the aesthetic of lostness

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WE HAVE LIFTOFF! RocketSTEM magazine is now live. The first issue features conversations with Gene Cernan and Jack Schmitt, as well as NASA Flight Director Emily Nelson. Plus, Apollo 17, MSL, Voyager, NASA Socials, an astronomy guide AND more. Take a peek and let us know what you think.

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I'm in it and it is awesome so go read it right now! Full disclosure, actually I am the founder and director for RocketSTEM, so not I might be *slightly* biased on how great the magazine is.

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Apollo 17 Commander Gene Cernan and family enjoy a moment in front of the new full-size LEM replica inside Hanger One during the Salute to the Pioneers of Space event at the National Naval Aviation Museum on Saturday night.

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R.I.P. Larry Hagman (September 21, 1931 - November 23, 2012)

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Major Nelson has passed away.

Things which are not okay for my childhood.

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Announcing RocketSTEM, which will be a non-profit foundation for promoting Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) education. Our first project is the startup of a monthly digital magazine centered on providing content geared towards teachers, students and parents as well. The publication will mix in space history – past, present and future – along with interviews, career paths, astronomy lessons, a sprinkling of aerospace news, museum features, NASA tech spinoffs, puzzles, games, quizzes, lesson plans and other educational resources, along with easy-to-follow explanations of the mathematics and physics of all things to do with aerospace and space travel. And that is just for starters.

I'm working with a hand-picked core staff to develop this magazine - tentatively called 'My Aerospace News'. Our goals basically revolve around a) inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers and astronauts; b) keeping educators informed on space developments and helping them better work STEM lessons into their classrooms; c) raising awareness of the benefits of space exploration; along with two 'lessor' goals d) encouraging international cooperation in space exploration; and e) raising the level of discussion regarding the funding of NASA so that it becomes a more significant campaign issue in future elections.

The reality is that we will be using a wide variety of regular staff, freelancers and a rotating cast of contributors. So there will be opportunities for anything from writers, copy editors/fact checkers, artists, graphic designers, researchers, web/iOS developers, science advisers, etc. If a project such as this excites you then please feel free to contact me directly.

The inaugural issue is slated to be out as early as late-December, with a couple months between the next one in order to obtain feedback from educators and the public. The plan is to go to a monthly publication by August 2013. 

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It may not have been a clear sky but I still looked at the Moon tonight and thought of Neil Armstrong and then gave him a wink or two. Did you do likewise?

“For those who may ask what they can do to honor Neil, we have a simple request. Honor his example of service, accomplishment and modesty, and the next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink.”     ~The Family of Neil Armstrong

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The very last photo I took of Neil Armstrong when he was at the National Naval Air Museum in Pensacola back in early May. I hope that this unidentified kid here truly appreciates how lucky he was to meet those two American heroes.

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- I was born into a world where Neil Armstrong had already walked on the moon.

It was a fact of life, a way of living established by people who had long ago lived out the wildest dreams of humanity.

So easy to forget sometimes that these adventurers made it to the moon and back with...

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Shameful as it is, in 31 states 'men who father through rape are able to assert the same custody and visitation rights to their children that other fathers enjoy.'

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You wanted bigger sizes. You wanted more photos. You got it!!

My photos are now available in sizes up to a 30x40 print or a 40x60 canvas. Plus, in celebration of the upcoming landing of MSL & the anniversaries of STS-135 & Apollo 11, many of the print sizes are ON SALE until July 31st.

Only available at www.ShuttlePhotos.com.

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Astronaut Bill Shepherd, the first commander of the ISS, was presented with the Honorary Naval Aviator award last week. Among the fellow astronauts in attendance for the event were Neil Armstrong and Gene Cernan while Marsha Ivins, Mike McCulley and Ken Cameron all were invited to the podium to tell stories about Shepherd.

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Former NASA astronaut Bill Shepherd, the very first commander of the International Space Station, was presented with the Honorary Naval Aviator award during a ceremony last Friday morning at the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fla. In this photo a pair of gold wings are being pinned on him.

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As one star field of light was snuffed out forever, another came alight:

Less than 10 minutes after the final power down of the Space Shuttle program, astronaut Mark Kelly, the commander of Endeavour's STS-134 mission, stepped up to the podium as a guest speaker at the commissioning of the National Flight Academy's USS Ambition CVT-11. The National Flight Academy was established to give secondary school students a chance to experience life aboard a Navy aircraft carrier and learn to fly simulated missions of a next-generation fighter aircraft. Many of those students are expected to come away from the 'space camp' for aviators inspired to pursue careers in STEM fields — and no doubt a few will grow up to become astronauts themselves.

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At 8:58 a.m. CT on Friday, May 11, the last of the 'operational' Space Shuttles was powered down for the final time. While Endeavour is now forever dark, I had the once-in-a-lifetime chance to stand upon the flight deck of the space-faring orbiter while she was powered up the prior week. It was a memorable day whose images will forever be a part of me.

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This is how my Friday morning began — standing in the background and listening to Gene Cernan and Mark Kelly swap astronaut stories while waiting to do a TV interview promoting the commissioning of the National Flight Academy that same morning. I would later meet both of them individually and have a brief conversation with each.

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An American flag which was flown to the surface of the moon and returned aboard Apollo 14 is expected to be one of the most sought-after items at this weekend's Space Exploration Signature Auction being conducted by Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas.

Read the entire story at Examiner.com.

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The rarest of rare days happened this morning: Cloud cover created near perfect lighting for the Blue Angels as they soared over the house. I even saw the Blues disappear and reappear through clouds several times as they zoom-zoom-zoomed above the tree tops. And, oh yeah, a bird briefly joined their ranks - or maybe the bird was playing chicken with the Blues. 

See more pics from this morning's practice above the skies of Pensacola at my public Facebook album.

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Privileged to have been among the last 10 members of the public to have ever stood upon the flightdeck of Space Shuttle while she was powered up last week. Endeavour will be powered down for the very final time this Friday before heading to Los Angeles later this year to be placed on permanent display at the California Science Center.

See more pictures and read about the end-of-the-line for the Space Shuttle at AmericaSpace.org.