The Time is now!

After some fidgeting, Sam lines up all sixteen planes- that he just popped together seconds ago- for what just may be one of the most exciting launches he's ever done… launching sixteen PaperPocketPlanes into outer space!

The preparation for a space walk has become second-nature to Sam- he's done it so many times before- practicing on Earth, and in his new home, the International Space station- but every time, every detail is just as important as the time before- every seal must be closed, every zipper zipped- every button clicked- this tossing of paper airplanes is about to be a life and death situation- where everything matters!

Orbiting Earth, the Space Station is over two hundred miles above the surface- it's flying fast enough to stay up in the 'sky' -( just outside the thin layers of atmosphere we rely on every minute of every day to breathe- as if it isn't even there! ) If it was flying any faster, it'd start moving out of orbit- away from Earth- and into deep space, outside earth's gravitational pull.

And, if it was inside the Earth's atmosphere, there would be resistance slowing it down- like the resistance to the flight of airplanes- like on Earth- as a plane travels through air, the resistance it feels is calculated and enough lift created to be just exactly what's needed to keep it up and flying- but, there is no air in space, right?

Speaking of gravity- just how much gravity is there in the Space Station? And how does it compare to gravity back on Earth? These are questions that we'll be looking for answers to- as the Great PaperPocketPlane launch begins!

What's interesting is that these planes were designed on Earth, to fly through air- and with the natural force of gravity pulling them back down to earth- what'll happen when they're thrown in outer space? How strong is the gravitational pull two hundred miles up? Will they break out of earth's pull? Will they slow down, stop, turn around and head back to Earth, speeding up 'til they burn up returning to Earth? Will they be unaffected by what little gravity might be up there, and steadily go on their merry way into the Universe, wherever they're aimed- like at Mars, Jupiter, or even the Sun? I wonder how straight Sam can get them to fly- with no wind, or air to change their path…I can't wait!… And neither can Sam!

As we close the airlock behind us, I hand Sam the first of sixteen planes to launch- we both take one last look at the map of outer space we brought along- to be sure our first launch is headed in the right direction- on its way to Mars!

To be continued…

How did this get started?

Though the seriousness of space, and space suits is overwhelming, I can't help but think- and flash in my mind for a moment on how we got here- with paper airplanes in outer space… where it all began-!

As I saw Sam glance at the elevons to adjust the trailing edge control surfaces, as we always do before a flight, I could see he was having the same thoughts as me- remembering how these little planes fly on Earth- and for that brief moment, realizing that we're really out here with no gravity to fight- no air to slow the plane down- like a fantasy world where 'anything goes'…! He looked over at me, and I looked at him- I could see him smile through his huge round helmet!

I pictured us standing in Huntsville Alabama, at Space Camp where we first met- because our parents knew we both had almost obsessive interests in airplanes and space- and were willing to act on it- enough to travel thousands of miles to the place where people with the same ideas get together to learn about space.

One of the first things we learned there was about air / no air and gravity / no gravity- the very principles we are sent here to physically test- the real thing- we had become the ones given the privilege to go into space and fly PaperPocketPlanes, just as we do on Earth all the time- this time with nothing to hold the little birds back- to slow them down, or make them return to Earth within seconds of being launched, even though we'd had flights that seemed to last forever- where air currents lifted the planes high enough to soar over a house, then over trees, and out of sight- we'd spend what seemed like hours trying to find them- throwing sticks and balls into trees to get them down- none of those things will be happening up here in orbit- no trees, no houses, no air currents to speed them up or slow them down- out here 'we're on our own'!

These memories flashed through my mind in nanoseconds- a million thoughts- too many for words- about where we came from, and where we're going- then, just as fast, those thoughts are gone- and 'now' is what matters most- being in control of the situation- thinking clearly- following the routines we've practiced so many times, as many times as brushing our teeth- up, down, up, down- now to the side, again and again- our every move has to be calculated, measured, and on the mark- one wrong move, and, well, let's not go there…

Even though Sam knew deep in his heart that adjusting the wings really doesn't matter- he did it just the same- holding the plane between the forefinger and thumb of the massively bulky space glove, he drew his arm smoothly back, ready for the countdown to launch...ready to do what we came to do…keeping his focus on the plane, and the 'flight' path to Mars- He signaled he's ready- 5…4…3…

To be continued…

Launch- and counting…

2…1… and his arm moved with precision through an arc that sent the little plane hurling through space- into the darkness- the unknown- as we watched in disbelief- the first launch was done!! We watched- eyes glued to the tiny dot as it 'flew', without air, without resistance into the permanent night- or is it day? Whatever it is out there in space, it's 'really out there'! Then it happened. What we couldn't have figured without doing the real test- it happened!

