On the occasion of the final Shuttle mission:

[MineralMan]

The year was 1957. I was in the seventh grade, and absolutely insanely fascinated with space, electronics, and just about anything scientific. When the Russian successfully launched the first Sputnik, it was huge news everywhere. Along with my interest in science, I was an avid 12-year-old shortwave radio listener, using a KnightKit radio I built from a kit to roam the world.

So, quite naturally, I dug into the newspapers at the local library until I found the L.A. Times, which ran a story about the broadcasts from Sputnik 1, and included the frequency the satellite used. They also published a schedule of when the Russian satellite would be passing over Southern California. I turned to my little radio, with the long wire antenna and almost immediately tuned in the "beep-beep-beep" of the primitive telemetry transmission. My mind traveled into space with that little satellite.

I memorized the schedule, and tuned in again and again. One night, my parents took my siblings and me to a neighbor's house, where we were going to have dinner and a visit, with my parents playing Canasta after dinner, while we watched TV. They had a deluxe Zenith console radio from the 1940s in their living room, with full shortwave coverage. My parents mentioned during dinner that I had tuned in the Sputnik and let them all listen to its beeping. The family we were visiting was a little incredulous that a 12-year-old boy had managed this. Well, according to the schedule in my head, it was almost time for the satellite to make another orbit that crossed over Southern California, so I headed for their big old radio and turned it on to let it warm up. A few minutes later, it was beeping quietly away with the sound of human space exploration.

I left the sciences for other interests when I discovered that girls were also worthy of exploration, and ended up following a career as a writer. But, the interest in science and space never left me. I mourn the end of our manned space program and hope it's only temporary. May we once again explore beyond our planet.

[Shagbark Hickory]

1. Are you a ham too, mineralman?

[MineralMan]

2. Nope. Never was. Just a listener.

[PearliePoo2]

3. I have similar memories!

A favorite DVD in my movie collection is "October Sky".
I watch it about once a year.
The music of the 50's in the movie score...well..can't keep my feet still or not sing along!

[MineralMan]

5. We're getting old, you know.

But, it's OK. We have memories that most people don't.

[PearliePoo2]

8. Building a radio at 12 years old! Wow!

Very impressive!
Yes, memories! I have one that will never leave me.
Motorcycle trip on my new Yamaha 650 Maxim. Seattle to Arizona to see my parents in 1981.
Stopped at an American Legion Club in California City to have a beer at the end of the day.
April 13th 1981.
All NASA people there after work relaxing. Guy next to me bought me a beer (I was a bartender at an American Legion Club in Washington State at the time)
Said he was working the next day for the Columbia Shuttle landing and gave us passes he had. Right down on the flight line on the tarmac! Hot as can be! I sheltered from the sun under the wing of the 747 Carrier!
Over the loud speakers came "Big Sur never looked so good". BOOM BOOM!! There it was...tiny little silver thing...escort jets on her wing.
Bigger...BIGGER..touchdown....parachute popped out perfect! Heat shimmering off of her....my new NASA friend racing out in a support vehicle to greet her.
Tears and goosebumps everywhere. Still get them thinking about it.
Next day we go to Barstow to see my Uncle Chuck. He takes us to Goldstone Tracking Station in the Mohave. See Voyager signals coming back in binary digits painted on a TV screen. I go through airlocks and I am alone with an Atomic clock!
I am so fortunate!

[MineralMan]

4. Link to the sound of Sputnik 1

http://history.nasa.gov/sputnik/sputnik.wav

That should play automatically on all Windows PCs.

[lunatica]

6. I looked forward to the 21st Century as the Space Age Century

I knew we would be mining the asteroids and the moons of Mars, Phobos and Deimos, and we'd have Moon colonies and incredible futuristic cities and cars that fly and deep sea villages.

We did get computers for everyone and the debit card though. At least that's something.

[MineralMan]

7. Yes. Well, we still have 89 years left in the Century.

Perhaps it will still happen. I'm afraid I probably won't be around to see it, though.