Flyin’ High

One question adults often ask children is, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” In today’s world, a child might answer that he/she wants to be an astronaut. When I was a child, there were no astronauts. My “space” was wherever my feet were planted on terra firma.

I never had a great desire to travel in space, but I am taking advantage of the opportunity to make a trip to the International Space Station in several months. On September 16, 2010, I will be a passenger on the space shuttle Discovery, mission STS-133. The point of origin and return is Cape Kennedy, Florida, and the trip’s duration is eight days. This is the 39th and final Discovery flight, 26 years after its inaugural flight on August 30, 1984. On this trip, I will accompany six crew members: the commander, the pilot, and four mission specialists.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has made it possible for anyone (13 years of age or older) to be a “passenger” on one of the final two shuttle flights, STS-133 and STS-134. If you would like your name and/or image aboard the shuttle, click on the NASA web site, http://faceinspace.nasa.gov/index.aspx, and follow the simple directions. The site requests name and zip code, and an uploaded picture (optional) may also be added. I included a picture because I want anyone I meet in space to recognize me as well as know my name. When the information has been added, a confirmation can be printed. According to the confirmation I received, my flight certificate will be available on September 25. This will probably be my first and last trip into space. Ginger Devereaux, a pioneer exploring the frontier of outer space, is never too old for new adventures.