What's Up? The Space Place

Hey Space Placers! I am a Trekkie dating back to the original 3-season TV show 'Star Trek ' that aired on NBC 1966-69, I THINK on Monday nights. I NEVER missed an episode. It was such a groundbreaking series that was created by a former Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) patrolman named Gene Roddenberry . As a street officer in LA I am sure he saw plenty to give him reason to envision a better world for humanity and Star Trek was the result I believe of those images.  Star Trek dealt with racism, interracial mixing of the sexes - the 1st EVER kiss of a white man (Capt. Kirk) and black woman (Uhura) on TV took place on Star Trek, poverty, communism vs democracy, the cold war, space-time and a host of other themes. I can honestly say I never saw a bad episode and each caused me pause to think and ponder. In 1966 I was in full astronomy mode to follow in 1968 with telescope and camera. NASA was in full swing to get to the Moon and astronauts were flying Mercury, Gemini and...

Hey Space Placers! Tuesday night, 3-8-11, Space Shuttle Discovery will be flying over the Washington, D.C. area at 7:23 PM with the International Space Station (ISS) flying over at 7:24 PM.  This will be our LAST opportunity to see Discovery in orbit so please, please make an effort to see her. I went out tonight and was able to see the two spacecraft fly over low on the horizon in and out of clouds. It was not as good a flyby as Tuesday night as the two will pass nearly overhead. I have to tell you I was SO EXCITED to see 12 humans, 1 robonaut and over 1 million pounds of beautiful spacecraft fly over. I waved and toasted the crews. I hope to get a picture tomorrow night - couldn't do it tonight as there was way too much light pollution. I will never forget the sight though - it was incredible. Check this website for more information: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/cities/view.cgi?country=United_States&region=DC&city=Washington This was one of thos...