The Heavens Above

Father was a theoretical mathematician and part of his early work had been on the V-3 rocket, I can remember him regaling me with stories of its design, purpose and rather odd "disappearance".  How he filled my youthful head with tales of the stars and the ships which would one day take us there.  But, once I was in school, those days stopped, as did the tales.  I remembered those times fondly though.

I can remember father tuning in Sputnik on the radio and hearing the beeps it made.  Father was at Sandia Labs at the time and I can still feel the coolness of the evening air, huddled on his lap as he pointed to the white light of a star as it moved across the night sky.  His words were filled with marvel at what he knew his friends, now slave labor in Russia, had created.

Whom could not watch with wonder the news of the Russian space achievements in the 1950's and early 1960's.  I remember the somber discussions over Russia preceding the US at every turn in the space race and the news of the disaster which consumed the Russian space program - killing most of those whom had brought such success.  Listening  to the song, "The River is Yellow" from China's first satellite.  Those were the days my friend.

Into this mix, Wernher Von Braun's many social visits with the family.  But, who cared by then?  I was a teenager and Margrit, his daughter a few years older than me, was simply fascinating!  She and I had one commonality, we both had FBI babysitters as we grew up and so would share tales of how to drive those poor guys utterly mad!  I imagine she really did not even know I was alive - just that other German's annoying kid.  Sigh.

I worked in aerospace for three decades because of my love for space - not necessarily contributing anything as great as father had, but I like to think my computer innovations supporting the Saturn rocket program helped in some small way.  Like father though, just slave labor, whom will not even score a footnote in history.  (Ok, unlike father, I got paid.  But it still felt like slave labor at times!)

And my love for space is not at all diminished by no longer working.  I have my movies and books, and friends still working to leap frog us into the heavens above.....

Good Times.

What Goes Up

Well, since nothing is public in the news, as of yet (and it has been 1.5 hours!), there is little I can say which would not break confidentiality with my hosts.

Other than to say, that what was expected to be a news shattering day and very exciting, swiftly came to an end.

We all sat in disbelief.  Only moments earlier people were dancing and cheering as a technological wonder roared for the third time and into a real life experiment.

And then it all came apart.

I almost cried for my friends, also gathered for this event.  They worked hard, pushed the boundaries, creating an honest to gosh technological marvel in the process.

I think I know what happened but the FAA, NTSB and scientists will be combing the desert for the rest of this week I am sure.  Then will come the weeks of analysis.  If I am not right, I will be surprised.  Sometimes leaping across technology boundaries brings too many variables for failure into play.  Which is why we improve one item, test, then add another, test again, etc.  One hundred percent innovation usually will bring 100% failure.

Musical Tribute to Mars Exploration

If you love the imagination of the space race or Mars exploration - you will love this very well done Russian video.  The music alone is well worth the listen....