NEWS: And now for something completely different.

[caffienekitty]

The last flight of the Space Shuttle program landed safely today, so I wanted to link you all something.

A video tribute to the Space Shuttle program including footage from every flight, and at least one appearance by every single person who flew in a Shuttle.

I grew up with the Space Shuttle as both a sci-fi fan, and a space exploration fan (I was the only kid in my Brownie Troop to earn the Space badge), and I cannot watch this video without crying a monsoon. It’s not sad crying, except at a couple obvious points, more a feeling of fin de siecle, the end of an era. I know space travel will continue via other means and different coalitions of organizations, including NASA. I mean if nothing else, no one's going to strand the folks still up there on the space station, hahaha.

Lots of other countries and organizations are well capable of space flight now and cooperation in space is rampant, and that thrills my inner ‘80’s kid right down to her sparkly-jelly-shoe-covered toes.

Anyway. Space. It’s out there, and humans aren’t going to stop bothering it just because a fleet of ships has retired, but damn those ships did some impressive stuff over their service life.

Comments

[bugeyedmonster.livejournal.com]

Did you hear about the big crowd that was there in Florida for Atlantis' return home? I kept thinking, if I had the time/money, I would have been there too. I grew up hearing about NASA all the time, and I'm a big sci-fi fan, and so is my dad.

I'm sure you've seen that picture shot of Earth that was taken by the astronauts on the first moon landing. There was a short on PBS where they were interviewing folks who remember seeing that for the first time. I hadn't realized the impression it made at the time. (I've grown up with it and haven't thought anything of it.)

Anyway... end of an era, for sure.

But I'm sure NASA's got some cooler things coming.

[caffienekitty]

I don't doubt there was a huge crowd. History does that when people know it's coming.

I wasn't alive when the picture of the Earth came out, but I can see why it made a big impression. From up there, you can see it's not a bunch of different countries, it's all one world. Provided perspective.

[bugeyedmonster.livejournal.com]

There was also a repeated comment about how *small* the Earth looked. People apparently didn't realize how small (and fragile?) the Earth appears.

[ciaranbochna.livejournal.com]

I am with you. The whole thing just makes me want to cry, yet so many amazing accomplishments.

I didn't know they had a space badge in brownies, damn, how did I miss that? lol

I will watch the video when I get home:)

[caffienekitty]

My memory is a bit foggy, but it was a struggle to get it. I only knew about it because I read the manual myself. In the late 70's most Brownie leaders weren't terribly interested in promoting it because it wasn't related to cooking, cleaning, raising a family or answering the phone in a pleasant manner. Even at eight I knew that was crap.

[ciaranbochna.livejournal.com]

Ahh that would explain it, and why I wasn't fond of most of my time in Brownies..lol