America can renew its pioneer spirit

NorthJersey.com ^ | 01/30/06

[KevinDavis]

Jan. 28, 1986, was a crisp, sunny Florida morning. A day filled with hope and pride, and the chance to once more show off American ingenuity and greatness. It was a day filled with expectations, and the big, bright confident smile of a young New Hampshire schoolteacher named Christa McAuliffe.

Then, just more than a minute after takeoff, it all grew dark. Millions of people watching on television could hardly believe that a manned space shuttle, something so routine for Americans, could go so horribly wrong in so few seconds.

[KevinDavis]

Amen...

[KevinDavis]

[CBart95]

That "pioneer spirit" never left Kevin.

It's still lives on in the hearts and minds of so many of your fellow Americans.

Having grown up in the Space program, it might be difficult to know the sense of utter sorrow many of us still felt some twenty short years after the tragic mission loss of Christa MacCauliff and the rest of that brave crew.

The spirit lives still...it always will.

[KevinDavis]

Well I kinda wonder sometimes.

[Little_shoe]

True... Nasa's Space Missions are the historical equilivent to the Lewis and Clark Expedition. While they brought back a lot of good information they didnt single handley settle the west.

For us to expand in space private industry and individuals must be willing to go into space. However what is needed is a new "gold rush" which will make space development economically viable. Until that happens were going to be firmly stuck on the ground.

I know Id love to goto space.

[SunkenCiv]

"It's not often that a teacher is at a loss for words. I know my students wouldn't think so. I've made nine wonderful friends over the last two weeks. And when that shuttle goes, there might be one body, but there's going to be 10 souls that I'm taking with me." -- Christa McAuliffe