April 12, 2006
25 years in Orbit...
Happy Anniversary to the Shuttle Program...
Space Shuttle Columbia
25 years of exploration, pushing the boundaries and expanding the horizon of humankind.
Early on the morning of April 12, 1981, two astronauts sat strapped into their seats on the flight deck of Columbia, a radically new spacecraft known as the space shuttle.
STS 1 The First Orbiter Mission
STS 7 Challenger First Woman in Space
Story Musgrave - My Favorite Astronaut - truly a renaissance man
Although Columbia and two of her crews are no longer with us, I'll keep my gaze on the stars and their limitless possiblities and wonder in them.
Posted by Heather at April 12, 2006 09:52 AMIt's also Yuri's Night!
http://www.yurisnight.net/2006/index.php
An exciting anniversary. I remember watching the first (or one of the first) landings when my family was at the National Air & Space Museum in DC. It was thrilling to watch it on television amidst all of that aerosapce history.
I heard this on the news and thought of you :). I remember the day when Columbia landed! It was very exciting for a little grade-schooler.
Posted by: Moni at April 12, 2006 01:22 PMSo cool. Thanks for posting about this, Heather!
Posted by: Carrie at April 12, 2006 01:23 PMHooray for the space shuttle! I remember watching one take off in 1984 or so... we were in Orlando but got up early and saw it go streaking up into space (brighter than I expected, considering we were far away).
I saw it again when I was in college in St. Petersburg, FL, probably 2000 or so - early in the morning twilight, from all the way across the state.
So cool!
Holy Crap! I can't believe it's been that long.
I feel the same way I did when they had a 20th anniversary of the movie E.T. Shock that time flies!
Happy Anniversary Shuttle Program! It's as old as I am!
Posted by: Erin at April 12, 2006 02:03 PMWhen I was growing up, I was hell bent on being an astrounaut! I truly wanted to live in a Space Station - the stars - they still call to me...
Thanks for the memories :)
Posted by: Bonne Marie at April 12, 2006 04:06 PMHappy Anniversary Shuttle Program!
I didn't know my birthday was the program's anniversary. Exciting thing to remember!
Posted by: Jaime at April 13, 2006 01:25 AMWow! Time flies! That is really amazing. Thanks for sharing, H!
Posted by: Lolly at April 13, 2006 10:08 AMCool post! Thanks H! Remember when we used to gather in the halls of our elementary schools to watch the launches on TV? That was so cool.
Posted by: keowdie at April 13, 2006 06:42 PMHappy Anniversary! You're so lucky that you get to see all this as close as you do. Thanks for sharing with us!
Go NASA!
Posted by: Jenny at April 14, 2006 06:40 PMGreat photo! I realize I'm not the first to say it, but really - I can't believe it's been that long! Very cool!
Posted by: sarah at April 17, 2006 07:33 PMWhat a great celebration of NASA & the Shuttle! :)
When we lived in CA in the 80s my dad's Air Force reserve assignment was working on the SLC-6 site. I also remember seeing the shuttle on top of the 747 at Vandenberg as it was going back to FL.
Posted by: Amy at April 19, 2006 10:25 PM