SPACE SHUTTLE CHALLENGER

Hard to believe that 25 years ago today at 11:39 a.m., Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after taking off from the Kennedy Space Center.

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This is the Memorial for Space Shuttle Challenger

at the Kennedy Space Center - it lists the names of
the 7 astronauts who lost their lives that day

Obviously, the apple in the little basket is for

schoolteacher Christa Mcauliffe

 The Astronaut Memorial Wall

Challenger Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery

Challenger Memorial in downtown Miami, Florida

Official Patch from

Challenger Space Shuttle Mission STS-51-L

I remember the day vividly; it was also my grandmother's

79th birthday.  This photo was taken on that day.

MY SWEET CAT

Taco

WHOOPING CRANES - FINAL LEG OF THE MIGRATION

WHOOPING CRANES (2010 CLASS)

A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO SEE ENDANGERED WHOOPING CRANES! 

The Whooping Crane is the most famous endangered bird in North America. In part because it is large, distinctive, and photogenic and partly because, since 1967, Canadians and Americans have cooperated in a successful recovery program to safeguard it from extinction. OPERATION MIGRATION is an organization that promotes the conservation of migratory species through innovative research, education and partnership.  Every year, they leave Wisconsin and lead young whooping cranes to Florida behind an ultralight – thereby teaching them how to migrate. The birds spend the winter at the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. When the weather is warmer, the cranes fly back to Wisconsin (or wherever they decide to go), on their own. For more information, go to OPERATION MIGRATION’s website:  http://www.operationmigration.org/index.html

(Click on photos to enlarge.) 

There were alot people out in the freezing cold this morning

to catch a glimpse of five whooping cranes.

 Super-cute guy from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service being interviewed

 Everybody was anxiously awaiting the cranes

 Pilot Richard van Heuvelen had 1 crane with him

 Pilot Joe Duff had 4 cranes with him

 This is an awesome sight!!

 The flyover is at the Dunnellon Airport every year

Seriously, could anything in life be more fun than this ??

(Click the play button to play the video)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!