Aftermath

           Photo: Reid Wiseman, NASA

REFLECTING:  Yesterday was a dramatically explosive one in spaceflight, with the U.S. having a rocket explode shortly after take off for the first time in decades. The good news is, that happens so infrequently that when it does, it's big news. 

Hours after Orbital Sciences Corporation's Antares rocket and Cygnus spacecraft bound for the International Space Station exploded shortly after lift off, NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman posted the image of a sunrise he shot while living on the ISS (photo above).  Along with it he wrote, "Not every day is easy. Yesterday was a tough one. #sunrise." 

In other words, spaceflight goes on. In fact, just hours after the Antares disaster, Russia successfully launched a cargo mission bound for the ISS, and this morning, United Launch Alliance sent an Atlas V rocket into orbit to deploy a satellite for the Air Force.

That said, there's still lots of talk today about the anomaly from yesterday, and not a lot of answers yet. NASA did release this photo of what the launch pad at Wallops looks like post explosion. 

                  Image Credit: 

NASA/Terry Zaperach

UP NORTH:  We spent a good part of our day in Shoreline, at art, science and 'detective' class. From there, we too, our Very Full Car north to Mukilteo, to unload some stuff of G&Gs at their new place. 

It was lovely out weather wise, warm and mild, so we headed down the hill to the waterfront afterward. 

We strolled the shoreline right next to the Mukilteo ferry dock.

 We watched crabbers hauling in their limits and fishermen and women on the pier.

We loved the fact that all over there were signs about the city's history.  We learned that the founding fathers of the city were gentlemen named Morris Frost and Jacob Fowler. They started a store, hotel and saloon.  

There is more than one theory about how Mukilteo got its name. One explanation often put forth is that Mukilteo means “good camping ground” in a native dialect.  However, in the Snohomish dialect of Lushootseed, Muk-wil-teo means “to swallow” or “narrow passage,” the latter fits some of the topography in the area. 




We learned there's a NOAA research station in Mukilteo. Per the NOAA Web site, the work at the Mukilteo location focuses on "understanding the life cycle of marine species and the impacts of ecosystem stressors on anadromous and marine fish and invertebrates. In this salt-water facility, scientists rear marine and anadromous fish for a range of studies, conduct studies on the effects of impaired water quality and habitats on the health and survival of fish, serve as a base for field studies of Pacific salmon, and hold outreach events for students and public groups on NMFS research in the region. Unique features of the Mukilteo facility include a high-quality seawater system for fish rearing and marine species studies; an algae and zooplankton culture laboratory; a deep water pier and central Puget Sound location with convenient access to field research locations; and specialized laboratories and equipment for studies on the fate and effects of toxic substances."

Cool! Sounds like good (and important) science! Wonder if they allow tour groups?!

I'm sure there are many more visits to the Mukilteo waterfront in our future!