Today was the last scheduled US Space Shuttle launch. I wasn’t one of those kids who dreamt of becoming an astronaut, but I certainly developed the passion years later thanks to a few great books and people. Initially it was Michio Kaku, a celebrated physicist and futurist who described the universe in a way that I'd never heard before. Immediately catching my interest, I began losing myself for hours in his documentaries, lectures and videos. This opened doors to the likes of Carl Sagan, Richard Feynman and Steven Hawking. All of which who helped me discover what’s truly important to humanity. The laws governing our universe quickly became gospel to me, along with bits of wisdom that filtered through all that information I was absorbing.
Unfortunately the science community today is more grumpy than sentimental, since there’s no immediate successor to the Space Shuttle. Neil deGrasses Tyson, a popular astrophysicist, even says “Apollo in 1969. Shuttle in 1981. Nothing in 2011. Our space program would look awesome to anyone living backwards through time.” Humour aside, he makes a good point. What was once our crowning achievement in the space race has become a symbol that our drive for adventure and progress have dried up. Looking into this further, I discovered some startling facts about the Space Program. The most uncomfortable being that the entire budget of NASA equals the current two-year budget of the US military. Not only is that fact disgusting, it runs contrary to the message Sagan relayed over a decade ago.
All that aside I've never lost respect for just how ambitious this whole thing was. And despite reflecting on some of my adventures, like navigating the streets of India in a rickshaw and driving through the British countryside, I've never touched a star. For our crew entering orbit, here’s to a safe journey. Godspeed.
Proud and so glorious standing before of us
ReplyDeleteOur swords will shine bright in the sky
When united we come to the land of the sun
With the heart of a dragon we ride
We are flying on wings in winter sky with fire burning deep inside
We are warriors of endless time forever and on
On wings of steel an ancient flight we see the powers that unite
The gods will now send us a sign of battle once more
Through the valley we ride full of glory we soar
Where the fights will be raging for now and for more
When united we come and divided they fall
Tonight you will witness it all
Proud and so glorious standing before of us
Our swords will shine bright in the sky
When united we come to the land of the sun
With the heart of a dragon we ride
A land unknown we come so far
We ride the night till morning star
When colours fade to black and white
Your eyes come to sight
With the vision of a great divide
You turn towards the other side
You think you run but you can't hide
The dead can not ride
Through the valley we ride full of glory we soar
Where the fights will be raging for now and for more
When united we come and divided they fall
Tonight you will witness it all
Proud and so glorious standing before of us
Our swords will shine bright in the sky
When united we come to the land of the sun
With the heart of a dragon we ride
Over high seas and mountains
We fly to the heavens on wings of a dragon tonight
Proud and so glorious standing before of us
Our swords will shine bright in the sky
Proud and so glorious standing before of us
Our swords will shine bright in the sky
When united we come to the land of the sun
With the heart of a dragon
The heart of a dragon
The heart of a dragon we ride