Happy 30th Anniversary STS-1

Today was an amazing day!  Thirty years ago today, Columbia launched into space for the first time, carrying astronauts John Young and Bob Crippen.  The space shuttle program has been such a part of my life that I hardly remember my life before STS-1.  At a press conference this afternoon, NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden announced that Space Shuttle Atlantis will remain at Kennedy Space Center after it's final flight later this year.  This was an amazing announcement because while it seems common sense that one of the orbitors would be housed at KSC, there was no guarantee.  There were many museums that were vying for a shuttle.  The others will go to Los Angeles, New York, and DC.  Houston, we have a problem....in that Houston did not get one of the shuttles and they really should have. 

Anyway, this afternoon/evening there was a 30th Anniversary celebration for employees and their families and we were fortunate enough to attend.  This is Charlie Bolden giving his speech.  Also on the platform are Bob Cabana, Director of KSC (left) and Rita Willcoxen, Director of Launch Vehicle Processing.

This is astronaut Chris Ferguson, who we have met before and Prince really enjoyed him.  Ferguson will be Commander of the last launch, STS-135. 

Look who came for the ocassion!! Yep, it's the Cake Boss and he made that amazing shuttle with boosters and tank in the background.  He said the shuttle itself is made of rice crispy treats.  The rest is cake. 

Here's another picture of the cake.

And, here's me with the cake.

They put flares on the bottom of the solid rocket boosters and lit them as the structure the cake was on lifted the cake.  It was really quite amazing. 

Princess and Prince goof off with Grandma.

It was a fun celebration and I am so glad we went.  Even if it was 90 degrees and humid as all get out.  It was worth it and I got to eat cake from the Cake Boss.  Yummy!!

In Memory of the Challenger 7 Crew

It was the defining moment for my generation.  The older generation says they will never forget where they were when President Kennedy was shot and of course we all remember Sept. 11th.  I will never forget that day 25 years ago that Space Shuttle Challenger and her crew were lost.  It seems like yesterday and yet, so many things have happened since.

I was in 5th grade and it was my day for gifted class.  The usual protocol was to have a fire drill that coincided with shuttle launches so we would all be out on the PE field to see the launch go.  On this day, we didn't have a fire drill.  The launch happened during lunch time so we didn't go out.  We were in the gifted classroom, eating lunch and watching the television for what seemed like any ordinary shuttle launch.  Growing up with the Space Center in our back yards and having parents and grandparents that worked out there, we had seen enough of these to think it was just something everybody got to see and a regular part of our lives.  I guess you could say that we really took it for granted.  What we saw though, was anything but an ordinary launch and we knew that as soon as we saw the smoke split into what looked like a Y in the air.  That was something we hadn't seen before and we watched in shock, not knowing exactly what this would mean.  We were all concerned, many of us crying, worried that pieces of the wreckage could have fallen back down toward the Space Center, not knowing if our Dads, Grandads, all those we knew were safe, unsure of the extent of the damage.  It was a very sad day.  We had never known a tragedy of this magnitude and we saw it happen live.  I remember that it was so very cold on that January day.  You could see your breath in front of your face.  I had an ear infection and my mom took me to the doctor that afternoon.  When we came home, I remember seeing my Dad sitting in front of the television.  They had all been sent home from work early and  I could tell when I looked at him that he wasn't doing well with this.  We all just felt such a sense of loss.  That's the amazing thing about the Space community; we are like a family.  We all cheer together with successful launches and we mourn together when lives are lost. 
I remember watching President Reagan on television as he addressed the nation.

This accident has left a lasting impression on us all as we watched them "slip the surley bonds of earth to touch the face of God."  On facebook today, so many of my friends recalled where they were and what they were feeling.  Tonight I am incredibly grateful for all of the astronauts that have risked their lives for space exploration and I am praying special prayers for the families of those astronauts that were lost 25 years ago today.

Space: The Final Frontier

Last weekend was Family Day at Kennedy Space Center.  As a Booster Brat, I have grown up going to these, but this one was somehow different.  It was different because this was the last time we'd be out there while the Space Shuttle is in flight.  I don't really remember life before the Space Shuttle.  When it first flew, I was quite small and growing up around it, I have always taken it for granted. 



Prince and Princess met Astronaut Chris Ferguson.  He was so great to talk to.

 Prince wants to be an astronaut when he grows up.  He enjoyed interviewing Mr. Ferguson about what it is like to go into space. 

 Here we are in front of the VAB. (Vehicle Assembly Building)  My Grandaddy worked in this building many years ago.  Whenever I walk through those doors, I am in awe of how huge this building is!  I also get sentimental thinking of the generations that have worked side by side through the years on the different launch vehicles. 

 This is me, my Mema, Prince, my Mom, and Princess in NASA's Headquarters Building. 

 Princess pretends to be the Public Affairs Officer in the Firing Room.  What she really wanted to be was the Launch Director and push the button to launch the shuttle! 

 Princess and Prince explore parts from the wheels of the Space Shuttle. 

Thousands of families have spent their lives involved in the space program.  Generations of engineers, technicians, support personnel have worked together as a giant family and taken great pride in being on the cutting edge of new scientific discoveries.  My family has been a part of this important work.  Grandfathers on both sides, parents, aunts and uncles, brother-in-law...and it's coming to an end soon.  We are all grieving the end of manned space flight with no other plan on the horizon.  Tomorrow about a thousand people will be laid off from their jobs.  Thankfully, my family members are able to keep their jobs, but there are many families who won't be so lucky.  Please pray as our community goes through a huge and traumatic transition.  We don't know what the future holds for our area, but we are hopeful that our government will realize the value of manned space flight and perhaps Prince really will be able to become an astronaut when he grows up.