End of an Era

It's for days like today that I decided to have a blog. I'm not very consistent with it, I know, but I'm not out to impress or please anyone. I created my blog to put my thoughts and opinions on certain matters in word form for others to read if they so please. Today is a day that I will do just that.

The Space Shuttle Atlantis launched today on its, and the entire shuttle fleet's, last mission, beginning the end of a legacy that started 40 years ago. The concept for the Space Shuttle was actually in it's early design in 1968, before the first moon landings. With the decline in budget support for the Apollo missions, NASA designers moved their focus to this new idea; something reusable, with the promise of cheap and constant space flights.

Orbiter Enterprise on a Atmospheric test flight

The shuttle program was launched in 1972 during the ongoing Apollo and Apollo-Soyuz Programs. The first orbiter was completed in 1976 and was named Enterprise. This lesser known orbiter was used for atmosphere flight tests and was never intended to fly in space. The first fully functioning orbiter was completed in 1979 and was named Columbia and first launch on April 12, 1981.

Today, July 8, 2011 marks the last launch of a Space Shuttle ever. The reasoning for this was a Presidential decree by George W Bush in the early 2000s. The plan at the time was to retire the shuttles in 2010 and have the next manned spacecraft in full development to be launch in the mid 2010s. That new program was the Constellation Program.

I do not have a problem with the retirement of the Space Shuttle. It was and is a modern marvel of human capabilities and still is the most technologically advanced piece of equipment built by man. It has done wonders for the American space program, led to spin off technology currently used by people everyday, and almost entirely build the International Space Station, the largest cooperative endeavor by any grouping of nations. That said, it was never built to leave Low Earth Orbit (LEO). It has never flown over 400 miles above the Earth, and that is well under the 238,857 miles to the nearest celestial object, the Moon. For the past 30 years, the shuttle fleet has been a transport service to LEO. While this a phenomenal feat in-and-of-itself, there is no great scientific or exploratory journey involved.

The Constellation Program was another Rocket based launch system that focused on returning to deep space journeys; something the shuttle fleet could not do. The amount of funding involved in both would only allow the government to operate one program at a time, so naturally, the shuttle fleet was cut. In this day and age, commercial space flight is taking off (pun intended), and can take over the basic hauling needs for satellites and LEO trips to the ISS, while NASA spends it's time on returning to deep space.

Then comes along a new President. NASA, being a government organization, is under direct control by the President. Each administration mandates a new direction in the space program, and up until now, most have just carried on the former's plans (or a very similar version thereof). This time, the Constellation Program is scraped in favor of a new program to be announced. Meanwhile, the shuttle fleet is still set to retire. The problem here? For the first time in NASA's history, there is no new vehicle program to transition into. From Mercury, there was Gemini. From Gemini to Apollo. Apollo to Apollo-Soyuz, then the Shuttle. And now...nothing. The was a 7 year gap between Apollo-Soyuz and the Shuttle flights, but the program was there and NASA had direction. This time, there is no plan, no direction, and thousands of people are set to be laid off. Extremely experienced people and the best in the world when it comes to manned space flight, and they will be dismissed with the shuttles. Bureaucracy at it's finest.

This is why the last shuttle launch saddens me. For my entire life, I have watched NASA send people to space and personally have longed to be a part of that legacy. Now, I get to watch my favorite organization put together by man fall into but a shadow of what it once was. No, manned space flight for America is not over. Commercial companies will carry that along well, and NASA will return with a capable vehicle to fly into the solar system. But the release of so many experienced people who know spaceflight better than anyone else in the world due to the scientific ignorance of politicians just disgusts me and the knowledge they take with them will not be replaced any time soon. And the absolute loss of interest by the American public for spaceflight does not bode well for the future. In a society expecting immediate gratification, it will be an uphill battle for another "giant leap for mankind".

The Reason

I'm only writing a basic update to take up space. I've missed writing a blog. Mostly because it feels good for me to put my opinions out in the open. I don't try at all to force them down anyone's throats, I just love to express mine. There are actually few things we are truly free to do, and form our own opinions is one we have until we die. I'm a huge advocate of educated discussion and cooperation. I believe it is what advances our understanding of science. Group effort. So I place my ideas in the world just to maybe advance someone's understanding on a particular subject. The more people know about a subject, the smarter the decision they can make about it.

Just my two cents. I'll return with some updates about the situation in space, my opinions on some politics (I usually keep those to myself, but somethings are getting just to ridiculous), and maybe something involving Legos?

Plus, I shall be receiving my new laptop very soon, which will spur my renewed fire to update the blog!

Pigskins on the Gridiron

College football season is off to another year of hard hits and cheering fans. I for one just love the atmosphere that comes with it. Tailgating, Pre-Game, the buzz of the crowd, everyone dressed out in the same colors. It's amazing what we'll do to watch 22 guys try to kill each other. But I love it as much as the next person!

One thing about being in the south is the SEC. We all like to say our football conference is the best in the nation, but come on, the SEC really is! (I'm obviously slightly biased). But over all, football is a much difference experience in the south compared to anywhere in the country. To explain, I'll just paste this email I received from a friend that pretty much gets it spot on....with a fun twist for SEC schools at the end! Enjoy!

