For the past couple of weeks, we’ve been inundated with the social strife surrounding the murder of George Floyd.
America is united in the condemnation of the arresting officers’ actions in Minneapolis. Mr. Floyd’s constitutional rights were violated. We expect and hope that justice will be decisive in this case, and we can begin to heal as a country.
But let’s take a break from this frenzied news cycle and celebrate what America is really about.
On May 30 the United States marked a new era in human spaceflight. For the first time since 2011, we launched Americans into space on an American vehicle from American soil. In a joint effort between NASA and SpaceX (the private company founded by Elon Musk), the launch marked the dawn of greater things to come.
At 2:22 p.m. CDT, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken (of St. Ann, Missouri) launched from Cape Canaveral’s legendary Launch Pad 39A aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft perched atop the Falcon-9 rocket. Nineteen hours later, they docked with the International Space Station (ISS) and were greeted by fellow NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy and two Russian cosmonauts. The time they'll be onboard the ISS is yet to be determined.
I’m what you call a "space junkie." I find everything about space flight fascinating. Just the thought of devising vehicles that can deliver satellites and humans into Earth orbit is amazing.
If you’ve ever followed our space program, you’ve seen astronauts in bulky spacesuits with multiple attached hoses. They’d exit the "suit up prep area" and board a fancy Aerostream trailer for the trip to the launch pad.
From the Mercury capsules to the Space Shuttles, many of the spacecraft features were the same. The interiors were lined with hundreds of buttons, switches, and dials to control flight functions. The astronauts were strapped in custom injection-molded seats. (I’ve actually sat in a Gemini capsule, and I think sitting on a bed of nails would be more comfortable.)
Fast forward to space travel, Elon Musk style. The spacesuits Doug and Bob wore May 30 looked comfortable and lightweight. There were no visible tethering hoses. They exited the prep area, stopped for a brief photo op, bid farewell to their families, and were whisked off to Pad 39A in swanky Tesla SUVs.
Inside the Crew Dragon capsule the flight controls looked like a page from a sci-fi novel, complete with three touchscreen monitors and only a couple rows of switches beneath. What a far cry from the complex instrumentation of the previous Space Shuttles!
So, what’s the point here?
Even in the aftermath of a two-month economic lockdown and in the shadow of nationwide protests, the spirit of America lives on. Americans have always risen to the challenge and accomplished incredible things. We are indefatigable innovators, entrepreneurs, visionaries, and achievers.
Today, we face the trials of defending liberty, protecting the innocent, preserving law and order, and ensuring equal justice under the law. These challenges may seem insurmountable now, but the prospect of a private company developing a space vehicle for its own use once was unrealistic, too. In fact, there are plans to return to the moon within five years and then to reach further and explore Mars.
We are Ameri-CANs. The heritage of our spirit is strong. We are undefeated when we set a goal and apply our energy, intelligence, and principles. It may not seem like it now, but we will push through these difficult times, as well.
God bless,
Brett
