Earlier this month I had the chance to fulfill a dream I’d had since I was a kid: seeing an actual rocket launch into space. Specifically, the launch of NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2 (OCO-2) aboard a Delta II rocket at the U.S. Vandenberg Air Force Station in California. Following the 2009 failure of OCO-1, the high hopes present amongst everyone on-site at the originally scheduled OCO-2 launch on 1 July were almost crushed as the launchpad experienced a water flow issue at T-46 seconds.
Missing the 30-second window that would allow OCO-2 to perfectly align in the A-train satellite constellation with 5 other satellites in space, the launch was put on hold for 24 hours. But much to my delight, OCO-2 finally made its successful journey to space at 2:56am the next day. OCO-2 is “NASA’s first dedicated Earth remote sensing satellite to study atmospheric carbon dioxide from space.” The data collected will help scientists improve “predictions of future atmospheric CO2 increases and its impact on Earth’s climate.”
I couldn’t stay an additional day to watch the actual launch, but it was still quite exciting to see Delta II/OCO-2 in person! From the midday briefings to the chats in anticipation of the launch throughout the day, you could sense the incredible buzz and energy of people gathered in the name of science.
It’s easy to get lost within the wonder that the universe can ignite. There’s something about space that brings out a natural curiosity in people of all ages. What’s out there? What can we learn about the past, present, and future through space? That’s what space exploration is all about, including NASA’s OCO-2 and the launch of the UK Space Agency’s first cubesat mission, UKube-1. And, it’s quite an exciting time for the UK, as Major Tim Peake prepares to become the first official astronaut representing the UK to travel to space in November 2015. Peake will embark on a long-duration mission at the International Space Station (ISS).
Throughout my life I have been inspired by the boldness of NASA missions and by Sally Ride, the first American female astronaut in space. This inspiration has always made me feel like I could achieve my boldest dreams and goals in life. I still carry that inspiration with me everywhere I go.
Space will continue to inspire future generations across the globe to become model leaders in the path towards discovery, driven by their curiosity and unquenchable thirst for knowledge. This drive behind discovery is what propels innovation and helps us obtain key information that will help us protect the earth and help make our planet a better place to live.