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What it took to put man on the moon
| Open Poetry #37 |
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What it took to put man on the moon |
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poettothecars Senior Member
since 2006-02-10
Posts 1093New Zealand 
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5213 New Zealand - His Love 23 March 2006 One nation - a birth this place man would leave the world Of this single footprint celestial to stand did they know of spaceflight in future born Not the United States of America those would wonder where This birth of New Zealand the truth a momentum fair Man on the moon to step but for those of a few Where was technology this explorer to range forth William Pickering - a child of this nation New Zealand his universe of worth Did they know - the world in truth “one small step for man” a giant leap for Pickering in kind In his role as director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory [JPL], in California in the United States of America. Sir William Haywood Pickering [born in Wellington New Zealand on 24 December 1910 and educated at Wellington College and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), USA] was a key figure in the launching of the first successful US earth satellite, Explorer 1, and in subsequent US space exploration. To have began his association with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 1944 and in 1954 to became director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. and remain involved right up to death in March 2004. In 1993 Pickering was awarded the inaugural Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Aerospace Prize for his contribution to space science. In presenting him with the Prize the then president of Caltech Thomas E. Everhart said: “More than any other individual, Bill Pickering was responsible for America’s success in exploring the planets—an endeavour that demanded vision, courage, dedication, expertise and the ability to inspire two generations of scientists and engineers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.” a poet who cares |
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| © Copyright 2006 Christopher W Herbert - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
There's always so much to learn when one steps into your poetry, Sir. I enjoyed this very much... in hindsight, you could probably say that Pickering not only gave us much in the way of exploration, but he probably also helped in some way to generate the seed of thought in so many science fiction movies... and I like that idea! |
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poettothecars Senior Member
since 2006-02-10
Posts 1093New Zealand |
When considering that behind almost every major invention or historic happening of the 20th century. There is in fact a New Zealand born person. In this case of my above poem, Sir William Pickering went to the same school in New Zealand as Sir Earnest Rutherford. While Rutherford split the atom, so was the father of the nuclear age. Along with early experiments in radio broadcasting. a poet who cares |
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