I had been warned that when it happened, the ground would tremble. I had been told that the roar of the explosion would consume the sounds of the waves rhythmically slapping the sand, the cries of the gulls, and the chatter of the children playing. I knew the flame jolting out of the bottom of the rocket would look molten hot and far more intense than any television could convey.
I was still unprepared for the actual event.
Anyone who has seen a space shuttle launch will know what I’m talking about. It is literally the witnessing of a miracle. That mankind had the audacity to believe breaking the bonds of the earth and flying into outer space was possible is inspiring. That they actually accomplished it is amazing. That there were – and are – men and women brave enough to climb into that little container with their flimsy, fragile bodies and ride that Roman candle into the sky is miles past amazing. Comparably, hang gliding and skydiving and mountain climbing are akin to knitting.
Some of the most elite of these space shuttle astronauts will be honored for their service at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Saturday, May 3. You’ll have a chance to attend the party when veteran space shuttle astronauts John E. Blaha, Robert D. Cabana, Bryan D. O'Connor and Loren J. Shriver are inducted into the prestigious U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in a public ceremony.
Each inductee is a hero in their own right. Blaha was the third American to live aboard the Russian Mir Space Station, Cabana was the commander of the first International Space Station assembly mission, O'Connor was commander of the first shuttle mission dedicated to life sciences, and Shriver was the commander of the mission to deploy the Hubble Space Telescope.
They will enter the ranks of renowned space pioneers like Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, Alan Shepard, Sally Ride and John Young. Earlier inductees represent the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab and Apollo-Soyuz programs.
The 2008 inductees were selected by a committee of current Hall of Fame astronauts, former NASA officials and flight directors, historians, journalists and other space authorities. To be qualified, an astronaut must have completed his or her first flight at least 17 years prior the induction year and must be retired at least five years from NASA's astronaut corps. Candidates also must be U.S. citizens, NASA-trained, and must have orbited the earth at least once. Committee members evaluate an individual's flight accomplishments as well as how he or she contributed to the success and future success of the U.S. Space Program in post-flight assignments.
More than 25 American space heroes will attend the ceremony and honor the latest inductees, including Buzz Aldrin, Scott Carpenter, John Young, Bob Crippen, Al Worden and Walt Cunningham.
The weekend celebration at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will include autograph sessions and book signings with current Hall of Fame astronauts, including Bob Crippen and Hoot Gibson, on May 3 and 4.
The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is included with admission to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Induction weekend ticket packages are available for $70 (plus tax) for adults and $50 (plus tax) for children. They include the following:
- Two-day Admission to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame
- Reserved seating at the Induction Ceremony at 3:00 p.m.
- Commemorative poster of the 2008 Inductees
- A special Apollo 16 “Lunch With the Astronauts” on May 3 at 11:30 a.m. Lunch will be hosted by Apollo 16 moonwalkers John Young and Charlie Duke
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex opens at 9 a.m. Closing times vary by season. The Visitor Complex is open daily except December 25 and certain launch days.
You can view a detailed schedule of events here. Tickets are available by telephone at 321-449-4400 or here. Local accommodations in Cocoa Beach and Titusville are also available. |
