The first time I remember getting up insanely early it was to scurry down stairs and watch a shuttle launch. It was hours before sunrise in Alberta. I was 5 maybe? The idea that we had visited the moon, and that we were sending people into space to hang out blew my little mind!

It still blows my little mind. ;-)

It’s been difficult to watch the shuttle be the biggest thing we were doing with human spaceflight for most of my life. It only ever got to LEO (low earth orbit).

Then we watched a team land a rocket on its ass. I watched every test and explosion up to that point. I knew if they succeeded it would mean humanity would finally start reaching out into our solar system. And I agree with Elon Musk that making humanity a multi-planet species is one of, if not THE, single biggest thing we could do to safeguard consciousness in our universe. (Since for all we have evidence of right now, we’re kinda it. barring octopus and a few other genius animals that are moving into the consciousness camp themselves!)

Reusable rockets change everything. I might get to space before I die!!