Life Lessons from Neil Armstrong

Neil Armstrong 8/5/30-8/25/12

Lessons learned from astronaut, photographer and hero, Neil Armstrong:  Enjoy life, take risks, and always find time for a good cigar.

#NASASocial 40 Years of Landsat

I'm a big fan of NASA as most of you know, so you can imagine my surprise when I was selected as one of twenty-five people to visit Goddard Space Flight Center as well as participate in a press conference celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Landsat satellite.

The Lunar Module: From Model to the Moon

Early 1960s model of the Lunar Excursion Module

I love seeing things go from concept to construction. So I was super excited when I came across the development of the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM), which ultimately helped Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin Jr, set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969. 

Fisher Space Pen

 Fisher Bullet Space Pen

I always considered myself a pencil guy until a few years ago when I opened up an old moleskin notebook and found most of the writings illegible. Since then, I've carried many pens but my favorite by far is Fisher's, whose pen has been used by NASA on all space missions since 1967. And as a fan of all things space related, if it's good enough for NASA then it's good enough for me.

NASA's Gemini Project

 NASA's Gemini Missions

In collabration with Arizona State Univeristy School of Earth & Space Exploration Program, NASA released photographs from their Gemini Missions and they are stunning.

As NASA’s second human spaceflight program, which had 10 manned flights between 1965 and 1966, Gemini saw such milestones as the first American spacewalk, first week-long spaceflight, and the first docking maneuver with another vehicle in space. The success of these objectives paved the way for the Apollo program, which immediately followed Gemini and landed the first men on the moon.

Here are a few of my favorite shots.

NASA's Final Space Shuttle Mission

Shuttle Atlantis fueling for its final mission

July 8, 2011 marked the end of an era for the space shuttle program and as major fan all space programs, I'm sad that this one is coming to an end because it truly inspired my generation to literally reach for the stars. Space travel was a major thing for me as a kid. I still remember class being interrupted to watch space shuttle launches and it seems as though that impact still has reminents in my life (if you ask my son right now what he wants to be when he grows up he will proudly proclaim, "Astronaut" ). However, this is all bittersweet because I am excited about what lies ahead in the future for NASA and the technological advances that they inspire. Case in point: we already saw the Iphone go 10,000 ft above the earth but now we get to see the phone really spread its wings on the International Space Station as its being used to conduct experiments for NASA's final space shuttle mission.

Spacesuit: Fashioning Apollo

Spacesuit: Fashioning Apollo by Nicholas de Monchaux

What does fashion and NASA have in common? More than you know.

Super Moon

View from D.C.

If you spent anytime outside last night, you might have noticed that the moon looked extra bright and extra close. And as the father of a son that loves all things involving the moon and outerspace, I made sure he witnessed this event before heading off to bed. 

Brooklyn Space Program

  Brooklyn Space Program

Armed with only a weather balloon, an iphone, and a make-shift carrier with a parachute; a father seeks to show his son the wonders of space. Pure inspiration.