AD Astra: My inevitable trip to Kennedy Space Center

As a child, I thought the greatest thing you could grow was an astronaut. I know it seems cliché, but when I was in primary school, I thought there was no greater vocation. A large part of my love for science fiction stems from the science of spatial exploration.

There was just something in the mystique to defy the extreme dangers of space and to come back safely, it was the ultimate of cool. Names like Aldrin, Shepard, Lovell and even their Soviet counterpart Cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, were the giants of my world. Let’s talk about why.

Good things

I believe that now, as I did at the time, that astronauts and what they do represents the best of us. The astronauts themselves embody maximum intelligence, physical and mental discipline, courage, commitment and the will to push the limits of what we think possible. On the strange chances that any astronaut, past or present, does not read this blog, you are the stars of my sky. Really. The same goes for the multitude of scientists, engineers and technical specialists who help make it all happen.

The space program, on the other hand, is the culmination of our greatest scientific, technological and engineering efforts in a continuous attempt to satisfy our curiosity about the universe around us – a curiosity that can never really be satisfied. Essentially, they are our best people, do the best job, for the greatest reason. It is the noblest part of our brief of humanity. Yeah, I know I may put it a little thickness, but I really believe it.

Two space centers

While I lived in Texas all my life, the Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston was just far from the place where I went to school that we never went to the excursions. This is the place where James Lovell was addressed when he said “Houston, we had a problem here” during the Apollo mission 13. It was only as an adult that I was able to sit in the observation room, among the original velvet seats overlooking the mission control where the message from Lovell was received. I have been there several times now, and I can’t help but be inspired every time I go. Houston is not exactly in my backyard, but it’s a weekend, like going there to go to Texas Renaissance Festival (yes, that of the documentary), or one of the many excellent museums.

The part of NASA that I had never visited until recently, however, is Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Cape Canaveral, Florida, where the Mercury and Apollo missions, to name only a few, originally launched. Roquettes are still starting from there today, although now Blue Origin, Space X trade rockets are also in the range.

For me, it was the place where the rubber met the proverbial space of the space program. It was the stadium where everything happened, both the imposing achievements of Apollo 11 and the tragedy of Apollo 1. Following President Kennedy’s aspirations to put a man on the Moon is nothing less than a triumph of the human mind.

The most tangible symbol of this is perhaps the Saturn V rocket, which was the key to moon missions. If you’ve never seen it before, it’s massive. As large as a 30 -story building, larger than the statue of freedom, when you look at this rocket, you start to have an idea of ​​what it took to get to the moon. The difference between the gigantic superstructure of the Saturn and the almost ridiculously small control module is incredible. It is humiliating to stand in the shadow of this Titan and start to understand the number of scientists, engineers, construction specialists and other staff members that needed to design and build something like that.

Now, I am not blind to the motor forces behind the Early Space program and the finest points of the space race, but when I watch a Saturn V, I only see humanity in its best. It’s the same kind of feeling when I see a space shuttle. Well, the KSC has the space shuttle Atlantis (OV-104) In the field too, and seeing it closely was a powerful experience.

It’s strange; The shuttle is both larger and smaller than I had guessed. However, I could only stay there, looking at her for a long time. You can always see the pits and scars on the black tiles of its rear section, near its propellants, in micro-meters. Even writing about it gives me chills.

Just like my trip to Graceland, I think I have been traveling to the KSC for a very long time, well before I know exactly why where I could even find it on a card. I think my trips to the JSC and, in the end, the KSC was inevitable, and I can’t wait to return there one day.

The next generation

Of course, there are a certain number of interactive experiences and displays dispersed around the KSC, even some rides that you can do to simulate the exploration of space. Like the JSC in Houston, I certainly have the impression that many attractions are intended for land outings and families with children.

I’m happy with that. The young generations deserve to have an exciting and inspiring vision of the sciences of space, astrophysics and exploration than me. I mean, I grew up eating astronaut ice cream and drinking flavor, and I never doubted a minute how important the space program is for all of us. Not just those of us in the United States, but but All of us.

Why is it important

I heard the arguments against all this, of course. I even understand where these arguments come from. Normally, they go something like this: How can we allow ourselves to spend all this time, his efforts and money on space stuff when we have so many problems here at home?

For me, this is the bad question, which comes down to: How can we afford not has? We can talk about tangible things that are directly attributable to the spatial program like the aforementioned tang, a non -stick coating for pots and pots, etc., but many of the advances that we appreciate today, such as computers, mobile phones, Internet, have their roots in pursuit of space.

But more than that, consider this: the space program is a catalyst for science and technology that No war. It is a peaceful way for us to know more about life, the universe and everything. Space is also one of the few fronts where the actively hostile nations on the ground can always cooperate up there.

Final reflections

Space is the only place where humanity can really come together for the improvement of all. At least that’s how it was, and I hope it will continue this way. I know that it seems a bit of a pie in the sky, and perhaps this is the case, but this is one of the reasons why the space program resonates so strongly with me. It is the best of us, exploring the unknown and uniting with a common goal.

And what could be more human than that?

Thank you for reading.