This is a Christmas present for nerds. If you are not a nerd, you can just give this posting a skip. There would be no reason for you to be here otherwise - unless you are interested in learning about something very, very cool. It is also quietly historical. I barely heard anything about it.

I won't apologize for being excited about this news: Voyager 1 has officially entered the heliosheath. Why is this excellent news? In a few years time, Voyager 1 will be the first man-made object to enter interstellar space. This means we've become a space going species. We're not quite at the warp drive level yet but - oh, wow, we're doing it. This is a historical moment!

I await your collective gasps.

Fine, fine. I hear your unnerdy shrugs from here. Why is this important to the world? It is important because we are a race of individuals who all love a good story and, more importantly, a good journey. Voyager 1 is on the greatest journey that man has ever taken. Nothing on Earth can ever compare. Sure, being on Earth is cool and I personally regret not being able to experience it more often but - this, this, this, this, is the greatest adventure we're on!

How could this not be the best Christmas present ever? It is very cold and dark out there in the black. This is something that our race - not our countries, scientists, or NASA types - is doing. This is the first time that something we made has gone somewhere that no one has gone before. Yes, I am quoting Star Trek lore but think about it. I have always wondered what it would be like in a space craft, just floating around in space. I have always wanted to do that. To have that sense of ultimate freedom. It is at times like this when I think of the movie Silent Running.

Silent Running is a film about these large space craft that are, essentially, large trucks that haul stuff around. In the case of the movie, they are hauling plants and animals. The problem is, there is really no life on Earth any more. The plants are gone as are the animal populations. The company that owns the space craft decides to off load the cargo (nuking it, actually) for some reason and this sparks the main charaters humanity into over drive and he protects the remaining cargo bay by killing the crew. It is quite a powerful film and, if you are a science fiction buff, you should check it out. I don't want to spoil it any further but the character had a great respect for life and for the universe. Much like the feeling I have... standing here... with you.

"I am Captain Kirk! I... am... Captain Kirk!"

Ahem. If you get that reference, I will love you forever. See, I told you it was a mystery even to me why my brain works the way it does. Off to bed. Good night, Voyager 1. Don't get too lonely out there. You're making history and, I think, no one noticed. You rock, Voyager program.

Unless V'Ger comes back to kill us all in 200 years.

It is amazing what you forget.  I never considered important memories being lost to the murk of time.  Yet, today I was reminded of such a moment that, I believe, defined my belief that space travel is one of the greatest things we do.  It was only the other day that I was reading an article about the plight of the Spirit Mars Rover and how it has become stuck in a sand bog of some kinds.  The NASA people are trying to get it out but they are facing a reality that the rover may be stuck where it is.  I was saddened by this since I have thought of these rovers for some time and I do check on them from time to time.  Much like a mother hen.  As long as they are running and working on the deserts of Mars, everything about the world is okay.

So, it took me a little by surprise when, I was reminded about the Space Shuttle Challenger.  I hadn't thought about it for years and years.  My memory of the incident are somewhat vague but I will never forget the Time Magazine cover of the disaster.  The Challenger explosion was the first time I think I had any thought about death.  I had pets that has passed away but it was never quite the same thing.  I remember the main reason I remember anything about the Challenger was that we had done some kind of project at my school about the Space Shuttle since a teacher was going to be a member of that trip.  It was a big deal.  A "non-astronaut" was having the chance to do something that mere mortals such as myself were not allowed to do.  It was like stealing from the cookie jar knowing you wouldn't get in trouble.  In other words, it was exciting.

But, here is what happened:

I think this is one of the most terrifying videos that exist.  We've all seen terrorist suicide bombers (even back then) and whatnot but I think the feeling of utter helplessness is more terrifying.  Imagine having been inside the shuttle and hearing something go wrong and then - nothing. It happened to the Columbia a few years ago and it was a reminder about the dangers of space travel.

You know what?  I think he did say it best.  As much as we like to make fun of "Ronny" nowadays, this was one of his shining moments.  I think that is enough for one night.  Off to bed.