Newminialists possess the perfect mindset for becoming Martian Citizens.
On Wednesday 27th May 2020 NASA will launch its first orbital flight from American soil since 2011. This historic mission will carry two NASA astronauts, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, to the International Space Station. The hardware will include a 215 foot tall [65 metres] Falcon 9 rocket supplied by Space X plus the Crew Dragon spacecraft for the astronauts. Perhaps it is worth noting that these two astronauts are both two time veterans of Space Shuttle flights which firmly connects them with NASA history reaching back to Gemini and even further back to the first flight by Alan Shepard on 5th May 1961.
In another life, I spent some precious time with the late Aaron Cohen [well known then as the father of the Space Shuttle] and Glynn Lunney [Program Manager of the Space Shuttle] who worked hard to assemble, and manage, the talent required to put humans into orbit via the Shuttle Program. Also, I cherish the my time in the Johnson Space Centre Library where I gleaned the requisite background needed to truly understand NASA's trajectory for landing humans on Mars. But. The appetite of the American people for further adventures in Open Space subsided after NASA's tragic losses of life aboard Challenger and later Columbia. So it is beyond exciting for me to see that Mars is back on the radar for the human race.
I wish nothing but the best of success for NASA, Space X, Doug Hurley, and Bob Behnken. As I think back to my time in Houston I feel I need to say a heartfelt "thank you" to all the amazing talent I interacted with while there. At that time the Space Station team consisted of just three people who had lots of plans and not much more. As always these people had some rather exquisite dreams of exploring Open Space as they sought to build "a home away from home" that circled the Earth in a permanent sub-orbital pattern. Although those folks experienced many false starts in accomplishing their goals the fact remains that their core dream is still alive.
May 27th 2020 may well prove to be an historic date for all those who dream of going to Mars and beyond in this C21st on Earth.
Richard.
Please contact me via direct messaging or email at minimal-you.com
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