Note: Only forum leaders may delete posts.
*HTML is ON *UBB Code is ON Smilies Legend
Smilies Legend
It has been an incredible two days of events here in San Diego surrounding the launch of the USNS [i]Wally Schirra[/i]. My deepest thanks to the Schirra family for inviting me and my wife to the launch and all the surrounding festivities. It was a very impressive lineup of guests from all aspects of Wally's life - including, from the space years, Bill and Valerie Anders, Scott and Patty Carpenter, Jim and Marilyn Lovell, Tom Stafford, Suzi Cooper, Chuck Friedlander, John Healey, Dale Myers, Dee O'Hara, Laura Shepard Churchley and her sister Julie. Plus of course, Jo, Suzi and Marty Schirra. I had the honor of being seated with Healey and Myers for most of the events, who had fascinating stories to tell. Current NASA astronaut (and Navy Captain) Lee Morin was the principal speaker just prior to the launch, and gave one of the most moving and personal speeches I have ever heard a current NASA astronaut give. Anders, Carpenter, Lovell and Stafford also shared their personal impressions of their colleague, both moving and humorous. The launch itself, taking place as dawn broke over San Diego bay and the tide was highest, was just as spectacular as the launch of the USNS [i]Alan Shepard[/i] I had [URL=http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum38/HTML/000320.html]witnessed a few years ago[/URL]. Except, this time, all agreed that Wally was pulling one last "Gotcha." Jo christened the ship with a bottle of champagne broken over the bow, and then... the ship did not move. It was so cold this morning, apparently, that the grease on the runners was too tacky. Very, very slowly, the ship inched (literally) away from the viewers, with Laura giving it a couple of playful shoves of encouragement. Then, after a number of people remarked that, in classic Wally fashion, [i]Schirra[/i] was not going to launch "until I am good and ready, dammit," the immense ship picked up speed, and with a blast of its horn and a colorful display of streamers it slid into the bay. Watching something the size of a city block race away from you like that is an unforgettable experience. I took some video, which I plan to post here, along with some photos. It was a weekend of suitable Schirra-esqe levity all around, and held a special surprise for me. Looking in the formal program brochure, and at the short biography of Schirra, I was amazed to find the following line..."He was also a major contributor to the 2007 book, [i]In the Shadow of the Moon[/i], which captured his final published thoughts on his life and career." To have this mentioned in a brief summary of his entire life was incredibly special.
Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts
Copyright 1999-2024 collectSPACE. All rights reserved.