Ever so slowly- smoothly, you could see its path change…it wasn't heading straight to Mars as we planned, as Sam had tried to throw as accurately as he could, as he'd practiced thousands of times at home. It was changing course!! Wait- WHY!!?? This wasn't what we figured! EVERYBODY agreed, the tiny plane would go uninterrupted, straight as an arrow towards Mars 'til it hit smack dab in the center of the Planet! (Of course, we knew it'd burn up as it entered Mars unbreathable atmosphere- but that'd be OK, as long as Sam's aim was good, in a few years we'd be watching with the Hubble scope to see a miniature inferno as the PaperPocketPlane burst into flame- with whatever gases allow it to burn there- we had our party set for January 21st, 2010 at 10:10AM, the caterers were already set, the party planned at NASA's most powerful observatory, everything was set! Now It'll be OFF!

The first paper interplanetary missile careened off course. WAY off course. Way, WAY off- like to another solar system off!! Wait- that's kinda cool anyway! Hmmm… where WILL it land!? All we can do is track it now- with the super-tiny radio transmitter and solar cell, they predict it'll beam out signals for up to twenty years before the systems fail- maybe even longer- man, technology is amazing! I'll be 32 by then! And head of a program at NASA by then! (well, maybe-) Who knows, maybe we'll be transporting ourselves around without vehicles by then! So we can float along in space next to the plane as it zooms further out of control into Never-Never Land! How cool!

WAIT!!! I'm still out here in space! OUTSIDE THE SPACE STATION! BREATHING OXYGEN FROM A BOTTLE!
Okay, cool down, got a little carried away. Fifteen more planes to launch…

To be continued…

Off Course- WHY!!??

OK, I know, it's life and death out here, gotta keep cool, breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out- but- WHAT WENT WRONG?? WHY?? What happened? All our figuring, calculations, plans have gone haywire- out the window- kapoot- in a few seconds when the plane showed us that there are forces in the world- and out of the world THAT WE CAN'T SEE!!

Like gravity- well, we can measure that- MASS, we can measure that too- so what's pulling the plane off its heading for Mars? Ahh, they were right! We wouldn't listen to them!! They said there are gravitational pulls and electromagnetic forces in space that can attract and repel objects as they float around in space. That we can't see. Hey- they're on ME RIGHT NOW! (HOLD ON, I WON'T MOVE FOR A SECOND AND SEE IF I FEEL ANYTHING……..)

Nothing. Nothing. I think… Anyway, this space suit is so clumsy how could anybody feel ANYTHING in this thing…! I can hardly move! (How cool)

Wait- what's that?? Whoa- meteor showers- they warned us about them- gotta keep an eye open for anything that looks like it's heading our way- they could blast through our suits like machineguns! OK, back to staying on the ball, get the job done and get back inside…

Where's the next plane?? OK, there- Sam's ready- looking at me- with that same smile he gets when we're thinking the same thing- that ear to ear grin…

I hand him the next plane. I'm amazed at how good he is at moving in these suits. Like a natural- he moves as if it's second nature to him- the suit is part of him- he's so much more comfortable in it than me. That's why HE'S the guy doing the throwing, and I'm doing the hand-off to him. It just works best that way.

OK, gotta remind him, this plane's supposed to be aimed at Saturn- right at the rings… like the practice target we made back home. I wonder if the magnetic pulls will maker this one go off course too??

5…4…3…2…1… it's off!

