Grateful for NASA’s Space Program (TY-27)

I have always been fascinated with astronomy, the moon, the stars, the planets, our solar system, our galaxy and the entire universe. The vastness of our universe and everything in it is remarkable. I am deeply grateful that our wonderful nation has such a phenomenal space program with NASA. Of course, I may be a bit biased because my wonderful father spent his entire career working (playing) there as a master electrical engineer (some called him a rocket scientist). He was responsible for the communication instruments used on Viking 1 and 2, which were hugely vital and very important to the mission. His work is on Mars! How many people can boast about that!

 

Last night at 8:15 p.m. EST (0115 GMT Wednesday), the Orbital Sciences-built Minotaur 1 rocket launched into space from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia to begin the ORS-3 mission, which is run by the U.S. military’s Operationally Responsive Space Office. As you can see from the images, it was awesome. NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility had a live webcam running during the launching. This launching brings back beautiful memories for me. When I was about 8 years old, I had the opportunity to see a huge rocket (Viking 2) launch from Cape Kennedy, which was destined for Mars in search for life!

The rocket used to carry Viking 2 was MASSIVE and during the pre-launch events, it was referred to as THE BEAST! THE BEAST shook the ground a mile or more away as it took off. I know this for a fact because I was there to witness it from a distance of about one mile away. I will never, ever forget this event. Ah, yes! I do deeply appreciate NASA and its phenomenal space program. May we never lose our pioneering, creative and engineering spirits!

 

Related articles

• NASA Launches Mission to Study Upper Atmosphere of Mars. (linkybird.com)
• Minotaur rocket to lift off with satellite built by high school students (nbcnews.com)
• NASA Wallops Launch Tonight (witn.com)
• NASA’s Minotaur Rocket Launch May Light Up Sky Along East Coast Tonight (LIVESTREAM) (huffingtonpost.com)
• 29 satellites to launch tonight (cnn.com)
• BLOG: Rocket Launching Tuesday Night (philadelphia.cbslocal.com)
• Minotaur I Launch Updates and Viewing Options (parabolicarc.com)
• Record-Setting Rocket Launch on Nov. 19: The 29 Satellites (space.com)