Space Shuttle: End of a 30 year ride. Beginning of a new...

The Space Program has been a joyful interest for me since I was just past toddling. We moved from Indiana to Denver when I was about 2 and my dad went to work for the Martin Company. While working there, Dad nearly died on a gantry when a fire broke out and the suppression system pressure was so strong it blew out most of the air on the platform where he was standing. His best friend was killed in the fire. He changed companies and we were living in Florida when Grissom, White, and Chaffee died in Apollo 1. I remember the thick black borders on the newspapers and the grim set to Dad's face. The memory of that event is even more enduringly clear for me than the more recent Challenger and Columbia sorrows. But. "To boldly go where no one has gone before" is inherently dangerous. It always has been. Yet, they judged the risk worthwhile. Not only for the science and the adventure, but for us. To lead the way for us to reach upward. To help us find what's out there.

One of the most awe-inspiring memories I have is of our family driving to the foothills outside Denver in the middle of the night to watch the test firing of a Titan IIIC engine. Seeing the rocket standing outlined by those glaring white lights against that deeply black night sky, then the sudden bright orange and red and yellow flame billowing up and around the tower was a privilege for which I will always be grateful. I remember when our school shepherded us out in the sunshine to watch Apollo 7 fly into history. (I have an autographed copy of Wally Schirra's autobiography. Have only read part of it, but I have it! :-) I remember my dad waking us up at midnight to watch Neil Armstrong step down off that ladder. I remember how tears of pride blurred my vision when the television I took to work showed a flawless Columbia as she touched down in 1981.

I remember the last flight of Mercury (vaguely, but I do.) I remember the last flight of Gemini. I remember the last flight of Apollo. I remember the wonder of Skylab--and the hysteria over it's reentry. Now, today, I will remember the last flight of the Shuttle.

The painful casualties and epic successes of all the world's space programs are endlessly fascinating to someone who is old enough to remember the fear and excitement, the hope and competition generated by each new flight, each new goal met. And who remembers how very many dedicated, committed, caring people it took to bring about the truly amazing accomplishments and discoveries of the last 50 years. Just look at any photo taken by Hubble. Few visions are more beautiful. Look at the Space Station--WE HAVE PEOPLE LIVING IN SPACE!! How astonishing and miraculous is that? How far we have come and how far we have still to go. I hope we get back to the moon and build a base. I hope we get to analyze red Mars dust live and in person. I guess I just hope I live long enough to see where we will get to next.

Essay complete. End of mission. LOL

I lived in Derry, NH when Alan Shepherd made his ride. Imagine, the first man to go into space. What an historic achievement. And he came from Derry!!!! But I am saddened by the total lack of respect for this wonderful accomplishment. All that is there where he was born is an overgrown field and a small sign that said the Shepherd family lived there. How very, very sad......

It is. And that is what often happens with people who are born well after the achievement. It isn't relevant to them. Just as what is new and miraculous to them won't be any 'big deal' to their kids and grandkids. Or whatever they will be calling it then. :-)

That was a nice essay.

As for living in space- the book Packing for Mars by Mary Roach gives a really eye opening and often humorous education on the challeneges that had to be overcome to get people up there.

Thank you, Sally. :-)

Sounds like a good read......

I certainly enjoyed it. The book, I mean. LOL

Debra.. I was very close to all of things of NASA, My Brother was Division chief at Vandenberg Berg Air force base in California & launched all of the Delta rockets & put up all of the satilites, He was called to Cape Caniveral to take over all Delta Rocket operations & worked with Wheiner Von Braun. He was good freinds with all of the Guys that went up in space & was a good buddy of Wally Schirra's & Neil Armstrong. My brother recieved the highest award from NASA & Neil Armstrong & F.Lee Baily was there to see him recieve it.
Roseman2

Roseman, isn't it wonderful? :-) And congratulations to your brother, he surely earned as many awards as they could give to him. Even watching the news clips decades later, I still get a thrill out of watching launches. Hearing Jules Bergman diagramming the modules' routes. And especially "Uncle" Walter Cronkite's voice on countdown. Go, baby go! :-D