OT: FW: NEWSFLASH: Shuttle Discovery touches down safely

[Guest guest]

This is very off topic, but it was good news this morning ....

 

My 5 year old son watched live both the take off of this flight and the

landing this morning. He thought it was awesome and wonderful. I am very

glad that something so technologically amazing, that we've over the

years shrugged off as so routine, but really isn't, went well this time

around.

 

I remember the January day in 1986, when I was 13, being at my Grandma's

house watching the Shuttle Challenger take off and seeing it explode on

live TV. That is a memory that will be with me forever, as much as

watching the towers collapse on 9/11 .. And I remember that Saturday

morning in January of 2003, being in may car, hearing the news on the

radio about Columbia, the original Shuttle, that I still have the toy of

from when it was brand new, has broken into pieces and was raining down

on parts of Texas.

 

Some folks don't believe a space program is worth the expense. Some feel

that shuttle program is outdated at this point .. I personally am one of

the folks who looks forward to the next technological leap that we take

into the " unknown territory " of space .. But no matter what, we have to

remember, space travel is never " routine " and we have to remember to

truly appreciate how much we've accomplished as a species and also how

much we still have to (and can) accomplish - in so many areas.

 

Amazing things encompass us, from creations of nature to feats of

mankind. Don't let anything become routine and taken for granted. Let

that magical, childlike power of awe and wonder inspire you - in all you

do

 

Later gators!

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

 

 

 

 

NewScientist.com Newsflash

[newscientist]

NewScientistSpace.com - NEWSFLASH

 

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Space shuttle Discovery touches down safely

 

The orbiter touched down at Edwards Air Force Base in California at

0812 EDT (1212 GMT) on Tuesday, ending a 14-day mission to service

the International Space Station.

 

The safe landing came as a huge relief to NASA and the rest of the

watching world - it was the first shuttle to land since Columbia

disintegrated during atmospheric re-entry in February 2003.

 

 

Read the story here:

http://www.newscientistspace.com/article/dn7819

 

Catch up with every aspect of the mission in our Return to Flight

special report, including images, video, an interactive timeline and

our exclusive " Instant expert " feature:

http://www.newscientistspace.com/channel/human-spaceflight/space-shuttle

 

Subscribe to New Scientist magazine and get 4 FREE ISSUES at:

http://www.qssa.co.uk/new_scientist/default.asp?promcode=2169

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