Rocket Sound and Noise Reduction

When I watched the launch of the Nasa Grail Moon Mission on September 10, 2011, I was only about 5 miles from the actual launch site.  From what I understand, that was about as close as we could get that day.

One thing I noticed was that after liftoff, it took the sound several seconds to reach where we were at.  I think someone calculated that it took 25 seconds.  As I remember that moment, it was like a rush of loud sound that vibrated the ground, the air and each one of us.  You could feel it just as clearly as if you felt a raindrop. 

The other thing I noticed was that right after the sound, it was like there was a vacuum created with virtually no sound.  It was a peaceful sound and feeling.  However, this lasted almost long enough to realize it, but it vanished almost instantaneously. 

Nasa Tweetup Depression

Morning Sunrise Over
Grail Launch Pad

When I read the parts about how much a tweetup event at Nasa would change your life, I thought surely people were being a little too dramatic.  Surely there was no way the Nasa Tweetup could do that much.

When I arrived at the Nasa - Kennedy Space Center, I was feeling kind of low in life.  Too many issues were weighing hard on me from the monthly budget things to feeling like all these friends that I once had in life have vanished.  If these friends are there, than they are sure being silent and I'm tired of trying to email or contact them only for it to never be reciprocated.

Actually when I got chosen to be on the backup list for this event, I waited patiently and anxiously to get the call.  Finally a few days before, I got the email from Stephanie that I would get to go.  I was so happy.  About the same point, I exclaimed to my partner that I needed new friends!  Viola!  All of the sudden I had 150 new friends.

Nasa Tweetup for Grail Launch

I was selected to be one of the 150 participants for the Nasa Tweetup Event on September 7 and September 8, 2011.  While this blog post may be a little departure from my regular blog posts, I could not help but share it.  I'm so excited to be able to attend this event.

Stretching our imagination and knowledge is important to our human awareness and evolution.  In that respect, this post does apply to this blog.  I feel if we get too complacent in the world as we know it, we fail to evolve into all that we can be.  We limit ourselves and so this post will hopefully show a side of that evolution of awareness.

Please continue to check back on this post for updates.  As I take pictures and record my thoughts, I will be sharing and updating the information here.

Thank You Atlantis and NASA

I stand in awe of what was accomplished by the people of NASA throughout the history and especially the space shuttle program. I'm inspired by all that they accomplished and all that we as a civilization learned from their experiences. The learning has not stopped because it will carry us into the future of our world and beyond.

I am saddened that today has come but I hope that this difficult time will lead to many more discoveries ahead and into worlds that we cannot even imagine. I hope that we will learn more about the possibilities that are beyond our comprehension and come to understand the things we all reside in, known as our body. May our minds never cease to stretch the boundaries and limits of all that there is. May we never stop reaching for the points that cannot be seen.

Photo by NASA/courtesy of nasaimages.org.




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Blog Post & Images (c) 7/21/11 Don Shetterly - use by permission only
http://www.donshetterly.com

If any part of this post is used or shared, a link back to this site is required.
http://mindbodythoughts.blogspot.com/
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Space Shuttle, Job Well Done!

Today marks the last time that the space shuttle will launch from earth into space. I can remember being a very young child watching our black and white TV when some of the later Apollo rockets were blast into space. I was always amazed and awed at the site on TV.

When I was about 8 years old, we got to tour Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on a family vacation. At that time, KSC was half of what it is today. I still remember seeing an Apollo Rocket up close and being in total amazement.

When they announced the Apollo Space Program was coming to an end and that they would create a spacecraft that would land like an airplane, it seemed almost impossible. Yet that is exactly what they did.

I will miss being able to see the shuttle launch over our house but I will hold on to the fond memories I have of this great accomplishment by humans traveling into space.

While some may argue purpose and costs of space missions, I know that through Space Exploration, many things have been invented as a result. In addition, we have learned a great deal about the body, the mind and how it all interacts together. You can of course research these things on the Nasa site or through google and see just how far we've come as a result of what NASA has done.

A video was posted by Nasa today from the closet out crew on the shuttle. It is the last time they will do this task from this launch pad for the space shuttle. The video said so much and the link for it is here. http://youtu.be/ldlphfRuk1Q

I'll leave you with the comment I left on the YouTube video. "Brings tears to my eyes. I commend you all for a job well done and for all that you've done which no one fully understands in the moment we call - today!"


Further Reading:
1) Nasa Space Technology And The Body (Blog Post 04/13/11)
2) Video from Close Out Crew at Nasa - Youtube Video




-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blog Post & Images (c) 7/8/11 Don Shetterly - use by permission only
http://www.donshetterly.com

If any part of this post is used or shared, a link back to this site is required.
http://mindbodythoughts.blogspot.com/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NASA Space Technology And The Body

I'm always fascinated by NASA, rockets, the space shuttle but more importantly by the technology advancements that have come from the space program. While I do realize that there are many who feel this is unnecessary spending, I'm am amazed at how space exploration has touched so many parts of our lives. I'm writing this just as an awareness of things that have been discovered and the impact upon our body. To me, these things are just cool!

So here are some of the technological advancements from space exploration.

1) UV Blocking Sunglasses To Guard Your Eyes
NASA researchers picked up on the fact that eagles and hawks have 5 times the photo receptors that humans do. In addition, they found that their eyes contain tiny oil droplets which filter out harmful radiation, letting through only specific wavelengths of light. This led to the development of sunglasses.

2) Tang which was developed by General Foods in 1957

3) Memory Foam
Foam that absorbs shock while providing comfort and protection. It is used in helmets, prosthetic limbs, and the insoles of shoes. Memory foam can also be found in the seat cushions of airplanes, motorcycle seats, inside bullet proof vests to lessen the impact of a bullet, and ejection seats for the military. Foam is also used to help astronauts when they came back to earth by helping to increase the challenge of an obstacle course which helps them re-adapt to earth's gravity.

4) Algae Compound, Breast Milk And Formula
In researching algae, NASA discovered a nutrient that had only been found in human breast milk. The compound is important to eye and brain development. Now, it has found its way into much of the infant formula sold in the United States.

5) CATScans and MRI And The Medical Field
In the 1960's, NASA wanted to enhance the pictures of the moon. By doing this, they invented digital image processing. Eventually the technology found its way into many other applications like CATScans and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).


These are just a few of the ways that we are impacted today by the research done at NASA and with space exploration. For more information, please go to the following link and read further about the impact of NASA on our lives.

Further Information:
1) Space Tech In Every Day Life
2) UV Blocking Sunglasses
3) Tang (Wikipedia)
4) Memory Foam For The Masses
5) Medical Diagnosis At A Distance


It is also important to note that NASA has just celebrated the 30th Year Anniversary of the Space Shuttle Program with designations of where each of the retired Shuttle Space Crafts will be going to be preserved as historical pieces for years to come. I believe Kennedy Space Center is getting Atlantis, Discovery is going to the Smithsonian Institute, Enterprise will go to New York City with the USS Intrepid Aircraft Carrier and Endeavor will go to the California Science Center in Los Angeles where I undestand space shuttles were built. I personally hate to see the program come to an end but I hope in the very near future, there will be more space exploration taking place.


Photo by NASA/courtesy of nasaimages.org
Blog Post & Images (c) 4/5/11 Don Shetterly - use by permission only
http://www.donshetterly.com