Up, Up and Away: Watching the Space Launch with Bated Breath

When I was a kid there were two things I wanted to see: Walt Disney World followed by a trip to the Kennedy Space Center to watch a rocket launch.  We had a wall map and I would put it on the floor, grab a ruler, and then calculate how much allowance money I'd have to save to make the trip possible.  It never happened.  Didn't have the discipline to save that much money.  But it was still a fun little dream.

Nine years ago it was announced that the U.S. space program would no longer launch rockets from our soil.  This was devastating news.  Extraordinary especially with NASA's achievements with space flight, creating the incredible Gemini and Apollo missions.  How was it possible that NASA would no longer be at the forefront with Space exploration?

There's been a huge debate with whether having a space program is worth it, considering the financial cost.  As a society we've benefited greatly from space travel.  From NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, here are 20 inventions we have thanks to space travel (their website has more information): Camera phones, scratch-resistant lenses, CAT scans, LED's, land mine removal, athletic shoes, foil blankets, water purification systems, dust busters, ear thermometers, home insulation, the jaws of life (you'll have to see on their website, never heard of it either), wireless headsets, memory foam, freeze dried food, adjustable smoke detector, baby formula, artificial limbs, computer mouse, and the portable computer.

One of the reasons technology exploded during the 20th century is thanks to our race towards the stars, finding innovations to make space travel more easier.  Space travel is worth it.  Understanding the cosmos is worth it. 

Thank goodness for Space X partnering with NASA.  The failed launch last Wednesday was disappointing, but watching the launch last Saturday was so exciting.  All the commentary on NASA and their interviews was fascinating while waiting to hear if the weather would be good.  It was touch and go.  A cumulus cloud threatening lightning was hovering near.  Leading right up to the go ahead there was a 70% chance of good weather with less than 10% chance of bad weather.  I was on pins and needles watching the countdown, waiting to hear if the weather check would be good and the rocket would be "go for launch."   It was!!

I didn't get to see the launch in person at the Kennedy Space Center, instead I was sitting comfortably on a couch while watching the NASA channel.  Apparently there were around 3 million people watching the launch live.  (How were there not more people watching!!!???)  But it was thrilling!  The launch was successful.  And after a 19 hour flight the Dragon crew safely boarded the international space station early yesterday morning.

Hope is alive and well.  Dreams are still being achieved.  There is so much to be discovered, and we're all the more closer to unlocking many more mysteries of the universe.