College Football Time....

Planning for the fall football season in the South is radically different than up North. For those who are planning a football trip South, here are some helpful hints.
Women's Accessories:
NORTH: Chap Stick in back pocket and a $20 bill in the front pocket.
SOUTH: Louis Vuitton duffel with two lipsticks, waterproof mascara, and a fifth of bourbon. Money not necessary - that's what dates are for.
Stadium Size:
NORTH: College football stadiums hold 20,000 people.
SOUTH: High school football stadiums hold 20,000 people.
Fathers:
NORTH: Expect their daughters to understand Sylvia Plath.
SOUTH: Expect their daughters to understand pass interference.
Campus Decor:
NORTH: Statues of founding fathers.
SOUTH: Statues of Heisman trophy winners.
Homecoming Queen:
NORTH: Also a physics major.
SOUTH: Also Miss America  
Heroes:
NORTH: Rudy Giuliani
SOUTH: Archie, Peyton & Eli Manning
Getting Tickets:
NORTH: 5 days before the game you walk into the ticket office on campus.
SOUTH: 5 months before the game you walk into the ticket office on campus, make a large financial contribution and put name on a waiting list for tickets
Friday Classes After a Thursday Night Game:
NORTH: Students and teachers not sure they're going to the game, because they have classes on Friday.
SOUTH: Teachers cancel Friday classes because they don't want to see the few hung over students that might actually make it to class.
Parking:
NORTH: An hour before game time, the University opens the campus for game parking.
SOUTH: RVs sporting their school flags begin arriving on Wednesday for the weekend festivities. The really faithful arrive on Tuesday.
Game Day:
NORTH: A few students party in the dorm and watch ESPN on TV.
SOUTH: Every student wakes up, has a beer for breakfast, and rushes over to where ESPN is broadcasting "Game Day Live" to get on camera and wave to the idiots up north who wonder why "Game Day Live" is never Broadcast from their campus.
Tailgating:
NORTH: Raw meat on a grill, beer with lime in it, listening to local radio
station with truck tailgate down.
SOUTH: 30-foot custom pig-shaped smoker fires up at dawn. Cooking accompanied by live performance from the Dave Matthews Band,... who come over during breaks and ask for a hit off bottle of bourbon.
Getting to the Stadium:
NORTH: You ask "Where's the stadium?" When you find it, you walk right in.
SOUTH: When you're near it, you'll hear it. On game day it is the state's third largest city.
Concessions:
NORTH: Drinks served in a paper cup, filled to the top with soda.
SOUTH: Drinks served in a plastic cup, with the home team's mascot on it, filled less than half way with soda, to ensure enough room for bourbon.
When National Anthem is Played:
NORTH : Stands are less than half full, and less than half of them stand up.
SOUTH: 100,000 fans, all standing, sing along in perfect four-part harmony.
The Smell in the Air After the First Score:
NORTH: Nothing changes.
SOUTH: Fireworks, with a touch of bourbon. 
Commentary (Male):
NORTH: "Nice play."
SOUTH: "Dangit, you slow idiot - tackle him and break his legs."
Commentary (Female):
NORTH: "My, this certainly is a violent sport."
SOUTH: "Dangit, you slow idiot - tackle him and break his legs."
Announcers:
NORTH: Neutral and paid.
SOUTH: Announcer harmonizes with the crowd in the fight song, with a tear in his eye because he is so proud of his team.
After the Game:
NORTH: The stadium is empty way before the game ends.
SOUTH: Another rack of ribs goes on the smoker, while somebody goes to the nearest package store for more bourbon, and planning begins for next week's game.
______________________________

And for SEC Fans:
HOW MANY SEC STUDENTS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB?

At VANDERBILT: it takes two, one to change the bulb and one more to explain how they did it every bit as good as the bulbs changed at Harvard.

At GEORGIA : it takes two, one to change the bulb and one to phone an engineer at Georgia Tech for instructions..

At FLORIDA : it takes four, one to screw in the bulb and three to figure out how to get stoned off the old one.

At ALABAMA : it takes five, one to change it, three to reminisce about how The Bear would have done it, and one to throw the old bulb at an NCAA investigator.

At OLE MISS: it takes six, one to change it, two to mix the drinks and three to find the perfect J. Crew outfit to wear for the occasion.

At LSU: it takes seven, and each one gets credit for five Semester hours.

At KENTUCKY: it takes eight, one to screw it in and seven to discuss how much brighter it seems to shine during basketball season.

At TENNESSEE: it takes ten, two to figure out how to screw it in, two to buy an orange lampshade, and six to phone a radio call-in show and talk about how much they hate Alabama.

At MISSISSIPPI STATE : it takes fifteen, one to screw in the bulb, two to buy the Skoal, and twelve to yell, "GO TO HELL, OLE MISS".

At AUBURN: it takes one hundred, one to change it, forty-nine to talk about how they did it better than at Bama, and fifty to get drunk and roll Toomer's Corner when finished.
At SOUTH CAROLINA : it takes 80,000, one to screw it in and 79,999 to discuss how this finally will be the year that they have a decent football team.

At ARKANSAS : None. There is no electricity in Arkansas