Return to space

The space shuttle has returned to space!

I just finished watching the launch of the space shuttle Discovery. It has been two and a half years since American astronauts were lost as Columbia ignited on atmospheric re-entry.

It has been a long time since I watched a launch of the space shuttle. When I was a kid, it was a thrill, and I remember that every launch and return was covered live in TV. Admittedly, I was a bit casual about seeing the launch. I only turned on the TV this morning to see if the shuttle had actually made it off the pad. Instead, I saw the actual launch live, and I confess that it is a thrill to watch.

I'll save all the sentmentality about American destiny and exploration and the "can-do" spirit. Simply put, watching the solid-fuel boosters blast the shuttle into orbit is amazing. I imagine the thrill is significantly amplified when witnessing the event live.

I wish the best to the Discovery crew. Space exploration is important, not because of what we think we might learn but because of what we don't know what we will learn.

-- Wenatchee, Wash.