While I was born after the Sputnik frenzy, I did grow up in a household that was connected to the Space Program. My father worked for NASA and was the first Director of Astrophysics of the newly formed Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD.

I remember collecting all the mission stickers and kick myself for using them on the step ladder instead of keeping them as collectibles, but hey, I was a kid. I remember watching pictures being beamed from space into our living room including the most important event ever, the Apollo 11 mission that landed the first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong.

I even had the opportunity to see a launch from Cape Canaveral once. If you ever have the opportunity to witness a shuttle launch, I would strongly recommend it. I will never forget the feeling in my chest from the sound of the rocket launch.

I still think one of man’s greatest achievements is to have escaped our Earthly bonds and to travel in space.

Cheers!
Skunky