RIP Wally Schirra

America lost another space pioneer this morning:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18470469/

The Apollo program, and the brave men who dared to 'go where no man had gone before', were and are near and dear to my heart as my father worked at Ryan in those days testing antennae for the lunar landers.
The scientists and engineers who put people into space continue to amaze me. My boys think nothing of it when another space shuttle launches, but I am continually amazed and wish it received more coverage than it does.

Rest in Peace, Capt. Schirra. Thank you for being part of the wonderment of my childhood.

One of a vanishing breed of true heroes our children need to look up to. God bless you Wally.

Salustra, my Dad worked at Brown Engineering in Huntsville on the Saturn 5 instrumentation ring. Great stuff!!!

It is sad to see that we have lost a another space pioneer who was a member of the Craft. Wally comes from a time when heroes were actually heroic:

The roll of the workmen has been called and one Master Mason has not answered to his name. He has laid down the working tools of the Craft and with them he has left that mortal part for which he no longer has use. His labors here below have taught him to divest his heart and conscience of the vices and superfluities of life, thereby fitting his soul as a living stone for that spiritual building, that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. His work is finished, and his wages shall be paid as he has earned them.

God Bless.

Drinking to a hero's memory!
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Beautiful, Willly. Thank you for posting that.

We're down to 2 of the Mercury 7. I was born in 1957 so was at a great age to love all things NASA. On launch days either I and a lot of my classmates stayed home from school to watch the launch. So much so the school started showing the launch in the cafeteria.

Wally and the 1000's of men that made space attainable should never be forgotten. Things like this computer I'm working on would have been many many more years off.

MikeS.

The Mercury and Gemini astronauts were childhood heroes. I loved watching the Gemini flights and I loved Mr. Schirra's work in the broadcast boooth. It is tough for people born later to realize just how heroic these men. Godspeed, Wally.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeS.

We're down to 2 of the Mercury 7. I was born in 1957 so was at a great age to love all things NASA. On launch days either I and a lot of my classmates stayed home from school to watch the launch. So much so the school started showing the launch in the cafeteria.

Wally and the 1000's of men that made space attainable should never be forgotten. Things like this computer I'm working on would have been many many more years off.

MikeS.

Our school went on hold to watch the launches. Every classroom had a TV to watch it live..