To be continued…

Back home, the Targets

The targets back in the lab where we practiced three hours a day for three months, folding the planes flat, back into shape, flat again, setting the wings for perfect lift, equal on both sides, centerline straight, no twist, symmetrical with no difference from side to side, really paid off! Sam and I both can hit a target from 30 feet- dead on into the center ring again and again. Of course, it helps to have a room with no air conditioning vents to blow air around- and cause the planes to fly funny- off course ( if you call that funny, I don't-) we can do it EVERY time. Like the guy on that TV said, 'No brag, just fact.' We know what we can do. Because we practice. A LOT!

Sam knows that if something would happen to him, I could step in and take over- and throw the planes just about as accurately6 as he does- and carry out the mission. After all, this mission was EXPENSIVE!!

The cost of the planes was almost NOTHING, compared to what we gain from the project. We get to test aerospace techniques- developed on earth, and see what happens where there's no atmosphere! In SPACE! Just to get the Shuttle into orbit costs something like a million dollars a pound! Good thing the whole fleet of PocketPlanes only weighs a few ounces! So our project is a great success with really little cost, since the Shuttle's going up there anyway…!

The targets we made by going to the local toy store and buying Hoola Hoops! A can of fluorescent spray paint, some string and we're in business! The gym at school was perfect for the first tests- Sam and I beat seven hundred thousand competitors to win the priviledge of going to the Space Station and thorw paper airplanes into space! Hah! Was that fun! We couldn't believe we actually won!!

All our friends are watching back home- the camera attached to my and Sam's helmets let everybody see what we see- just like they're here too!

How cool! Hey, MOM, LOOK AT ME!! HERE IN OUTER SPACE!! OK, now for the Royal wave, like we practiced- kinda rolling the wrist like the King and Queen do…

Our Science Teacher, Mr. Philips is thrilled, I'm sure! That was so cool, when he gave us the big hug as we got on the Shuttle-! He's just as into it as we are! What'd he say? Oh, yeah, Keep a cool tool, fool! (Keep it mellow, fellow!) He can be so 'old school' sometimes- but he means well…!

To be continued…

What? Again??

OFF COURSE AGAIN!!

This time the Milky Way got in the way! You can actually see it moving over to the right- good thing the Moon's on the other side of the Earth right now- or it'd be pulling the plane right down to it! Even with a third of the Earth's gravity, it could ruin the whole experiment if we hadn't gotten up so early to miss the moon- all the plans would've been off if it'd been in the way! It was worth getting up early just to get it right- every chance for things to go right- like, not right to the Moon!

WOW! All our planning- so far has been disproved! Wait- the BEST test we haven't done yet--- where we aim one RIGHT AT THE EARTH!!!!! HAHA! THAT'S GONNA BE SO COOL!!

So, we get to do a few planes- and aim at HUGE Cities! Like in the Movies, with Rayguns, but our paper airplanes will be burned up before they even get through the Ionisphere- at least that's what they tell us!

These planes, instead of the solar cells, have tiny altimeters and transmitters built into them! So we'll know EXACTLY how high they are when they burst into flames- the paper lights like with a match- but just from going so fast they catch on fire FROM THEIR OWN SPEED!! How cool is that?? Wait- is my Lifeline still connected tight?? Oh, yeah- ahhh… breathe in, breathe out, breathe in… What-? Sam are you OK?

Wow, he must be thinking the same as me again! We're both looking down- at the Earth below- the big ball with blue edges- and swirls where the clouds move in circles- and blue oceans- and brown deserts. Yow. There's my house!

Who am I kidding!! ME?? Everything down there is so small, whole countries are dots! There are the ones that were just at war- OVER WHAT?? If they could see what we see- they'd stop their fighting for sure!!

How BIG and yet small- it is!! Like a bouncy ball that never hits walls- spinning- moving- through space- in a way that hasn't changed since Dinosaurs were alive! Hey- could I see one from up here? Nah- they'd still be too small to see- even though they were HUGE!

OK, Sam's ready again. And so am I. Here, don't drop it… slow, slow, move slow…

To be continued…

BOMB'S AWAY!!

We count to ourselves- 5, 4,3,2,1, LOOK OUT BELOW!!

