Atlantis Final Return to Earth

NASA TV

Space Shuttle Atlantis lands at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The landing of Atlantis marks the end of NASA's 30 year space shuttle program. Picture: AP

It was a momentous event  for Space science-loving people especially for those who have worked in the shuttle program for 30 years to see Atlantis, the last of the three shuttles, returning from its last mission into outer-space and landed at the Kennedy Space Center just before 6am EDT on 21 July 2011. 

Following this, Atlantis like the other two remaining space shuttles, Discovery and Endeavour is heading for a museum, to be visited and admired by the public. What a fantastic machine!

Among the most important program's objectives is the building of the International Space Station (ISS) which has proved to be a united international collaboration since the end of the "worthless" COLD WAR. The shuttle astronauts have also, over the years, helped to set up and maintain the Hubble telescope giving us spectacular images of the universe. The program has also enabled many scientific research in the various fields including medicine and engineering to be conducted in space. Undoubtedly, the shuttle is an ICON of American science and technology.

It is inspiring to listen to what Commander Ferguson of Atlantis said about their space journey would only be completed once they manage to make the young continue the quest for space exploration for the future of humanity.... well said, Commander. In this limitless universe, it is impossible that we are alone. The continued quest into outer space might see human discovering another earth-like planet - interesting? Frightening? One will never know unless one gets there.

A NASA official also said that in order for America to advance,  going deeper into space  and far beyond, they need to change and ceasing the shuttle program is a form of change for them to concentrate on  more ambitious projects of reaching other planets for example, Mars and maybe an Asteroid.

Bravo America! And thank you for your endeavours for the benefits of all of humanity and what a great space nation!

 

Lunar Eclipse - A Celestial Wonder

I am always intrigued with the universe. I never cease to wonder those heavenly bodies and planets  floating beautifully and orbiting obediently around their respective stars. I am awestruck with celestial events now correctly predicted by  astronomers. The time, the location and the event are calculated to the nearest second! Simply amazing,  making me more grateful for each day of my life as these bodies are disciplined to sustain life on this earth. Any deviation in this orderly movement would spell disaster to life on our planet. Looks like Nature (God) is really looking after us, one of the creatures eking out a living in this world.

Lunar Eclipse in Progress as seen in this combination of images  -AFP

These pictures by Associate Press (AP) and Agence French Press (AFP) are priceless for those of us who want to record this rare event and yet do not have the state of the art photographic paraphernalia.

Lunar eclipse seen over Canberra - AP

Event seen over Switzerland -AP

A double exposure picture shows the moon and the monument of The Savior of The World in San Salvador during the 2010 total lunar eclipse- AFP

The phenomenon which occurs once in 400 hundred years was observed by thousands on 21 December 2010. It was the lunar eclipse which came into being when the three bodies in the galaxy aligned. Yes, the sun, the earth and the moon positioned in a line to give us the spectacular sight and to remind us that we are but one of those celestial bodies moving perpetually in space as  predictable as days alternating with  nights.

During a total lunar eclipse the Earth casts on the full moon, blocking the sun's rays. Some indirect sunlight still pierces through to give the moon its red hue. Wonderful and yet rather eerie. 

It is indeed a grand event which will only return in the year 2410, in about 12 generations from now!

From AsTroNomy to OuTer SpAce.... I dream a little.

Interacting galaxies
http://hubblesite.org/

It is hard to be interested in astronomy if you were born in a tropical, seasonless country! There is a glaring reason, if you want to watch the stars and other heavenly bodies you have to do it at night, on a cloudless sky. Imagine many, many years ago, how could our ancestors be interested in watching the stars when there were plenty of mosquitoes around at night? And the heavy tropical rain and sky full of clouds! And those wild beasts waiting to pounce on them... it was better to stay in the caves and be safe.

Now, consider the wandering Bedouins, traveling in the desert, when they looked skyward on cloudless night, they could see those twinkling stars which could have provoked their interests and challenged them to study the heavenly bodies. Remember the story of the three wise men who used the stars to guide them in their journey to Bethlehem? That is why I think, the Arabs were among the earliest astronomers. Their legendary knowledge was somehow acquired by the intelligent westerners who went on to study and develop outer space technology with spin offs such as the satellite technology, wireless communication and GPS (global positioning satellite). The world has benefited a lot from man's curiosity and quest for knowledge beyond mother earth.

Astronomy is the study of stars and planets and going outer space is attempting to reach them and unravelling their mysteries as well as fulfilling that inner need of finding out whether there are other living things out there in the universe beside us.

I had wanted to study astronomy once but I guess I was born at the wrong time and in the wrong place where priorities,level of technology and career chances and recognition are just not there. So here I am in the dreamworld and could only afford to read with awe about NASA activities and the accomplishments of Hubble, that wonderful space telescope, faithfully transmitting back, out-of- this -world views to us.