PLN #13

For my 13th PLN, I choose to read an article called "Discovery Rockets to Space" by the Associated Press. Tuesday, a crew of seven took off from earth and into space inside of Discovery in pursuit of the international space station where a construction job awaits them. The shuttle lifted off at exactly 11:38 a.m. carrying a giant elastic tube that needs to be installed before European and Japanese workers can begin working there. Although there were delays because of three panels with errors, there were no problems with the launch. It was recorded as totally successful. The mission this crew will have to complete is considered the hardest one in all of the nine years the space station has been active.
What I think matters is that we are continuously expanding our knowledge of space and improving the space station allows astronauts to do more long-term space exploration. As an example, astronauts now have the ability to refuel at the space station which allows them to travel further into space. They also have the ability to live for long periods of time in space and experiment how living in space affects the human body. I think space exploration will affect all of us in the future, because someday I believe that going to another planet in space will be just like taking an airplane someplace. It will take only a matter of hours to get to another planet. I also believe that space stations in the future may be a normal way of living for more than just astronauts. As the earth becomes more polluted, over populated, or warmer from global warming, space stations may become a way of life for human beings.