16 days ago, I went to Publix to pick up some milk. They went to deliver Dextre, the robot

Last night we heard a loud "boom-boom" that was so out of the ordinary that Rick jumped up and started heading for the front door, and Brittany pulled her legs up onto the couch, the way you do when you're momentarily scared, saying "What Was THAT?"  I was roused out of a near sleep-induced stupor, groggily trying to figure out what was going on.  Just as quickly, Rick came back into the house, laughing a little as he realized it was just the space shuttle, setting off twin booms as it arrived back on Earth.  It shook the Tampa Bay area so hard that people started coming out of their houses to investigate. 

It was just the space shuttle, that's all.  The local television networks flashed a breaking news segment at the top of the screen so everyone would know what was going on. No need to worry, folks. We can laugh and shake our heads!  And now we'll return to our regular scheduled programming.

And it wasn't until this morning that I realized how much we took that moment for granted.  The three of us had talked for a few minutes about the shuttle coming in to land in Cape Canaveral, about the noise it makes as it breaks the sound barrier (My God, how cool is that?)  but I really wasn't paying attention when the crew of seven aboard the Endeavor landed back on Earth after their 16 day mission.
To outer space.  Away from Earth.

  Great things will happen, and history is often made, whether we're watching, or not.

I was nine years old when Neil Armstrong first walked on the moon.  The world watched, most of them from a single TV set as unimaginable history took place right in their living room.  Do you remember that day, or what you were doing at the time?

As my daughter's grow up, great inventions will occur in their lifetimes that we can't even imagine today.   Space Exploration programs have given way to inventions they already use in their own lives, the fast-acting orthodontic braces that sped up the process of straightening their teeth, the cool ear thermometers that are used in the Doctor's offices, the sunglasses they wear with scratch resistant lens.  The cordless drill their father uses, and smoke alarms! Can you imagine life without smoke alarms?  Check out this list, it's impressive. 

So, yeah, the Endeavor returned to Earth at 8:39 p.m. on Wednesday night.
It was actually a pretty big deal.  ;)

*The Discovery is tentatively scheduled to launch on May 25, 2008. It will be one of the six missions that NASA plans this year. 

Comments

[me & my puppies]

Technology is moving at such a rapid pace we often don't take notice of all the advancement being made. It is truly amazing.

[MrsDoF]

The day Armstrong walked on the moon, I was at church camp. We were never allowed tv or portable transistor radios at camp, all the easier to brainwash us with Bible thumping chapel services twice a day.

That day was special, even in the boonies.
The Dean rang the bell which called everybody into the dining hall. It was only one 20" screen black-n-white tv, hastily balanced atop a shelf rack scavenged from the kitchen. The tv itself probably belonged to the staff cook.
He explained about astronauts and moon landing, and tagged on some quotes from Genesis.

So here are 90 kids in shorts and t-shirts and the counselors crowded around a box and watching the snowiest tube I've ever known.
We were out in the country, and cable was for the rich.

I was 13 years old, my fourth summer there, and I knew just by the presence of the tv that the day was important. I could hardly see the screen from my perch on my knees on a chair.
I watched history being made while scratching at bug bites on my legs.

When Dad came to get me at the end of the week, all he talked about while driving home was the moon landing. And how he was so glad somebody allowed a tv for the folks away at church camp.

[kenju]

You're so right - and we take it all for granted.

[midnightbunny/michelle]

I remember living in Tampa when the space shuttle exploded in the 80's. We were watching the news, and heard and saw the smoke stream, but were confused as to what was happening. This post brings that moment back. It's amazing how certain moments in time can be ingrained in your memory forever, and can really change you. As MrsDoF posted above, technology truly is amazing, and there are moments in history that have me in awe as well. The advancements in space travel continue to have me in awe. Now here where we live in "The Carolina's", we go to the science museum's often, and they have sections that remind us of historical moments in time for space advancement. It always brings me back to that day in the 80's when time seemed to stand still for a moment with the shuttle explosion. Reading your post today brings back so many thoughts.

[dani813]

In my own day to day with muscular dystrophy technology gives me the ability to walk and other cool little toys help make life so much more "normal".I thank God every day for the scientist out there pluggin'away.

[CircusKelli]

Hmmm... when Neil Armstrong first walked on the moon... I was probably pooping my pants. I was about six months old... ;)

[Seamus]

I remember watching Armstrong with the rest of the family and half the neighborhood (why they were all at our house I cannot remember - party perhaps).

I miss living in FL when launches happen. It was always a thrill!

[Nils]

I watched the first moon landing at a cabin at a lake resort near Ottawa. I was there with my friend Pierre and his family - we had spent the day paddleboating and trying to pick up girls at the recreation hall, feeding the juke box to hear the newest tunes, like "Crimson and Clover" and "The Ballad of John And Yoko". Suffice to say that if we'd been able to pick up girls, I might have missed Neil Armstrong's first steps, so yay for being homely and nerdy! But it can stop anytime now.

[FC]

Dani's comment just gave me a huge lump in my throat...

ahem ...

Well said Laura. It's the superior skill and professionalism of NASA, from the ground up, that allows us to take what they do for granted. They make it look easy and is the most difficult and challenging endeavour of humankind.

We were clustered around the black and white set as the moon landing occured. My Dad hooked his reel to reel audio tape recorder to the TV and recorded the sounds and commentary.

[Laura]

Pups, and some days, it's really hard for US to keep up with technology!

Mrs DoF, that was an excellent story! You write so well, and you take us right back to the time and place. ;)

Midnight, I wouldn't mind being up in the Carolinas when spring comes, must be gorgeous up there. Tampa sure has changed since those days, hasn't it. The area I live in used to be nothing but orange groves back in the 70's. Hope the post brought back some good memories for you!

Dani, I had no idea you were going through M.D! Those chickens you're about to adopt better not give you a hard time running around the way they do. I'll take 'em over to Wendys if they don't behave. Just let me know if you need a hand with anything at all, I'll be right over!!

Kelli, No wonder I thought you looked so young ... ;)

Seamus, Did you live on the East coast back then?

Nils, I don't remember those songs. I was wayyyy too young (g)

FC, I wonder if he still has those tapes, and if they work? I should think that would be cool to watch.

[pam]

I miss seeing the shuttle take off across the lake. Always a thrill!

[Janet]

I love this post Laura. We do take so much for granted, don't we?

[Sugar Britches]

Lordy Mercy, Woman. The space shuttle? That is an amazing thing to witness...to hear and to feel. Lucky you!

[CircusKelli]

You think I look young? Well, photoshopping does WONDERS, lemme tell ya...

[SwampAngel65]

Same thing happened to me, check it out- http://swampangel65.blogspot.com/2007/08/heres-your-sign.html

I know it will be very sad for me in 2010 when the shuttle missions stop. Watching a launch, whether on TV or in person, always makes me cry. I guess the magnitude of it all overwhelms me a bit. I just hope that when my littlest one gets older, there will be some space missions going on that will bring that same "magic" to him.

[Sonia]

Just dropping by to say Hello!