
I think we learned as much as they did. Starting with the spelling of the name.
When Challenger
exploded, some 73 seconds after launch, Congress responded by commissioning
another space shuttle and NASA instituted a competition to name it. More than 30 percent of the elementary and
high school contestants chose the same name, referring to the HMS Endeavour
(English spelling) which carried Captain James Cook on his exploration of the
oceans of the world and discovery of uncharted lands.
The ship was largely cobbled together from spare
parts for the earlier versions of shuttles, and was assembled in Palmdale,
north of Los Angeles by the Rockwell Company.
The local assembly played a large part in determining Los Angeles as the
place where one of the three retired shuttles would find a permanent home and
we certainly noted pride in many of those viewing her when they spoke to their
children and grandchildren of their part in constructing this awesome ship.
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Endeavour docking at the Space Station |
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Hubble Telescope |
Each of the 26 missions Endeavour made (the last
being from Cape Kennedy to Los Angeles) was documented; many by video,
including the trip to repair the HubbleTelescope and replenishment of the SpaceStation. It was interesting to see
how interactive they have made the exhibit including an opportunity to experience
what it would be like to actually fly in a shuttle. The fourteen year-old thought that great fun
but we and his younger brother felt we would function best if we held his place
in line and offered him a chance to be a “single” and jump line for his trip.


Seeing the exhibit gave me a greater appreciation
for the bravery of the men and women in the space program. A recent edition of NPR spoke to how several
of the astronauts, who were modestly paid and who could not get life insurance
coverage to protect their families should anything untoward happen to them,
sent several letters, stamped the day of their launch to themselves, knowing
that those letters would have value should their ship explode. An eerie thought; but a brilliant idea.
The museum experience was special for the boys but
for Mary and me the special feeling of the day was having our two grandsons all
to ourselves for the better part of a day.
Thanks to the museum for restricting our preview to two adults and four
children, younger than our two sons.
In my next post I will tackle a subject that just
recently struck me: the evolution of “going out for breakfast”. Please plan to join me.
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