone over Bethleham at the birth of the King. Every thing with in the story makes sense to me, however, one particular question stands out. Where is the Earth in this story? I'm not aware that there was any mention as to the Earth still being alive and well. There was talk of a lunar space station from which the explorers orriginated, but none of the Earth.