This post is dedicated to my dad, who informed me that today was the 50th anniversary of the First Space flight ever.
50 years ago today, Yuri Gagarin became the first man to journey into space on his Vostok Spacecraft on April 12, 1961. His journey was approximately 108 minutes long and he was only a young 27 years old at the time he completed the first orbit around the Earth.
My dad, an aeronautical engineer...or 'rocket scientist,' if you will...is an avid space enthusiast and has worked closely with many space agencies, like NASA, throughout the years. He has had meetings with the likes of Buzz Aldrin and he works down the hall from a bona fide astronaut, who he helped hired. Needless to say, because of him I developed an interest in space a long time ago, whether it was while he was setting up the telescope to see the stars and planets from the backyard or while walking the halls of the Smithsonian museum of Air and Space in DC.
Needless to say, my interest didn't extend as far as his did, and I wasn't even close to majoring in any type of engineering in college. Still, I will always have an appreciation for the work done by our scientists and engineers and their ability to place satellites in space, run an international space station and put a freaking man on the moon. Plus, I like the movie Apollo 13. (and you know, that whole event it's based on is pretty incredible, also). Doesn't Tom Hanks always have the most incredible way of pulling at the heart strings?
So, here's to you dad. Even though you liked to watch The OC and sing covers of "Hey There, Delilah," you're still the smartest man I'll ever know.
And yes, folks, Yuri Gagarin was Russian. But it's okay, we beat those suckers to the moon.
