Space. The Final Frontier
I just watched the launch of NASA/SpaceX's Dragon to the ISS, and it was just... awe-inspiring. And pretty damn cool.
So much of my life is wrapped up in space stuff. I have vivid memories of watching Neil Armstrong et al landing on the moon. We lived in Georgia where my dad was stationed at a Naval Base, but were visiting my grandparents in Iowa. All of us were gathered around their little black and white TV, just so enthralled by what was happening.
Because we lived in Georgia, we visited NASA a couple of times. Those Apollo rockets were just huge! Even their models were big. I have a picture somewhere around here of my brother standing next to one he built, and it was at least as tall, if not taller than he was at 8 or 9 years old! IIRC, I was a bit bored on our second visit to NASA, but give me a break. I was... 10? I've been back as an adult, and those rockets are still huge! And it's a cool place to visit. :D
I remember all the build up to the shuttle program, and the fan-drive to name the first one "Enterprise". (Because, of course it should've been? Why was there any doubt?) I've been to the Space Center in Huntsville, AL, where they have a full-size mock up of the front portion you can walk in. Boy, was it smaller than expected!
I remember coming home from teaching a craft class to find out that the Challenger had exploded. We, my husband & I, lived in Germany at the time, and he had been watching the launch live. I got there just about the time of the accident, or maybe a little after. It was just... devastating. And to later find out it was because of "hurry up" attitudes behind the scenes just made it that much worse.
After we returned to the States, my husband worked in Wichita, KS, and we found out about the Cosmosphere, just up the road in Hutchinson. Who'd've thought a little bitty town like that would have such a fantastic space museum? They have full-size rockets on the ground, artifacts from various space flights, a restoration unit that has restored the Liberty Bell 7 among other things, and SPACE CAMPS! Needless to say, both our boys went to those camps, and were thrilled to do so. Our older son even got to go to Johnson Space Center in Houston as part of his last one. Talk about thrilled!
We were all frustrated when the shuttle program shut down in 2011, and truth be told, I'm a bit frustrated that we had to depend on a private company to get us back in the game, so to speak. Still and all, watching that launch today reminded me how much I love the idea of space travel. And it was pretty cool watching so much of it live instead of as animated recreations of what was expected to be happening. And seeing the 1st stage rocket land exactly where it was supposed to on re-entry? Wow!
I've never had the opportunity to watch a launch "in person", but who knows? If this kicks our space program back into gear, my brother does live in Florida... :)
Anyway, on a day where things in this country are ABSOLUTE SHIT, it's nice to have something hopeful happen. Kinda restores my faith in humanity. A little bit.
Keep reaching for the stars!
So much of my life is wrapped up in space stuff. I have vivid memories of watching Neil Armstrong et al landing on the moon. We lived in Georgia where my dad was stationed at a Naval Base, but were visiting my grandparents in Iowa. All of us were gathered around their little black and white TV, just so enthralled by what was happening.
Because we lived in Georgia, we visited NASA a couple of times. Those Apollo rockets were just huge! Even their models were big. I have a picture somewhere around here of my brother standing next to one he built, and it was at least as tall, if not taller than he was at 8 or 9 years old! IIRC, I was a bit bored on our second visit to NASA, but give me a break. I was... 10? I've been back as an adult, and those rockets are still huge! And it's a cool place to visit. :D
I remember all the build up to the shuttle program, and the fan-drive to name the first one "Enterprise". (Because, of course it should've been? Why was there any doubt?) I've been to the Space Center in Huntsville, AL, where they have a full-size mock up of the front portion you can walk in. Boy, was it smaller than expected!
I remember coming home from teaching a craft class to find out that the Challenger had exploded. We, my husband & I, lived in Germany at the time, and he had been watching the launch live. I got there just about the time of the accident, or maybe a little after. It was just... devastating. And to later find out it was because of "hurry up" attitudes behind the scenes just made it that much worse.
After we returned to the States, my husband worked in Wichita, KS, and we found out about the Cosmosphere, just up the road in Hutchinson. Who'd've thought a little bitty town like that would have such a fantastic space museum? They have full-size rockets on the ground, artifacts from various space flights, a restoration unit that has restored the Liberty Bell 7 among other things, and SPACE CAMPS! Needless to say, both our boys went to those camps, and were thrilled to do so. Our older son even got to go to Johnson Space Center in Houston as part of his last one. Talk about thrilled!
We were all frustrated when the shuttle program shut down in 2011, and truth be told, I'm a bit frustrated that we had to depend on a private company to get us back in the game, so to speak. Still and all, watching that launch today reminded me how much I love the idea of space travel. And it was pretty cool watching so much of it live instead of as animated recreations of what was expected to be happening. And seeing the 1st stage rocket land exactly where it was supposed to on re-entry? Wow!
I've never had the opportunity to watch a launch "in person", but who knows? If this kicks our space program back into gear, my brother does live in Florida... :)
Anyway, on a day where things in this country are ABSOLUTE SHIT, it's nice to have something hopeful happen. Kinda restores my faith in humanity. A little bit.
Keep reaching for the stars!