For the last hour before splashdown and the first 20 minutes or so after it, I was watching the NASA feed as it happened. It seemed that Every Single Milestone they called out was good. The whole time was exceptionally smooth, by the book, and as close to perfect as it gets.
Odyssey, the Orion capsule, as the splashdown is happening. As close to a perfect conclusion to that as close to a perfect mission as we get.
Go celebrate a little. It's worth it.
Jerry Pournelle said more than once, "I always knew I'd live long enough to see men go to the moon. I did not know I'd live long enough for us to not be able to go to the moon." I saw Apollo 11 take off from the Cape in July 1969. Glad I lived ling enough to see this week's success and tonight's successful return.
ReplyDeleteMore like this please!
I was a Miami kid and didn't move up to the area until 1982. Watching Apollo 11 land and the first few hours on the moon are a highlight of my life. I sure would like to live long enough to see the moon base/colony they're talking about become a reality.
DeleteGreat big waste of money. Serves no purpose. We (most people) have no interest in it any more; little attraction for the average citizen. Send some probes and some robots to other planets; might result in a measure of curiosity (but only because of the pictures, and pseudo videos, etc.).
ReplyDeleteSpace exploration should be privately funded. Then everybody can spend their savings, the product of their life time's work, the way they want.
DeleteAnonymous at 9:58, I must strongly disagree with you. Human progress results from exploration, pushing our physical boundaries, and learning new technologies.
ReplyDeleteAs has been proven over and over throughout human history, Neon Madman.
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