18 years ago yesterday, the Challenger exploded just after launch. It was January 28, 1986. Tuesday, the twenty-seventh, was the thirty-seventh anniversary of the Apollo 1 fire. Sunday, February 1, marks the first anniversary of Columbia’s fatal re-entry.
We remember.
I saved that graphic at work and emailed it home. I’m embarrassed to admit that I didn’t record which web site I got it from. I would like to credit it…
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Andrea’s Weblog is 4.0! Congratulations!
Audrey was busy over the semester break. Not that she isn’t now since she is into the second semester of her doctorate studies.
I think many of you will have already recognized this as the painting used on the dust jacket of the hardback edition of The Hobbit. Ian also has glow in the dark stars in summer constellations on the ceiling and planets on one wall to keep him company at night. The dark band is a chalk board that encircles the room.
Staying up waaay too late, but it is so exciting seeing these images as they come in real time from Mars and listening to the reactions of the JPL crew. Again, Susan and Adot* will have more complete comments and coverage.
Fantastic stuff.
I would be remiss if I did not note yesterday’s passing of someone central to my childhood. Bob Keeshan was Captain Kangaroo on television. I’m told that I loved the Howdy Doody show where he played Clarabell the clown as well, but I don’t remember that. I do remember that I dearly loved the Captain, however, and his friends. Thanks, Bob. Thanks for all the many happy memories.
Susan and Adot* have the goods, but the quick message is that Opportunity has safely touched down on the red planet. I moved Trinity out to the dining room table so we could watch the landing and press conference on NASA TV without being crowded.
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There are many things worthy of commentary in the past two weeks. I will confine my comments to the Mars Rover [Sprit] Mission and the cessation of maintenance to the Hubble Space Telescope.
The rover mission is inspiring and wonderful and tickles my geek to no end. Susan and Adot* are among those covering this well. Check out Susan’s sidebar for a broad listing of pertinent linkage.
I have been less positive and confident about the President’s announcement concerning his new ’space plan.’ No one wants the stars more than I, but something seemed amiss in this announcement, not quite right. Perhaps the astounding Federal deficit, the failure of the ‘No School Left Standing’ education plan, that his ‘Support Marriage’ campaign is getting 150% of the allocation of the space plan, the utter disdain this administration has for scientists, my suspicions that this is really a plan to militarize rather than explore space (human exploration = military occupation?), or perhaps it is just the fact that I feel that the messenger in an inept scam artist.
Anyway, the ‘realignment‘ of NASA’s priorities seem custom made to funnel public funds into the usual corporate suspect’s pockets. I should have known. Hell, I suspected, but was optimistic for some reason.
Hubble is the first to get the axe. There will be other good programs that will die as well. We are doing fine right now with robots. Let’s work out the human factors of space travel on a sensible schedule.
We have some very real concerns that need addressing on the home planet as well. My god, those bastards have caused me to be less than enthusiastic about plans for space flight. I never would have expected that. Grrrr.
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The first day of 2004 was pretty darn good. Ian was a delightful companion this day and Audrey said I could go see The Return of the King for a second time. Not to worry, she is going to go for her second time tomorrow.
I hope your day was twice as good.
We left any celebratory activities to others as we didn’t make it past about 2300 last night. It is however, 2004 [Western reckoning] and I realize, again, that I didn’t get any 2004 wall calendars. I mean to buy some in early December, when the selection is best, but have neglected to do so for the past several years. Hmmm.
I do hope your year and ours, is the best possible. Is world peace in 2004 unrealistic? I hope not. Americans, please register and vote this year so your voices are heard, whatever melody you sing.
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