Vulcan Visit, Starships, Star Trek & Space Shuttles

A Visit to Vulcan

If you have the opportunity to visit the city of Vulcan in Alberta, Canada it is definitely worth the trip, if you are a Star Trek fan.  Here is a photo of your intrepid Tribune Editor taken in 2001 with the 30′ long replica of Starship FX6-1995-A . 

The city of Vulcan has a Star Trek toursit station, Star Trek memorabilia, and The Vulcan Space Adventure virtual-reality game.  Here is the link to the Vulcan Tourism Website where: Make the “Trek” to Vulcan and Vulcan County, Alberta – and boldly go where you may not have gone before…  as the main topic right now is registration for VulCon 16: Spock Days/Galaxyfest 2009.

Starship Enterprise NCC-1701

It seems appropriate to acknowledge the significance of NCC-1701 otherwise known as the Starship Enterprise with the recent launch of STS-125 space shuttle Atlantis on Monday May 13, 2009.  NASA provides detailed internet coverage of the Space Shuttle and here is the latest on shuttle activity to repair the Hubble Telescope.

Space Shuttle STS-125 Launch

Monday at launch time it was hazy.  Here are a couple of photographs taken at New Smyrna Beach which is about 30 miles north of Cape Canaveral.  The second photograph is taken as the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB’s) are separating which explains the unusual angle of their exhaust plumes. 

An additional photo is shown from a 2008 launch which had much clearer weather to show the rocket trajectory.

New Star Trek Film

Additionally, there is a new Star Trek film that has just been released.  Here is a link to the movie trailers in the event you have not seen the film. 

Space Accomplishments Acknowledged

This is a great time to look into the sky and take pride in these important accomplishments.  If you happen to know an active or retired astronaut be sure and let them know that you are proud of what they, and the space program, have accomplished.  If you do not know an active or retired astronaut then you may wish to attend Lunch With An Astronaut at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.