When thoughts of space travel cross my mind, as they often do as a Star Wars fan, it really amazes me how far we have come in our effort to explore our universe. It's hard to imagine that only 37 years ago we first touched the moon, bridging a huge gap between ourselves and what was, and is, yet to be discovered.

Often my thoughts turn to what is possible... will we ever have spaceships and craft that are featured in or are similar to those in our Saga? Inter-stellar freighters like the Millenium Falcon, capable of twisting through gravity and flying off the ground in mere seconds? I certainly hope so... it would be an excellent way to show ourselves (and anyone else out there who's... watching...) that we're capable of extraordinary engineering and applying that technology, and continuing to allow our inspirations to come to fruition. Plus it would be extremely cool.

Most of us are aware of the projects that are already taking place with prototypes of Star Warsy and Star Trekky inspired spaceflight projects that really are amazing, but... I wonder if we will really ever accomplish anything so... big. So practical. So close to what we see in the GFFA.

We definitely still have a long way to go, but until then, I will continue to be inspired by what has already been accomplished, and allow myself to dream grand, starry dreams and, well... who knows... perhaps one day mankind will be shuffling their kids off to school through hyperspace.

Any thoughts?
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Here is another neat video I saw recently showing the journey a Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) makes as it falls away, along with its companion, from the Space Shuttle Atlantis a few minutes after launch. They fall into a precise area in the Atlantic Ocean and are later refurbished and reused. That must save a few bucks, huh?

Seeing this really reminds me of the escape pod in Ep. 4... or what it would be like to magically float down to Earth, perhaps in one of those dreams that catch us by surprise...

Or nightmares!

Granted, nothing really pops out at you or "jazzes" up your senses, but just try to allow yourself to be "in that place" for a few minutes....

Starting at 3:05 in the video, you can clearly see the launch plume in the distance, and at times see the other booster and its trail of leftover fuel and flame, but what really gets me is the sound... the sound from the mounted camera, what it picks up... sometimes it's eerie and menacing, and sometimes it's hauntingly soothing.