I just returned last night from the Marshall Space Center in Huntsville, Alabama where my 12 year old son Tristan and I spent the last three days and attended “Space Camp”. Guys, this is a MUST-DO for all of you with kids…(and perhaps many of you who don’t) …I’m not sure who had more fun, Tristan or ME! We learned all kinds of neat facts about NASA and the Space Program from it’s inception to present day, and the plans our government and other governments worldwide have for the future. We got to build a rocket and fire it, do a mission in a simulator and have a bunch of “briefings” where we learned all kinds of stuff. Mostly we got to spend some quality time together; ain’t it great to not be a corporate slave and be able to come and go as I please…
I found a few facts pretty interesting, and they are really the subject of this post.
For example, did you know that when we landed on the moon back in the 70’s we left allot more than just a flag and some footprints? Apparently the LEM (Lunar Excursion Module) has two parts. There is the part where the astronauts actually sit, and then the base where the legs and such are located. There are no less than 6 of these bases sitting in various spots on the moon; it seems we had to leave that part behind in order to get off the surface when it was time to go. Also, the “lunar rover” vehicles, which were the “dune buggy like” 4 wheelers used in the Apollo 15, 16 and 17 missions all had to be abandoned as well. Every probe we brought up there is still on the surface as well. Souns a whole lot like “littering” to me. Don’t feel TOO bad though, It seems both China and Russia have done the same thing.
Perhaps the most interesting “artifact” left by Americans on the moon are the three golf balls hit with a Nine Iron by Alan Shepard. Now I understand that people love their sports and all, but come on now guys…Exactly what scientific purpose was NASA exploring when they let Shepard do this? I mean really guys, the Space Program has cost us BILLIONS and for what; golf balls on the moon? I guess I am just too serious about life ’cause I think that is just plain silly.
So it seems that if you litter on a federal highway, you get fined $1000 but if the federal government litters, it is called science. And remember, a $1 Titleist becomes a priceless artifact if it is hit by the right guy in the right place with the right stuff.
Humans are scary.
