He would. He knows it, I know it, his mother knows it. Ever since Challenger, hell, ever since we started shooting people above the atmosphere, for every astronaut's family there has always been the chance that your loved one won't come home.
I think it's a possibility you have to deal with long before it happens. I think from the moment an astronaut candidate enters the selection process, their families have to grapple with the fear of something like this.
If Brian could go up on the next one, he would. And I would watch him go, glad that he would be able to do such a wonderful thing. And if the worst happened I would mourn him, but I would be comforted by the fact that he died following his dreams.
When I was in the seventh grade, I told the guidance counselor I wanted to be an aerospace engineer because I knew that telling him I wanted to be an astronaut wouldn't sound mature (I was a whole 13 years old, after all).
But I never stopped wanting to be an astronaut and I'd go tomorrow.
That's true of space exploration... but also true of aviation. Of flight test. Of exploring terrestrial extremes. Of volunteering for medical studies...there's always a possibility that one won't make it home. But the same thing could happen driving to Costco, or crossing a residental street to a park... better to pursue what can be and should be done. The end is the same, the accomplishments vary.
> ...ever since we started shooting people above the atmosphere, for every > astronaut's family there has always been the chance that your loved one > won't come home.
You're absolutely right. As I said in another forum, we forget that what makes it *boldly* going where no one has gone before is that not everyone will return from the journey.
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no subject
Date: 2003-02-01 09:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-02-01 09:40 am (UTC)I think it's a possibility you have to deal with long before it happens. I think from the moment an astronaut candidate enters the selection process, their families have to grapple with the fear of something like this.
If Brian could go up on the next one, he would. And I would watch him go, glad that he would be able to do such a wonderful thing. And if the worst happened I would mourn him, but I would be comforted by the fact that he died following his dreams.
no subject
Date: 2003-02-01 09:53 am (UTC)But I never stopped wanting to be an astronaut and I'd go tomorrow.
no subject
Date: 2003-02-01 06:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-03-16 07:16 am (UTC)> ...ever since we started shooting people above the atmosphere, for every
> astronaut's family there has always been the chance that your loved one
> won't come home.
You're absolutely right. As I said in another forum, we forget that what makes it *boldly* going where no one has gone before is that not everyone will return from the journey.
no subject
Date: 2003-02-01 06:27 pm (UTC)