Comments on: Billy Shannon writes about Wallops

By: CFeagans

CFeagans — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 03:37:17 +0000

Now that brings back memories. I grew up on and around Wallops Island as a kid. Used to fish in Wallops Lake (we called it the Mill Pond). My dad used to take me over to the Island itself to watch rockets go up -sounding rockets, Scouts, and the like.

Much of the stuff they have at the Museum for the public at the Goddard Space Flight Center just before you take the causeway to Chincoteague was in a hanger on the base itself (called Wallops Flight Center back then). I used to sit in the Gemini space capsule they have and climb on the scale rocket models -those were located near the main gate of Goddard.

Lots of great memories there.

By: icemith

icemith — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 18:14:36 +0000

I’m glad these kids were able to relax and have a good time on their first trip to the sea. It must have been awesome for them. Certainly a diversion from the main reason they went to the launch. I feel there were lessons learned by all in this adventure.

Ivan.

By: John B. Sandlin

John B. Sandlin — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 00:45:24 +0000

Now, what’d really be cool: Get those kids to the other coast to launch a polar orbiting satellite and let them monitor the ice mass at both poles.

I’ve been to the Atlantic (Virginia Beach), lived near the Pacific (even swam in it – Geez it was cold), been to the Gulf (not that you’d catch me swimming with the jellies but at least it’d be warm) and grew up around the Great Lakes up in the Great White North.

The only space launches I’ve watched were on the left coast. I never saw my own experiment launched (not that I ever designed one) Still … pretty cool.

jbs

By: DennyMo

DennyMo — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 20:41:07 +0000

I too was struck by how big of a deal it was for both of these young “flatlanders” to get to the ocean. Kinda reminds me to not take things for granted, and make sure I treasure my kids’ enjoyment of “first contacts”.

By: Melusine

Melusine — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 19:49:37 +0000

It was really cool to go to the ocean. It was the first time I saw it. I told Mrs. Ghaffarian that I wouldn’t get in and wore my jeans. Pretty soon, I was in the ocean in my jeans. It was great. I have a boogie board now that I tried in the ocean. It was s much fun.

This pleases me to no end…for a 5th grader to finally see the ocean. Being born on the East Coast has its advantages.

I liked seeing the small rockets go up, too. I am getting my model rocket from the trip soon.

Cool!

It was definitely worth writing an essay to go. I am going to send Mrs. Ghaffarian some of my essays from middle school next year. She should like that.

That’s really sweet. Something to be said for essays.

(Gee, all I won in 5th grade was a voting-poster contest. Wish NASA had paired up with my school. ~sniffle~)

By: Supernova

Supernova — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 19:23:07 +0000

Good stuff! By the way, Phil, I saw a cartoon that I thought you'd like: Popularizing Science

By: Dude

Dude — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 17:54:00 +0000

It is kids like these that help keep science alive.
I just hope that George W. Bush doesn’t come after them!