And the first PaperPocketPlane to launch towards New York City from space is on its way! It's 3AM there, so nobody will be up to see it (as if they could see a flame the size of a dot in the sky anyway…)

It looks so COOL flying straight toward Earth- no change as it moves straight ahead- no wind, no air, nothing to changes its course, for a couple of minutes, anyway! The Scientists at NASA figure it'll go about 30 miles before there's anything for it to fly through- and then, within a few more seconds it'll light up like a Roman Candle in Inner Space! We added the tiny fuel packet so it'll be easier to see when it happens- still only a flicker in time and space- in a couple of seconds it'll be 'Blast in the Past' as Mr. Phillips said in his corny way. How cool!

The readout shows altitude at 30, 29, 28 27 miles- Hey, what's happening? It should've burned up by now??!! 26, 25, 24, AHHH!!! THERE IT GOES!! Lucky it's over the Indian Ocean in the dark, so we have a good backdrop to see it! Man, it was just about NOTHING!! Hey, where's that u8mbilical cord I'm attached to?? Oh, okay, looks good…

Sam's Laughing out loud in his helmet again! Hey, COOL IT! They told us we don't want to get stuff on the inside of our visors- I see why!! I'm fogging up already!

Sam CAN'T SEE!!! I'M WAVING AT HIM, HE CAN'T SEE ME!!!! SAM!!! SAM!!!

COME ON!! THEY TOLD US NOT TO LAUGH!!! SAM!!! WOW, NOW IT'S UP TO ME!!!!!!!!

To be continued…

Who would've guessed??!!

Sam is more cool, calm and collected than me. He's better at launching PocketPlanes than me, almost every time. But, he CAN'T STOP LAUGHING!!!

No wonder they call these things the 'Serious PaperAirplanes'!! You've GOT to be serious to fly them!! I told him to stop laughing! He was just having TOO MUCH FUN. AGAIN.

I remember the first time we had the contest to fly paper planes. He did it then too. Sam just can't stop laughing when he starts having fun!

That day, Mr Philips gave us a thousand sheets of paper, ten sheets for each kid. Sounds like a lot, but he said it was only a few dollars for everything. We had fun, but just about NOBODY'S plane would hit the target. The Hoola Hoop just hung there with nothing going through except when we made a paper wad and got up real close to it.

The fun started to stop when we realized there were just too many sloppy parts to our hand made planes. He showed us how to look at them from the front, back and side and see differences in the wings. I folded planes just like my Dad and Uncle showed me how to make. They were really cool, except when you really look at them up close, they're sloppy. Your chances of getting a plane that flies great are pretty slim. They're always fun to throw anyway- especially in the halls, where you're not supposed to!!

Then we got PaperPocketPlanes. When you see how they're made- and how they fly, it's another whole thing from 'paper airplanes'. I can get mine to fly through the hoop just about every time, almost as good as Sam. No wonder he laughs so much!!

My brain is racing- I've got to launch the LAST PLANE TO EARTH…! What would Sam do? He can get it through the hoop EVERY time- this time it has to be ME!!

Relax… keep cool- don't fog up the visor…

Hold it in the right hand- aim like a dart- where's the Kennedy Space Center- oh- THERE IT IS! FLORIDA!! Relax… relax… aim… move the arm back… ready to throw like a dart…

To be continued…

PERFECT THROW!!

I DID IT!!! PERFECT!!! On its way to Kennedy Space Center, they're tracking it with the latest Radars, the ones that can see a dime on the Moon- They'll track it til it burns up at what, about 23 miles for Sam's?

Hey, how IS Sam?? The visor's clearing up… he can see again- just enough to watch my plane drop to Earth and flame up! He's mad now- but he'll get over it. Wait- he's looking at me with that smirk he gets…!

They got the sound hooked up to Kennedy- the Radar's beeping louder and faster as it gets closer- beep, beep, beep, beep BEEP, BEEPBEEPBEEPPPPPPPPPPP….POP.

It's done. Over. Ashes. The last one's gone and we're all done. I see Sam sigh, and so do I. Wait, how's the cord…?? Oh, good. We can pull back to the ship… and think about going home. To Mom and Dad, and Mr. Philips! They're going to be proud of us!!! And, so are we!

To be continued…