First e-mail from space by NASA shuttle commander Mark Kelly

Mark Kelly, the NASA shuttle commander, has sent his first e-mail from space, letting friends and relatives know that the launch “one incredible ride” which is wilder than any other rollercoaster ride you’ve been on, where it has been described to be an experience of “wild vibration, noise, and 7,000,000 lbs. of thrust on your back.” Kelly is in charge of a crew of five on the Endeavour, which incidentally is making its final trip to space, while being the the second-to-last planned flight of the shuttle program.

Democrat Gabrielle Giffords who is his wife, made the trip from a rehabilitation hospital in Houston to see his launch. Kelly is happy to have the first day of flight behind him, since he and his crew had to re-adjust themselves to life in a weightless environment, but at least they managed to go about attacking the checklist of to-do items before they nodded off for some sleep.

E-mails from space aren’t new, but if it is going to be one of the last few sent, then those will have a rather significant and poignant value attached to them – hopefully the crew or person who does so will have something that is worth quoting many generations from today.