space shuttle Enterprise

Like millions of Americans, this family is pretty bummed out about the end of the space program. Last year after watching the space shuttle Discovery landing on TV, we even planned a whole vacation  around seeing the space shuttle Endeavour launch.  Sadly, there were complications and it didn't launch while we were there, but we still had a great time.  When it did finally launch, 17 days later, we made a big space breakfast to celebrate while we watched. 

When the space shuttle Atlantis blasted off (the final space shuttle to launch before the program was discontinued) we were glued to the TV. We saw on NASA TV that the astronauts had eggs, fresh fruit and whole wheat toast for breakfast.  So, that's what we had!  Now the boys always refer to that as an "astronaut breakfast".  

Now that the space program has ended NASA is moving the space shuttles to various places around the country for public viewing.  Friday, the space shuttle Enterprise was moved from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum to JFK.  The Enterprise was never actually used on a space mission.  It is a full scale test vehicle.  FUN FACT -- The Enterprise was originally named Constitution.  However, a bunch of Trekkies started a letter writing campaign to the White House.  Soon after, President Ford directed NASA to change the name to Enterprise. He never mentioned Star Trek or the letters, but he must have been a pretty big fan of the show to make an executive order like that! It will soon be moved to Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.  On the way there it put on quite a show which included flyovers over several landmarks.  Of course, our favorite was the fly by on the mother of all lighthouses, The Statue of Liberty!!!

watching in amazement

buzzing the Statue of Liberty

photo from the Nasa's Kennedy Space Center facebook page

photo from the Nasa's Kennedy Space Center facebook page

photo from the Nasa's Kennedy Space Center facebook page

We didn't have time for the astronaut breakfast before school, so the boys requested that we have it for dinner.  Sure, why not?  After school we played outside for a while and got pretty wet, so when we came in I told them to get their jams on before dinner (no point in getting yet another outfit out).  So, of course, they picked their Buzz Lightyear jams to wear for their astronaut breakfast.

space plates that Manya got for the boys for Easter

Jackson

Lincoln

Spencer