A Little Boy's First Spaceship Visit
Out for a walk in #Reston VA & saw this young boy clutching a space shuttle. He saw his first one today at NASM in Chantilly #journeytomars pic.twitter.com/GbvdnQ2Dy0
— NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) October 31, 2016
Keith’s note: I went out for my daily walk today. Half a block away from Buzz Aldrin Elementary School in Reston, Virginia I saw a couple with their young boy. He was holding something very familiar. Those three engines and the delta wing shape – instantly recognizable. I asked his parents if I could take a picture. They had gone to the National Air and Space Museum at Udvar Hazy today. Their son was very impressed with Space Shuttle Discovery – his first spaceship – but was “too shy” to say so according to his mom. I said “my friends flew on it – isn’t that cool?” The boy smiled. I walked away, turned and told their parents about my website. Within a minute I tweeted his picture. How cool that I could say such a thing. Just another day.
That’s very moving, Keith! :’) We’ve got to capture the hearts and minds of youngsters – there are flat-earthers and conspiracy clucks out there waiting to pounce when they get old enough to use the internet. Incidentally, when I was in L.A. last year visting Shuttle ‘Endeavour’, my Wife Maree and I had a similar encounter with a group of young children. They just loved ‘Endeavour’ and the Main Engine on display. We told them that people we knew had flown on her, several times and that one day; they too could fly Spaceships into orbit, the Moon and Mars. It is worth noting that the kids were of all races and backgrounds – and that two girls in particular seemed the most interested.
Wouldn’t it be incredible if one of those children grew up to be the first person to walk on Mars? The Shuttles had enormous power in their working life – that power still virtually hums out of them, causing waves of inspiration. The sooner U.S. Astronauts start flying into space again on U.S. spaceships; the Better. Regards, Matthew Pavletich, Auckland, New Zealand.
Have always thought that everything we undertake should include a good dose of both intellect and affection. The kids obviously have it. It is that affection thing in us that is energized when we read comments like this. Keith has it, you have it,,,Even your “flat-earthers” and “conspiracy clucks” have it. It’s in there somewhere.
Very touching, Keith.
I hope the next generation of spacecraft are indeed able to exude ‘the aura’ as the shuttles so magnificently do; I must admit I have my doubts (which I tried to somewhat articulate a few years ago: http://www.thespacereview.c… ).