When I wear my other hat as a writer I try to avoid cliches -- but it truly is the end of an era today as Atlantis, the last space shuttle, lands at the Kennedy Space Center.
"Mission complete, Houston," shuttle commander Chris Ferguson radioed post landing. "After serving the world for over 30 years, the space shuttle has earned its place in history. It's come to a final stop. You know, the space shuttle has changed the way we view the world and it's changed the way we view our universe. There are a lot of emotions today, but one thing is indisputable -- America's not going to stop exploring."
As my husband, CBS News Space Consultant Bill Harwood wrote, "Over the course of the shuttle program's 30-year space odyssey, Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour carried more than 3.5 million pounds of cargo to orbit, brought another 230,000 pounds of equipment back to Earth and deployed 180 satellites and space station components."
The end of an amazing era of progress. And technological spinoffs that had very down-to-Earth benefits, such as microsurgical instruments that let doctors save the lives of premature babies, components of an artificial heart, heat protection for NASCAR race drivers -- heat resistant shuttle tiles have even become a soldering platform for jewelry artists, replacing a hazardous asbestos fiber version. That's just to name a few.
I'll be back with a stamped work of art soon -- but first I had to share this breathtaking celestial art, a photo shot by the crew aboard the International Space Station as the shuttle Atlantis descended through the atmosphere this morning. That's the ionized trail of super heated air behind the shuttle as it plows into the atmosphere -- those lights below are Central America. Truly amazing.
Watch for a shuttle to appear soon at a museum near you -- as the three remaining orbiters go to sites in Los Angeles, Washington, DC and the Kennedy Space Center -- with a prototype "pathfinder" shuttle going to New York City.
It's been an awesome 30 years to live on Florida's space coast where every launch and landing was a cause for celebrtion — every setback and loss of life a cause for great sadness. I know the shuttle has inspired a lot of future scientists who will invent even more technologies to benefit us all. Godspeed to America's space program and thank you to all the local folks from the Kennedy Space Center who've invested their heart and soul into this program.
Very well written Catherine. Thank you.
Posted by: Katherine | July 21, 2011 at 09:02 PM
I loved this post, Catherine! It was beautifully written, poignant, and thought-provoking. 'Wishing you, Bill, andall your NASA friends all the best.
Posted by: Pam morgan | July 24, 2011 at 12:38 AM