I’m a space geek. Not hard core enough to have gotten an engineering/computer science/science degree. More of a Liberal Arts/Know enough to be dangerous kind of space geek. I used to live near MSFC (Marshall space Flight Center) in Huntsville, AL, where my father worked on developing ISS (International Space Station). I worked for the USSRC (US Space Flight Center) as a Space Camp Councilor and then later moved up to reservations and special reservations when I was in college. I also joined SEDS (Students for the Exploration and Development of Space) where I not only met some of the coolest people (including one of 4 Carrie’s who is an incredible artist as well as a science geek in her own right. I totally idolize her work and can say she was one of the reasons why I started my artwork back up) including my now ex-husband Matt (we are still friends so don’t think too badly of him). I really, really wanted to go to Kennedy and watch a one Shuttle Launch, but never made it and won’t really be able to do so this April for the last. I personally like to hear Houston say, “Press for MECO” (Main Engine Cut Off) which means the Shuttle was safely delivered to her destination in space. I’ve also come to a startling conclusion, I’ve never tried photographing anything in the night. No stars, planets, meteor showers, nothing. That’s pretty stupid of me considering I have the equipment to do it and I currently live in an area where I can crawl out into a field and not have the Seattle light pollution screw up the view. But I’d be missing one important thing: my space friends. Not the short green space friends, but the ones who taught me the planets and the constellations. The ones who showed me Cassiopeia draping herself across the sky, or Draco the Dragon wriggling across the pole. It would be just me, and that gets kind of lonely. Not that Steve would ever turn down hauling a telescope out with me or even a pair of binoculars, but sometimes, I miss hearing the ‘leet speak of the engineers, or the debate of to use cells or nanites in a project, or the happy chatter of why a failure of a tethered satellite was a good thing as it proves a sling shot effect works. I’m pretty sure, most of these folks won’t even have a clue that I was ever listening and learning, as I was just an education major, not a science or engineering or computer major. However, in their own way they also inspired me to learn. May not have been a formal education, but I at least figured it out. So, I figure, if I take time to “Stop and figure out the acronyms” I should also take sometime to get back into my space suit. After this show ends in April, I’ll consider finding a really good field, hauling out the camera gear and sitting down and watching a few stars/satellites/ISS/meteors go by. Hey, even from space sparkling things make pretty photos too.
(Source: indigofugue.com)
