On Tuesday, February 6th, 2018, SpaceX launched the most powerful rocket since the Apollo 17 slipped the surly confines of Earth's gravity on December 7th, 1972. It's been a long time coming.
I wasn't alive for Apollo. I grew up in the era of the Space Shuttle, with fond memories of its distinctive double sonic boom rattling the walls of our Southern California house for missions that recovered to Edwards Air Force Base. Yesterday, my kids stopped their schoolwork to watch the most powerful vehicle on earth launch a red convertible and a spacesuit into orbit. So did most of the office.
The best part though, was watching the two boosters recover on their pads. If the sight of a pair of 140 foot telephone poles dropping out of the sky like thunderbolts from the hand of Zeus, only to drop landing legs, fire rockets and land in perfect synchronicity doesn't stir something deep in the soul, then check your pulse, because you may be dead.
Here's to the future, and many landings to come.
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