Vehicle Assembly Building, Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
On Feb. 1, 2003, America's space program got up close and personal with me when the space shuttle Columbia exploded over East Texas, and my house. The events of that morning, and the subsequent weeks and m onths, helped shape one of the biggest stories, to date, in my newspaper career. Since the Columbia disaster and recovery effort, I have felt just a little bit closer to America's space program and more appreciative of how continued exploration of space h as benefited the nation and the world.
That kinship was confirmed the day after Christmas when we visited the Kennedy Space Center, on Florida's East Coast. We took the "up-close tour," so we got within a mile or less of some of the significant landmarks at the space center, including the giant Vehicle Assembly Building; two launch pads used by the Apollo program and now the space shuttle program; and the 15,000-foot runway on which the re turning shuttle lands. A very informed tour guide filled us in on the details about NASA's past, current activities and its future. But I didn't need her to tell me that this was a very cool place, indeed. I have visited plenty of historically significant spots in the United States, but few of those are as significant today and for the nation's future as the Kennedy Space Center.
A added highlight of our visit was the chance to see the space center's vast natural surroundings. KSC sits on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, home to hundreds of animal species, including birds, manatee and an estimated 5,000 alligators — several of which we saw on our tour.
One of the most significant moments of our visit was when we saw a memorial to astronauts who have died in the line of duty. A giant mirror is inscribed with the names of America's fallen heroes, including the seven astronauts who died on Columbia. Nearby, there is a bronze plaque engraved with their likenesses. I never met these men and women, but after spending months on the story of the shuttle's destruction and recovery, and meeting some of the people lucky to have worked with them, I felt as if I did know them.
The price we paid for the "up-close tour," which also includes admission to the nearby Astronaut Hall of Fame, an IMAX theater and other exhibits, costs about as much as a ticket to Disney and the other theme parks in Orlando 50 miles to the west. There are cheaper options, but whatever you pay, the value you get will surpass any thrill you might get from riding a few roller coasters or shaking hands with a giant mouse.
The shuttle program is currently grounded, as engineers try to fix the problems that led to Columbia's demise; hopefully, the program will return to flight in May. Whenever man is again launched from KSC into space, it is vital that America and the world continue to push farther and deeper into space. Almost five decades of manned space flight have given us tremendous benefits and tremendous understanding of our universe. That success in the past, despite various setbacks along the way, demands that we keep flying. We must do that for the memories of our fallen heroes, and for ourselves.
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