Launch into Discovery: How the space shuttle program made me a writer.

Today is space shuttle Discovery's last launch day. It will be retired after returning to earth one more time after 27 years of service. As the fleet of shuttles retire this year (Endeavor will make its last trip in April and, if finances allow, Atlantis in June), I feel like the door is closing on an important part of my childhood, a revelation that leaves me sad and a little bereft.

Like many children across the U.S., I watched the launch live that cold day in January 1986 when the Challenger exploded. Our excitement at seeing a teacher launched into space was amplified by the fact that one of our own teachers at Liberty Elementary, Mr. Beltzner, had been a semi-finalist in the Teacher in Space Project. Though I was only in 2nd grade and Mr. Beltzner taught 5th grade, I remember seeing his tears as we all walked the halls, zombie-like, after the explosion.

Two and half years later, I was fortunate to be in Mr. B's class the day Discovery took to the skies again and re-launched the space program. Of all the kids watching the launch in my classroom that day, Mr. B was the most excited. My love of space was born out of disaster but fueled by the hope and passion of one educator who taught me you could reach for the stars, fail, and still keep reaching. Ronald Reagan said something similar three days after the Challenger accident:

"Sometimes, when we reach for the stars, we fall short. But we must pick ourselves up again and press on despite the pain."

In a weird way, my love for the space program as a child has been the driving force to be a writer for children. The space program taught me to dream big. My teacher, Mr. Beltzner, taught me that passion and hard work will carry you far and that education can be exciting. All of these lessons come into play when I sit down in front of my computer and work on a story I hope will impact children just a fraction of the way Mr. B and the space program have impacted me.

I know I will never be an astronaut or fly in one of the shuttles, but I will always carry the excitement and the risks of launch day inside to remind me that though I might fall short as a writer, I might fail from time to time, I can still pick myself up and reach for the stars.

T-10, 9, 8, 7....


If you want to watch the launch live, go to nasa.gov or click here.