July 12, 2011

the end of an era

As most of you should know by now, NASA launched its last space shuttle mission STS-135 yesterday :( Atlantis will be the last shuttle to carry supplies, logistics & spare parts to the International Space station. Just following the news of the launch gives me goosebumps. When i watched the launch via the internet, it was just amazing.

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I just felt so sad... it's really the end of an era. :(

When I was younger, I was crazy about space & stars & astronomy & everything NASA. My father would cut out carefully any news article about space exploration & set it aside for me. Even though there are plenty of criticisms surrounding the space program. I know these missions are very expensive, and that the US cannot afford them anymore.... And that we were not successful every single time... and that failure means almost certain death for the astronauts.

But.. just to be able to soar above this planet into the wide universe & leave our breaths, our marks, our footsteps in the unknown.. how can we give up this ambition?? Maybe it's selfish to think so when the billions of dollars could be put to better use elsewhere... but I will never forget how inspiring it was to read about the astronauts representing mankind & taking our hopes & dreams with them. And how great it is to look up in the sky & see all the stars there since forever, since before u and i were born. And every night, they are twinkling reminders of all that is out there, plus the planets... how little we know of these things that appear in our lives everyday!

so on July 13th, at 7.23pm, i'll look up into the sky & say goodbye to Atlantis & the ISS. You guys did a fantastic job xxx

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