High_Flight

I'm from New York City. I grew up in an apartment underneath the landing patter of LaGuardia airport. Being taken out to the park outside LaGuardia airport by my parents and seeing 747's before noise efficient engines come in less than 100 feet overhead... I felt like if I jumped high enough I could touch the jet cowlings. It's why I became an engineer.

When the engine shut down, I unbuckled myself from my seat and I was floating. I knew we were in orbit... I floated upstairs - from middeck, below the flight deck - to look over the guys' shoulders. I looked out the window and couldn't believe it. The sun was streaming in, and you could look right down at the Atlantic Ocean. I looked at the three of them doing the countdown for the OMS burn and I thought, How in the world can you that? Look outside!
Joseph Allen
USA