Tag: Discovery Departure

5 Things, Science, Space Exploration, Video Interviews

On This Date: 5 Anniversaries for April 20

Looking for something to ponder or celebration today, April 20? Here you go! 1862: Louis Pasteur and Claude Bernard prove that spontaneous generation doesn’t happen. If you’re still hoping that something can come from nothing, you’re more than 150 years behind the times. 1902: Pierre and Marie Curie radium chloride, the first compound of radium to be isolated in a pure state. In 2013, the FDA approved … Continue reading On This Date: 5 Anniversaries for April 20

Lofty AmbitionsLeave a comment
Aviation, Space Exploration, Video Interviews

From 3R’s to STEAM (Discovery Departure, Part 11)

Although it seems ages ago at this point, a little over two months ago, we were in Washington, DC, watching two space shuttles, Discovery and Enterprise, move to their permanent homes.  Discovery took up residence in the National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center, in a very deft and public move into the gallery that Enterprise formerly occupied. Enterprise headed for a new midtown address … Continue reading From 3R’s to STEAM (Discovery Departure, Part 11)

Lofty AmbitionsLeave a comment
Space Exploration

Is Mars the Future for NASA? (Discovery Departure, Part X)

Earlier this year, we traveled to see the space shuttle Discovery transferred from Kennedy Space Center in Florida to the Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport outside of Washington, DC. (We wrote about that trip in posts HERE.) During the day of installation activities at the museum, we wandered over to a tent set up for visitors to learn about the Orion space capsule and ideas … Continue reading Is Mars the Future for NASA? (Discovery Departure, Part X)

Lofty AmbitionsLeave a comment
Space Exploration, Video Interviews

Discovery Departure (Part 9: Video Interview)

Last Monday, we posted the first part of our video interview with Charlie Bolden, the current head of NASA and a former shuttle astronaut. You can see that video by clicking HERE and the write-up of interviews with John Glenn, Bolden, and Eileen Collins by clicking HERE. We couldn’t resist asking our favorite question of Bolden: Discovery, great shuttle or the greatest shuttle? And Margaret Lazarus Dean, … Continue reading Discovery Departure (Part 9: Video Interview)

Lofty AmbitionsLeave a comment
Space Exploration, Video Interviews

Discovery Departure (Part 8: Video Interview)

Lofty Ambitions traveled to Florida, then to the Washington, DC, area to see the space shuttle Discovery transferred to the Udvar-Hazy Center for permanent display. While there, we spoke with Charlie Bolden, the head of NASA and a former shuttle astronaut. We wrote about that HERE, and now we share the video that fellow writer, Lofty Ambitions guest blogger, and space nerd Margaret Lazarus Dean shot … Continue reading Discovery Departure (Part 8: Video Interview)

Lofty AmbitionsLeave a comment
Aviation, Space Exploration

Discovery Departure (Part 7: More Interviews)

NOTE: We have a piece called “Nostalgia for the Small Airport” up at Airplane Reading, a venue dedicated to “a kind of storytelling that can animate, reflect on, and rejuvenate the experience of flight.” After you read our post here, check out our story there too. On April 19, 2012, the space shuttle Discovery was installed at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport, … Continue reading Discovery Departure (Part 7: More Interviews)

Lofty AmbitionsLeave a comment
Space Exploration

Discovery Departure (Part 6: Interview with the Last Crew)

On Monday, we watched the coupled space shuttle and 747 back out of the mating structure at Kennedy Space Center and then spent some time talking with this orbiter’s last-ever crew. All but Commander Steve Lindsey were part of the astronaut class of 2000, and the bunch looked to have cohered over their final role together. The original crew included Tim Kopra, who was injured … Continue reading Discovery Departure (Part 6: Interview with the Last Crew)

Lofty Ambitions1 Comment
Space Exploration

Discovery Departure (Part 5: Photos, People, Artifacts)

First some links to photos and write-ups, then more photos (including proof we chatted with former Senator John Glenn) for your viewing pleasure. See yesterday’s “Discovery Departure” PHOTO ESSAY HERE. Read about the 747 that ferried Discovery from Florida to the Udvar-Hazy Center (with photos) HERE. See our PHOTO ESSAY of the shuttle mating process, the last-ever Discovery crew, and the awesome final Discovery takeoff HERE. And the BBC … Continue reading Discovery Departure (Part 5: Photos, People, Artifacts)

Lofty AmbitionsLeave a comment
Space Exploration

Discovery Departure (Part 3)

The BBC has picked up some of our photos of yesterday’s Discovery departure HERE. Our Flickr Photostream also garnered some attention on its own HERE. In this post, we’re using all NEW photos. And we’ve never Photoshopped anything we’ve posted at Lofty Ambitions. While we were planning for our trip back to the Space Coast to see Discovery leave Kennedy Space Center (KSC)) on its final, one-way journey … Continue reading Discovery Departure (Part 3)

Lofty Ambitions1 Comment