I dunno, Chuck Yeager and some weird X15 contraption?
Godfrey DiGiorgi wrote:
On Apr 12, 2006, at 11:39 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
I think every American who was alive at that time remembers Yuri
Gagarin and the first space flight. It was huge news here and left an
indelible mark on the country. Remember, this came at the height of
the cold war, and it was an embarassment to the United States. It was
what led Kennedy to pledge that the US would put a man on the moon
within ten years. Yuri's flight was a tremendous accomplishment, and
it altered the history of the planet.
Yes. And Sputnik before that. (The animated film "The Iron Giant" circa
2000 recalls that era well, it's brilliant ...)
But I hold to that moment on Christmas eve seven years later as being
the seminal moment. When you can see all that you and your ancestors
have ever known as a quarter-sized dot over the horizon of another
world, and broadcast that for all the rest of the world to share with
you, I think that has compelling power far beyond the prior moments of
discovery and accomplishment that made it possible.
Ok, getting past the heavy stuff, time for a trivia question:
Given that the near limit of outer space is considered to be 100 miles
elevation from sea level, what was the first man-made object to reach
outer space?
Godfrey
--
Someone handed me a picture and said, "This is a picture of me when I
was younger." Every picture of you is when you were younger. "...Here's
a picture of me when I'm older." Where'd you get that camera man?
- Mitch Hedberg
