Landing Advice from an Astronaut circa 1859

Written by

Professor Ira J. Thurston describing descending from a grand ascension aboard the aerial ship “Adrian”.

“Mere experience is by no means sufficient; for men may ascend for hundreds of times and still keep bungling on to the end. There must be a judgment to interpret its suggestions, and a coolness to apply them; penetration to embrace all that is requisite at a view and a quickness in calculating the results; prudence to avoid danger, and courage to confront it.”

From an interview, Daily Watchtower (Newspaper) August 28, 1859

In the very early days of flight “aerialists” probed the heights in coal gas filled balloons. Their exploits are nearly forgot, but they were among the first to reach into the sky.

Comments

4 responses to “Landing Advice from an Astronaut circa 1859”

February 4, 2011

balloonwhisperer

What beautiful words. Thank you, Professor Thurston. Your words are a guide to all who would be successful in aerial flight. Perhaps your statement is a fitting invocation to be recited and understood at every event that takes us, or our devices, into the unpredictable realms of way up high.

Reply
February 4, 2011

Trent Waddington

So when are you sending a crew up? 🙂

Reply
1. February 4, 2011
  
  Administrator
  
  We’re working on it. 🙂
  
  Actually about half our efforts are toward flights with people. Crew module development and chase plane work both move us down that road. The chase plane is a great tool for “breaking the ice” with flying people. When a team member is working on a plane component he know that someones life actually depends on the quality of there work. It’s a very different mindset.
  
  Reply
February 15, 2011

James

That’s really great! The success of modern aerospace brings to mind Keir Stahlsmith, aerospace operations specialist, and his widely recognized military contribution that is part of the enduring historical record of air and space operations.

Reply