Current Events Narrative- Last Launching of the Space Shuttle Discovery

Nina Solis A Trip Like No Other 3/9/11

News Story:
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/space-shuttle-discovery-lands-148-million-miles-nasa/story?id=13089715
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/lindsey.html
http://www.longislandpress.com/2011/03/09/shuttle-landing-discovery-landing/

I sit down in my seat. The seat I worked so hard to get. The left front seat in this massive space shuttle. I am the commander of this mission. I am the one in charge. I have been trained and drilled again and again, and know all of the shuttle systems like the back of my hand. I am ready for this. Although this is not the first time that I am traveling somewhere literally out of this world, I can’t help but be in awe every time that I step foot in such a magnificent machine such as this. I have logged over 1,203 hours in space, and I still have butterflies in my stomach as we prepare to take off. I hear the countdown and prepare to leave this earth behind and head towards something better. The one thing that I am a bit sad about is the fact that this massive craft will be flying for the last time today. After over 20 years of dutiful service to NASA, the space shuttle Discovery will be retiring.

I feel like a kid again, pretending to be an astronaut in my bedroom, after watching men walk on the moon when I was nine. My eyes were glued to the television. Immediately after that, I knew that I wanted to be just like them. I wanted to take a step for mankind. I wanted to spear an American flag into the surface of the moon and laugh in the face of everyone who told me that I would never get there. Nobody was going to stop me.

The Discovery- what I believe to be a very appropriate name may I add- is just about ready to go. The searing hot engine starts to rumble. I can feel the whole thing shaking as it prepares to take off. Everything that I have learned starts to fall into place as I run through every gauge and button that is flashing and every noise that I hear. I feel like I am on an amusement park ride. I know that the ride will get smooth soon, but my adrenaline rushes as the walls around me shiver with excitement.

“Ready everyone?” call to the 5 other people that are just as eager as I am to take off. Some people’s eyes widen as the shuttle leaves, one person yells in excitement, I can’t tell who it was. I am focused on watching the window in front of me. I want to see every second of this.

We shoot higher and higher into the atmosphere, the pressure changing. We are going at what seems to be light speed. I imagine for a moment that this shuttle was alive. It is probably yawning right about now. Old Discovery has seen this a so many times before. 39 missions, 365 days in space, 5,830 orbits of the Earth, 148,221,665 miles traveled. It launched the Hubble Space Telescope, carried John Glenn on his sentimental return to space in 1998, assembled the first components of the International Space Station. This was just another day of work. Or would it be just the opposite? Savoring every precious second, because after this, there would be no more adventure. After this, it would be retired. This was the last time that this shuttle will every see space. For a moment I am saddened by the thought of this. I think I am losing it...

We exit Earth. Finally. Everyone exhales. Looks like I wasn’t the only one holding my breath. I look around, unbuckling my restraint. I float to the top of the ship, then towards someone else. I just push them away when they say, “Hey, watch it.” I am too busy gazing at the stars. When you are in space, nothing can compare to the view. Sure, you see pictures that you think are so amazing, and watch videos of Earth from space on the television, but absolutely nothing compares to really seeing it. It literally takes your breath away.

For the next 13 days, it is relatively quiet. No problems, thank heavens. This is no surprise considering that this shuttle has been in the business for so long - it has made more flights than any other shuttle. When it is finally time to return home, disappointment washes over me like a wave. Once I am up here next to the stars, I never want to leave. We begin the descent to Earth, and I say a quick and silent prayer that everything will run smoothly- although I have no doubt that it will.

As we are about to touch down, I speak into the radio.

“For the final time, wheels stop”

We screech on the pavement and everyone burst into applause. Everyone did an amazing job. This was a trip to remember.

As I walk away from the shuttle after the mission, I look back one last time. The shuttle is resting now, sleeping after the long journey. The time to sleep is now. It put up a great fight, and deserved all of the glory. This shuttle changed things. It made a difference. Without this, so many things would not be accomplished. I mouth the words thank you. I have been moved by a space shuttle. Hey, I told you I was losing it.

I can leave knowing that I made a part of history happen today, and can only hope that there will be more opportunities like this in the future. Life is so short. You might as well make the best of it while it lasts.

OPEN ENDED RESPONSE
In A Trip Like No Other, the author talks about his love for the universe. He also talks about the life changing event of being a part of history when he is assigned the role of the commander in the last launching of the space shuttle Discovery.

• Explain why the space shuttle is so celebrated. Do you think that this shuttle was one of the most important shuttle? Why or why not?
• What point of view do you think that the author has on this mission? Give examples from the text that help support what you think he feels like during the mission.