A Silver Space Shuttle Lining
Follow the space shuttle launch on Twitter at 5 a.m. Wednesday!
A few days
ago, the space shuttle Endeavour was scheduled to launch on a trip to the International
Space Station (ISS). Unfortunately, the mission was delayed from Saturday until Wednesday, June 17,
at 5:40 a.m. because of a gas leak.
The delay illustrates how important each component of the space shuttle is in a launch. If just one little part malfunctions, it affects the entire mission. Sure, it’s pretty disappointing for everyone who went to so much preparation to see the launch. But it’s all for the astronauts’ safety, and NASA does not want to take any chances.
There's always a bright side! Because of an unexpected free day, my brother Bailey and I spent the morning shopping and looking around the town of Cocoa and Cocoa Beach. Interesting fact: Cocoa Beach is where the 1970’s TV sitcom, “I Dream of Jeannie,” was set. Major Anthony Nelson, who finds a genie in a bottle, was an astronaut.
We visited the famous Ron Jon Surf Shop, where we talked to a shop owner who mentioned that a delayed launch means more business. That's because a delayed launch means people like us with free time on their hands. Many of them find their way into his shop. That is a definitely silver lining for local shop owners!
Maybe my friend, Astronaut Tim Kopra, could find some comfort in that. Every day of delay for him is a day more in quarantine with his fellow astronauts, and one more day away from his family. But his dream to go into space is about to be realized.
Join me and Bailey early tomorrow morning as we Twitter the launch live from Kennedy Space Center in Florida!
how old are you guys?
Posted by: Alexandra | 06/17/2009 at 11:11 AM