Yesterday was the 45th anniversary of the moon landing -- one of many highlights from the space programs around the world. To look up at the moon and know people have walked there is somewhat surreal. That I have touched a piece of a moon rock is also somewhat difficult to process. The moon is in most of our days -- provided the clouds don't interfere. Tides are guided by the cycle of the moon and some would say human rhythms are also affected by this celestial body. It is clear that the moon has been part of story-telling since the dawn of time, figuring prominently in global aboriginal art and cultural stories, myth and fable. Even the child's bedtime story, Good Night Moon, acknowledges this ever present part of our sky -- and this is the sky everywhere on earth, not just in a particular hemisphere.
The space programs that landed men on the moon have also brought so much technology into our homes. Corning ware (cookware based on the science of heat shields), hormonal treatment of osteoporosis (from calcium balance studies of the early Mercury missions to the advanced biochemical studies carried out on shuttle missions) and food preservation technologies (freeze-drying such as ice cream and strawberries, ultra-high temperature pasteurization for shelf stable milk, water, or juice in tetra-packs), and amazing reconstituting and re-thermalization ovens. Imagine the change from John Glenn eating a puree squeezed out of a toothpaste style tube to the ISS meals that include astronaut favourites such as birthday cakes made by moms (made in a sterile environment, mind you) and main dishes conceived by renowned chefs. That technology has come so far. Many other health and medical technologies have their roots in zero-gravity experiments. We have greatly benefited from these programs. Of late, astronauts have raised awareness of the beauty and fragility of our planet. I've read much of Col. Rick Hatfield's writings (and photos) on this subject and have heard Dr. Roberta Bondar speak twice and share her amazing stories and photos from shuttle missions. This is another major gift of the space programs.
Today's song was chosen carefully. There are so many songs about the moon, many might even be seen as trite in this context, though they are still entertaining. The selection made deals with the all encompassing nature of the moon and was written and is performed by a true poet. Enjoy!
Song about the Moon -- Paul Simon
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=song+about+the+moon+paul+simon
No comments:
Post a Comment