Posted by M. Lee on February 6, 2003, at 12:30:13
In reply to Re: crime and punishment, posted by lostsailor on February 6, 2003, at 10:27:27
I've seen, and I've written, a lot in the past few days about the shuttle tradgedy and the future of the space program. This topic is a rathar personal one for me.
I am an astronomer, and for 15 years I worked as an educator. The space shuttle and space station were subjects that I spent a lot of time teaching children about.
I attended a conference at NASA in Houston during John Glenn's shuttle flight. I was fortunate enough to be allowed into the Mission Control Center while they were tracking the shuttle's progress.I remember standing over the shoulder of a doctor who was monitoring Glenn's vital signs as part of an experiment. I could see his heartbeat on the computer monitor. This image made a profound impression on me. From the cold darkness beyond our world comes the sound of a human heart beating.
I guess part of it is the teacher within me, and part of it is being too close to the subject. I feel compelled to defend the work that these men and women dedicate their lives to.
poster:M. Lee
thread:36059
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030201/msgs/36476.html