From the earliest times, humans have had a fascination with the heavens. Many believed that the heavens were home to the gods. Religions related stories of airborne chariots and winged angels that descended from the heavens to speak to humans. Flying creatures that were half human and half beast were legendary, and birds and fantastic winged creatures pulled boats and other vehicles through the air.
Few moments in history have done more to capture the essence of the human spirit - freedom of the pursuit of dreams - than the Wright brother's historic first flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.... twelve seconds that changed the world! And what twelve seconds they were...Mankind was no longer confined to the ground but could soar the vast heavens as gracefully as a bird without any limitations.
In the last one hundred years, and to a lesser extent for thousands of years, both aviation and spaceflight have played an important part in social history. Most would agree that this role has largely been positive. Aviation has made the world smaller and brought people closer together. It has provided an avenue for those with special skills and talents in countless areas to shine and to express themselves. It has improved the lives of many people. Spaceflight, too, had a positive impact on life in the 20th century. It has opened up the vastness of the Universe and if not exactly able yet to explain how life began, has provided us with substantial clues. It has, to a great extent, achieved what writers could only imagine a hundred years ago.
Few moments in history have done more to capture the essence of the human spirit - freedom of the pursuit of dreams - than the Wright brother's historic first flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.... twelve seconds that changed the world! And what twelve seconds they were...Mankind was no longer confined to the ground but could soar the vast heavens as gracefully as a bird without any limitations.
In the last one hundred years, and to a lesser extent for thousands of years, both aviation and spaceflight have played an important part in social history. Most would agree that this role has largely been positive. Aviation has made the world smaller and brought people closer together. It has provided an avenue for those with special skills and talents in countless areas to shine and to express themselves. It has improved the lives of many people. Spaceflight, too, had a positive impact on life in the 20th century. It has opened up the vastness of the Universe and if not exactly able yet to explain how life began, has provided us with substantial clues. It has, to a great extent, achieved what writers could only imagine a hundred years ago.
