greatbear: (boom de yada)
Phil ([personal profile] greatbear) wrote2013-05-13 12:41 pm
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Hallo, Spaceboy

My email and messages began to light up yesterday evening from people sending me links to this YouTube video. "You're gonna love this", etc. Well, indeed I do love the hell out of this video. It has my two greatest "loves", science and music, assembled in a touching, awe-inspiring combination. And it's all real. Backstory: Cmdr Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency, is ready to bid farewell to the International Space Station after being aloft for five months. A sensation in his own right among Canadian science lovers and already a bit of a rock star in his own way, he, along with an Earth-based collection of musicians reworks Davis Bowie's 1969 masterpiece "Space Oddity" as a fitting end to his tour of duty. Definitely must-see TV.



This shows all the incredible things humanity is capable of when they put their collective minds together. I've been in awe of the space programs ever since my early youth. Even though trips into space had mostly become workaday outings that made most people lose interest, I still appreciated all that went into every trip. The recent Mars rover mission proved that there is still a lot of out-of-the-box thinking going on that rekindles that feeling of awe I had as a kid. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.
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[identity profile] maxauburn.livejournal.com 2013-05-13 04:58 pm (UTC)(link)
That's really cool!

I loved watching coverage of ALL the space
shots.

I hope we get back into space soon!

[identity profile] greatbearmd.livejournal.com 2013-05-14 02:11 am (UTC)(link)
Me too. There is still so much to be gained in space-based scientific study. I read where Cmdr. Hadfield is "the most social media-savvy astronaut to leave Earth", and looking at his Facebook page I can agree. Lots of people, especially youngster and schools follow his posts and tweets, and perhaps this will go a ways to encourage early aspirations into science and space.

[identity profile] mikiedoggie.livejournal.com 2013-05-13 05:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Even my cold heart went "squee" when I saw this video. Just so amazing, on so many levels.

[identity profile] greatbearmd.livejournal.com 2013-05-14 02:14 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, this video made me happy and wistful when I least expected it last night. I gained something more with each repeated play. The views from those windows are more valuable than the most precious gemstones. And this guy gets it. I think he'll have a busy schedule when he gets back to Earth.

[identity profile] dan4behr.livejournal.com 2013-05-13 10:22 pm (UTC)(link)
It's probably just me, but does he not have a bit a Randy, the Village People Cowboy sort of resemblance?

Oh...that view out the porthole window beside him. My godz..

[identity profile] greatbearmd.livejournal.com 2013-05-14 02:16 am (UTC)(link)
I agree, he does favor Randy a bit. He does rock the perfect astro-stache.

I'd never get anything done were I ever up there. I'd be in love with the view.

[identity profile] franklanguage.livejournal.com 2013-05-14 03:13 am (UTC)(link)
Well, some say the future of space flight is in tourism, so maybe you'll get up there yet.

[identity profile] ciddyguy.livejournal.com 2013-05-14 02:39 am (UTC)(link)
That is indeed very cool, and so well done too.

And it helps that he's easy on the eyes.

I'd love the US to get back to the space race for nothing else, learning more about space.

[identity profile] greatbearmd.livejournal.com 2013-05-15 04:58 am (UTC)(link)
We are constantly finding out new and amazing things about space, and as long as exploration keeps happening, we will continue to do so. The benefits go far beyond just the knowledge of space itself. All the cool tech we enjoy today is due by a large part to the various space programs and the technology created to support it. And let's not forget the meteorite that exploded over Russia that should serve as a reminder to keep our eyes in space. The process isn't cheap, but the long-term rewards pay it back in spades.

[identity profile] ciddyguy.livejournal.com 2013-05-15 05:01 am (UTC)(link)
The process isn't cheap, but the long-term rewards pay it back in spades.

Indeed, and the same goes for anything where a little investment in tools to get there make it possible to get there.
Edited 2013-05-15 05:02 (UTC)

[identity profile] tbrough.livejournal.com 2013-05-14 06:11 am (UTC)(link)
The first time I saw this last night I choked up. It brought me back to the times as a young boy when I dreamed of being an astronaut. (My great Uncle worked for NASA, which egged me on as well.) But this...this was just incredible. Watching it again gave me chills.
Edited 2013-05-14 06:11 (UTC)

[identity profile] greatbearmd.livejournal.com 2013-05-15 04:52 am (UTC)(link)
I had the exact same batch of feelings. The last bunch of kid-giddy feelings for me came with the Mars lander mission. So much about it, the technology, the incredibly awesome "landing" process with the lifter, and the almost immediate game-changing photos and data transmission filled me with that "anything is possible" attitude and sense of wonder. Watching this choked me up at the same time had me sitting transfixed at the screen. As I like to tell people, this is why I love the fuck outta science.
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