In another post I asked that we take a minute this Memorial Day to remember all of the astronauts that have given their lives to help us understand outer space. Well I was remiss in not asking us to honor all explorers and their great courage.

Put yourself in the place of a crew member on Columbus's expedition. You still believe earth is flat and that you just might sail right off the edge. Regardless, you signed on and went anyway. In my mind no less commited or courageous than modern day explorers on Earth or in space.

When the British journalist, Stanley went looking for Dr. Livingston in darkest Africa, he had no idea if he would wind up in somebody's soup. Regardless he went, and as a result not only found Livingston, but launched the first serious exploration of the African continent.

When the polynesians set sail for what was to become Hawaii, using only a coconaut shell and reflections of the Polaris as their navigation aid, went paddling across the Pacific they had no idea what might confront them along the way. They went anyway.

Oh, and ladies take a moment to remember and honor Amelia Earhardt who in my mind is still out there in spirit and courage.

If you like, add your memories of heroic explorations here.

Cheers

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<span style='font-family:Arial'><span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'><span style='color:blue'>setiman
If I had a cousin, his name would be Yoda.</span></span></span>

I can't add to that, I can only echo the sentiment

Good job, setiman.

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"The stars are my home"
"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe... Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion... I've watched c-beams glitter in the dark, near the Tanhauser Gate... all those moments will be lost, in time... like tears in the rain..."

Yes setiman, very well written!

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Pre-Quote: 'To survive one has to experiment. When the environment changes, the traditional way of doing things doesn't work.'

Quote:
&quot;It's the outriders, the organisms that seem to be maladjusted before the change, which are the only ones that survive these changes...in that way a species continues.&quot;

Carl Sagan

Thanks, Tom2Mars.

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<span style='font-family:Arial'><span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'><span style='color:blue'>setiman
If I had a cousin, his name would be Yoda.</span></span></span>

I agree. Although I was not alive to witness the Apollo 1 fire, or old enough to remember Challenger, they should still be memorialized.

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&quot;Human curiosity and the desire to make the intangible tangible, has led us into a new age where the New World has been settled, and the West has been won. But if you think that we, the human race, has conquered everything there is to conquer, then just look to the sky--at space--last and greatest of the frontiers.&quot;