The Sigmon Soup: Farewell to the Shuttle Program

I have to admit, I got a little choked up watching the last shuttle launch. I was a huge space nerd as a kid and shuttle launches were some of my best childhood memories. My dad worked with some astronauts in his reserve unit and they hooked us up with tickets to their launches. When I was in the 4th grade, experiencing a shuttle launch was one of the most incredible things I had witnessed at that point in my life. I was hooked. I joined the Young Astronauts club in elementary school where we did nerdy things like have a slumber party at school to stargaze. We also road-tripped to Cape Canaveral for a night shuttle launch, which was by far the coolest thing my 6th grade self had seen. Fast forward to 8th grade, I got to geek out all over again when my science class had the opportunity to experience the ultimate: SPACE CAMP in Huntsville, AL. Ever since I'd seen the 80's-tastic movie, it was my dream to ride on the multi-axis trainer (and have Jinx send me into space with Joaquin Phoenix. But I digress.)

The end of the space program didn't hit me until a few months ago when Carter and I saw the Hubble IMAX. Over the roar of the shuttle launching onscreen, I leaned into Carter and said, "I can't wait to take our future kids to shuttle launches, my mind was blown by that experience when I was younger." Carter just sort of stared at me and said, "Welllll you know the program is ending this year, right?" As much as I knew this, it didn't sink in until that moment. I hope that the US doesn't forget about space exploration...it's hard to believe that we have to rely on the Russians to hitch a ride. However, I am grateful that I was still disciplined enough to write in my journal at that age. I'll hold out hope that one day I can take my kids to their first US space shuttle launch and see their jaws drop open as they feel the ground shaking and dream of what it must be like to see Earth from space for the first time.