|
My Mission
I am Columbia. For the 28th time I'm heading home, my second home, orbit around my Earth. It is just moments before lift-off and I feel so full of excitement and energy that I may jump directly into space. But my heavy body needs help and I await it eagerly. As I feel the familiar rumble below me, my engines spring to life. I take a deep breath, rock my self back and forth just enough to break the only bond that holds me down, and exhale forcefully as the boosters ignite to send me home. 'Hang on! Here we go!' I've cleared the tower and I feel strong as I roll onto my back to give my cargo of seven a spectacular show. Something feels different this time, as though I'm not launching alone. The presence is overwhelming, but I must concentrate to deliver my cargo to their destination. I grip them tighter, with all my might, and push on.
Life in orbit, in space, is like experiencing total beauty, tranquility and solitude. With my every mission, I feel I'm seeing the stars above and the Earth below for the first time. To look down on the Earth from here is like seeing the face of God. It is a magnificent experience. I am happy here, relaxed and unique for I am the only one of my family of four on this journey. Nothing else on Earth can do what we do. That's a responsibility which gives me meaning and purpose. I don't indulge in the glory. All attention is on me and I will perform my duty with every bit of strength and precision that I can possibly administer. But I still feel that I am not here alone. The presence I felt at launch has been with me throughout this mission, but when I look to see who is there, I see nothing but this breath-taking scene. Yet I feel calm, it is not a threat. I must rest, for tomorrow will be a busy day.
The time has come and my mission is drawing to its conclusion. My payload bay doors are closed and I'm holding on as tight as ever before to my precious cargo, careful not to let it slip away. My people are strapped in and I can sense the dependency they feel towards me to bring them safely home. I see the coast of my America and my excitement is as heavy as my sense of longing to remain in space. The presence I'd felt throughout this mission is stronger than ever. It's as though all sense of motion has been suspended as I look off to my left side to see Challenger. She's been with me the entire time, I know that now, but why is she here with me at this point when she hasn't appeared during any mission before? She has the glow of the brightest star I've ever seen, and she's here with me now but I don't know why. I can't think of that now, I have a mission to complete and my destination is within reach. Once again I look over, she is still at my side. 'Good-bye my friend,' I call over to her, 'It sure was good to see you.' Still she does not break from my side. I can't think about that now, I can feel warming grip of the Earth bringing me down, I can almost smell the salt ocean...I must concentrate. The next time I am called upon I will be ready and eager to return to space, but for now, 'Mission Control, this is Columbia, and I'm bringing them home.'
|
