Two Years Since the Last Shuttle Launch; My Experience with NASA Social (Repost)

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Standing at the launch pad on July 7th, 2011.
Somewhere in the grass is my official STS-135 pin. I’d like to think of it as a small offering.

***This post was originally published in 2011, shortly after returning from the launch. For all of my posts regarding the #NASATweetup (now known as #NASASocial) feel free to view them here.

Lastly, if you don’t already, I can’t encourage you enough to follow NASA in their various outlets on Social Media, whether on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Flickr, etc., it is worth it. They will inspire you, educate you, and remind you that though we are small in comparison, we each have a part to play, and our indivdual actions truly have an impact. AND, if you are lucky enough to be chosen for one of the NASASocial events, it IS life changing.

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A few weeks ago, I woke up in a dream. Somehow my name was selected for a VIP spot to watch history happen with theNASAtweetup group. (I suppose catching every single red light for as long as I’ve had my drivers license balanced out to some phenomenal luck that day!) When I sit back long enough to reflect upon the entire experience, it IS quite dreamlike! We were welcomed by Astronauts, spoken to by NASA directors and officials that had much more on their minds than a 150 groupies- but who were genuinely touched by the support of the general public that we represented. We watched and participated with Elmo’s adventures, we stood in the shadow of Atlantis just hours before she left the ground, and we watched as the RSS was rolled back reveling her beauty. We were drenched and baked and ran on 100% adrenaline. We were full of hope and faith that 30% was all that we needed to see the mission take flight. Throughout the entire experience, I met some wonderfully kind, intelligent and passionate individuals. The energy was quite honestly palpable- nothing like I’ve ever felt before.

And then there was the launch.

I pause here, and grapple with words, trying to fit them together to perfectly describe what it was like- but I can’t. It is simple indescribable. My eyes still fill with tears when I think back to the experience. All senses were involved- a sight so beautiful that neither camera nor brush could ever capture it completely, a sound that resonates in my heart still, the rumble of the ground from three miles away, the shaking of my own hands and legs as the experience overwhelmed me, and the smell and taste of burnt fuel that lingered in the air. It was more than just a beautiful sight to behold- it was the compilation of dreams from generations past and present. The experience for me represented more than just a successful launch, but the farewell to a program that has meant so much to so many people.

Although I am saddened that my daughter will never see a shuttle soar through the sky in the way that I was blessed to have witnessed, I am certain that this does not represent the end of America’s space exploration. How do I know this? There are many passionate people that continue to work hard at pursuing their dreams of reaching farther, daring to dream bigger and willing to risk so much for things greater than themselves. I’m also well aware that there is another budding generation of dreamers that are determined to touch the sky… I happen to live with a little girl, who is ready to turn four next week, and who plays endlessly in a cardboard rocket that she created to “go to the Moon and Mars” in. I couldn’t be more certain that one day she will.