Return To Flight

The Space Shuttle Discovery arrived on the launch pad on April 7th. This marks the beginning of NASA’s efforts to return to space, while still using the aging yet capable craft. According to the organization the launch of the Discovery is hopeful between May 15 and June 3. It certainly is a big milestone since the Columbia accident over two years ago.

I have always had a fascination with space. It really is such an amazing thing to ponder, mostly because it is nothing like what we as humans can relate to here on earth. Vast amounts of nothing is hard for me to comprehend. And then the added element of space flight is thrown into the mix.

As a child I just loved the idea, flying with the stars in a sense. I had kept track of launch dates and later watched the online space shuttle tracking map. Sonic booms were a regular occurrence. I would watch movies and documentaries on space flight. My family visited the Kennedy Space Center twice in a couple of years (the bus tours are memorable). I didn’t want to be an astronaut, though, I just found it fun to study and it lead to a real desire to learn more about physics.

Some people say "it’s just another space flight." I say there’s a lot to nothing, and although it may seem routine we should know it is not. It may not be easy to comprehend what’s "out there", but it sure can be fun just to think about it once and awhile. Then, just then, I realize just how miniscule I really am.

For more information on the Discovery Mission STS-114, including photos, mission details, and even an RSS feed for news updates, check out NASA.gov’s Return To Flight.

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