Going to Space

WHEN JOHN GLENN orbited the Earth three times in 1962 I was in first grade. When my mother told me about the spaceman in orbit I grew excited and asked: "Did he say anythiing about what its like up there?". Not bad for a six year old, rather precocious, if I do say so myself. She told me that the astronaut had reported that it is very dark up there in "outer space", which is what we called high Earth orbit back then. I was hooked, instantly fascinated by space flight and astronomy. As the years between 1962 and 1969 passed,I devoured every book on those two closely related subjects I could get my hands on, and I was fortunate in having a large supply available to me at the local public library. In those days children's books about astronomy and space travel were ubiquitous, and I presume still are. At least, I hope so. Our contemporary kids deserve to live and feel the same fascination and wonder I felt all those years ago, and, to a degree, still do. I became addicted to a series of books for children called the "Mike Mars" series. In those days books for children about both subjects were ubiquitous, and presumably still are. If not, I would pity the poor curious children, eager for knowledge, who miss out on all the fascinating fun. The protagonist, Michael Albert Robert Sampson (MARS), a kid himself, was smitten with space fever, and I soon followed his lead. I hope that series of books is still in print,and that today's kids still enjoy them. I suspect, however, that they have been supplanted by a more modern, bright and shiny collection of space books for children, replete with modern vernacular and hair styles. There's money in it. I must remind myself to google it. I don't even remember any of the plot lines in any of the Mike Mars books. How much drama and inner conflict can an author impart to a kid crazy with space fever? The Mike Mars are all about the inner self, yearning,and dreaming. Was Mike Mars inspired to fascination with the planet Mars on account of his acronym name? I can't recall the author explicitly revealing that, but I think its implicit in the narrative. I never was much of a literary critic, so I can only speculate. I got my first telesscope when I was fourteen, a 2.4 inch refractor which came in a kit and had to be assembled at home, a task which I, though mechanically challenged, managed to achieve. That didn't last long. It was too small and weak, and a whole universe awaited me. I graduated to a three inch refractor, and then to the astronomical big leagues, or so I thought, with a six inch reflector. I had a good friend, a fellow amatuer astronomer, and and on several occcasions we held "all night overnight" two man observing parties. The first overnight was July 9, 1969, and the second was August 9, 1969. We remember the seminal dates of our lives. Youthful astronomy was replaced by teenaged tennis and girls, but the fond memories remain. About twenty five years ago, in 2001, I discovered that telescopes hadn't increased much in price, and, as aforty six year old, tried to recapture the glory of my youth by purchasing a twelve inch reflector. I never have used it much,and it currently sits in my garage, gathering dust. Thomas wolfe, or whoever, was quite correct; you can't go home again. I still look up at the sky at night, and can still identify most constellations. I follow the phases of the mooon, and take note of the wandering planets,and that's about it. At the end of our days, we have only our memories.