On Sunday, March 15th, the Space Shuttle Discovery launched from Cape Canaveral at 19:43. It was a beautiful liftoff, which I saw from my balcony right here in Miami for the very first time. A lift off is quite a sight to see. It looks like a missle being fired into space.
I have been fortunately to view 2 Space Shuttle liftoffs from the Kennedy Center in Cape Canaveral. Shuttle launches are truly awe inspiring. How many people on Earth actually get to see an object launched into outer space? The only other countries with space travel capabilities are Brazil (the European Space Agency), Russia, China, and soon India. The general populice of both Russia and China would never be allowed to view a space launch, since it's a military function. (I'm not sure if Brazilian citizens are allowed). But as an American citizen to watch something being blasted into outer space is so cool.
One of the things everyone must do at some point in their lives is watch a live liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center. The liftoff itself is very quick. The shuttle is accelerating so fast, that you barely get to see it go off. But what is unmistakeable is the sound. The roar that comes off the launch pad from the rockets is unlike anything you've ever heard before.
NASA has a definitely PR problem. I am a firm believer that the United States needs to be at the forefront of space exploration. Exploration is what found and sustained this great nation. We need to out in front, leading the world in space exploration. But NASA has done a poor job on 2 fronts: 1. NASA was supposed to be a way to bring space exploration to the masses, since the U.S. taxpayers foot the bill for the agency (this is unlikely to happen). Instead, Virgin Galactic and private space exploration has stepped in to fill this gap: http://www.virgingalactic.com/ I cannot wait to fly on Virgin Galactic into "inner space" and experience weightlessness, if only for a few minutes. Of course, the price will have to come way down (currently booking for $200,000) but I'm ready to put down my credit card and make a reservation in about 10 years.
Another NASA PR flub is not fully explaining the international space station. The reason for the space station is twofold: 1. Space is an easier launching pad than Earth and 2. What are the long term effects on human beings to exposure in space? Both are crucial details for colonizing the moon and for longer space missions, such as those to Mars. I know that in my lifetime I will get to see the first Americans land on Mars. And what an amazing day that will be for the United States of America.
No comments:
Post a Comment