"I put up my thumb..."
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
"I put up my thumb and it blotted out the planet Earth." - Neil Armstrong
Our parents had the Apollo moon missions. So far my own generation has had the space shuttle and the International Space Station.
I was eight years old when Columbia flew her maiden voyage, and it was THE coolest thing ever. The space shuttle looked like and represented every toy space ship any young boy ever had as a kid -- flying it around the house, making rocket, mechanical, crash and transmission noises to ourselves with our own mouths. The recliner was one planet while the couch was another, and the other rooms in the house? Different universes of course. "...static... Houston do you copy?...static...."
I'm thirty-five now and just finished watching the shuttle Atlantis land at Kennedy Space Center on the NASA channel -- THE absolute coolest channel ever.
From the moment I learned we had access to full video and audio coverage of every shuttle mission, uninterrupted from start to finish, I've tried to catch at the very least the launches and landings, and inbetween the oh-so-cool space walks, complete with helmet cams, privileging us all with the same amazing views each astronaut is seeing. Whether that be the earth from 210 miles up or of white gloved hands working with tools to add another piece to the ISS. All live. Crazy.
The last space shuttle mission ever is scheduled for September of this year. It's a bit depressing and feels a bit like trading in an old dependable car you've had for years and don't really want to give up, even though it's the smart thing to do. The shuttle is the most complex piece of machinery ever made, and there are parts of the shuttle that just can't be updated anymore. To move forward with moon and Mars plans a safer, simpler, and more economical vehicle must be employed.
I know all the pros and cons of new moon or Mars missions. The cost, the danger, the what if's, and the "but why's..?" I even understand one of the biggest arguments of why spend money "out there" when we can use it so much better "down here". (How much has the war in Irag cost so far...?)
My reason for going is: Because we CAN.
Our parents had the Apollo moon missions. So far my own generation has had the space shuttle and the International Space Station.
I was eight years old when Columbia flew her maiden voyage, and it was THE coolest thing ever. The space shuttle looked like and represented every toy space ship any young boy ever had as a kid -- flying it around the house, making rocket, mechanical, crash and transmission noises to ourselves with our own mouths. The recliner was one planet while the couch was another, and the other rooms in the house? Different universes of course. "...static... Houston do you copy?...static...."
I'm thirty-five now and just finished watching the shuttle Atlantis land at Kennedy Space Center on the NASA channel -- THE absolute coolest channel ever.
From the moment I learned we had access to full video and audio coverage of every shuttle mission, uninterrupted from start to finish, I've tried to catch at the very least the launches and landings, and inbetween the oh-so-cool space walks, complete with helmet cams, privileging us all with the same amazing views each astronaut is seeing. Whether that be the earth from 210 miles up or of white gloved hands working with tools to add another piece to the ISS. All live. Crazy.
The last space shuttle mission ever is scheduled for September of this year. It's a bit depressing and feels a bit like trading in an old dependable car you've had for years and don't really want to give up, even though it's the smart thing to do. The shuttle is the most complex piece of machinery ever made, and there are parts of the shuttle that just can't be updated anymore. To move forward with moon and Mars plans a safer, simpler, and more economical vehicle must be employed.
I know all the pros and cons of new moon or Mars missions. The cost, the danger, the what if's, and the "but why's..?" I even understand one of the biggest arguments of why spend money "out there" when we can use it so much better "down here". (How much has the war in Irag cost so far...?)
My reason for going is: Because we CAN.
posted by Corey at 12:00 PM
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