posted 12-02-2010 09:24 AM               

100 years ago, your great-great-grandparents read about traveling through space in science fiction books. 50 years ago, your grandparents listened on the radio or watched on television when the first human orbited the earth, and today you can watch a small crew of astronauts from around the world share living and research quarters on the International Space Station on your laptop computer. We've come a long way in 50 years.

In that time, men and women from around the world have ridden in capsules, piloted shuttles, conducted experiments, and even vacationed in space. They've walked on the moon, launched and repaired satellites, conducted experiments in zero gravity, and seen sunrises every 92 minutes as they orbited the earth at 27,685 kilometers per hour. They continue to bring back beautiful images and valuable information about the earth, our solar system, galaxies, and our universe that inspire artists and scientists alike.

Tonight, you might look up in the sky and see a satellite, looking like a fast moving star blinking across the sky. Tomorrow, you may be the future designer and builder of the craft that will take us back to the moon and beyond. You may be the future astronaut who will see things no human being has ever seen before or a future tourists who will take vacations into space, leaving a spaceport just as today’s families take vacations that start by going to the airport or train station.

Time to grab your favorite paintbrush or markers, buckle up into a secure position in front of your desk, and blast off into your imagination, creating an image that celebrates 50 years of human flight.