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They’re just a father and his son, out taking pictures at a shuttle launch. But these pictures reflect 30 years of history. On the left, Chris Bray and his father, Kenneth, stand out in the crowd that gathered to watch the first space shuttle lift off on April 12, 1981. Thirty years later, Chris and Kenneth commemorated the last shuttle launch by striking the same pose. The then-and-now photos have become an Internet sensation.
As of today, the pictures have been viewed almost 700,000 times on Chris Bray's Flickr photo gallery — and that doesn't count the additional traffic to Yahoo and The Washington Post (or, ahem, to this posting).
The Brays went to Kennedy Space Center in 1981 because Kenneth, then a 39-year-old jewelry designer, was commissioned to create a series of pins for the first shuttle mission. He brought 13-year-old Chris along to share the experience. Chris' mother, Ginny, took the father-and-son picture.
When the Brays heard about the final shuttle launch, they saw it as a golden opportunity to mark 30 years for the NASA space program as well as their own lives. Chris is now 43, and works for an interactive marketing agency in New York. Kenneth, 69, is still working as well. They put their names in for a lottery to purchase tickets to view the July 8 launch from the Astronaut Hall of Fame's grounds near the space center. The Brays won a place at the party, and despite flight delays and a rental-car snafu, they made it to the spot in plenty of time to re-create the 1981 pose. This time the photographer was Chris' girlfriend, Chelsea.
Chris calls it "the picture we waited 30 years to complete."
I asked Chris a couple of questions about then and now via email:
Q: It sounds as if you have shared space experiences. Any other special memories? How many launches have you seen?
A: These were the only two launches we attended. Other "space memories" involve building model rockets together, and astronomy ... watching solar eclipses with a pinhole box, getting up at 2 a.m. to go look at Saturn and Jupiter. Those types of things.
Q: Can you cast your mind back to what you were thinking when the 1981 picture was taken, and what you were thinking last week?
A: I remember being excited and anxious at the first launch. I had never seen an actual launch, and I had some memories of watching the later Apollo flights on TV, so this was a thrill. The most vivid memory of the first launch was the sound. Last week, I remember turning to my girlfriend and saying, "I feel like I'm 13 again."
If you're 40-something or older, these pictures are likely to spark reflections about how times have changed over the past three decades, for the space program, for society and for your own lives. Please feel free to share your reflections — even if you weren't around when the first shuttle flew.
Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page or following @b0yle on Twitter. You can also add me to your Google+ circle, and check out "The Case for Pluto," my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for new worlds.
Leave a Comment:
Nice! The shots have that personal element with that historical significance. A picture to be framed for posterity. What an event the first space shuttle launch must have been!
Sadly, I never went to see any space shuttle launches in person. And being a science fan, I feel a growing sense of regret (and nostalgia) now that the shuttle era has drawn to a close. I feel I missed out on something truly special. My wifey and my lazy self should have gotton our behinds out of our work desks and tried harder to witness real-life this truly unique endeavour. The other day I was checking out space shuttle models on the internet, hoping to document them for our house and (future) kids.
Hopefully I won't have to wait too long? I am young and when the next space manned flight in the US happens, I am definitely going to watch it in person.
Rakesh, that will be in 2015 or so ... You can bet I'll be there, and I'd love to meet up with you in Florida for that party.
Rakesh, Careful who you meet up with now-a-days, nothing personal Alan, Just be careful who you meet up with on the net. I'm from MA.....Ever hear of Craigslist? Just be careful, all I'm saying....
Thanks Alan. I'd love to meet with you too! We'll raise a toast for the new flight!
That's right Rakesh, NBC writer Alan Boyle could be one dangerous character ?
Ok, OK........I am truly sorry to all and everyone for my little attack of paranoia. I really put my shoe in my mouth. Beg forgive? lol.
I hope you get to see the next one!:) i am to young to go there! (12) LOL.
Sound advice especially if it was a Fox News talking head as most have sidearm permits due to their extreme paranoia, Jan;)
The NBC peacock next to the name denotes the actual writer of the article. I just figured that out myself a few weeks ago so easy mistake to make.
Funny;)
I listened the other day to JFK when he gave his "space" speech in Houston, TX. My what a blistering hot day it was. The people in the audience were wiping their brows the entire time. JFK loved the idea of space and all there was to learn. His enthusiasm for the space endeavor was infectious. I sobbed watching that speech. Looking at this pic of then and now made me sob again. For me, as the older person now, I am constantly reflecting back on times that were full of "firsts". I keep hearing what JFK wanted the US to become and we are letting that slip away.
Oh I do know what you mean. At my age too there were so many "firsts". But I was only 10 when JFK was shot........oh but I cried like a baby! I was watching the parade on TV and I knew, I knew at 10 years old what they did to my "special" President! And look what we've had since then and now. And you know what's really bad? I voted for them all!!!! Makes a person just want to up and take the next "way to space"! Sad. lol
Nice...what a moment to cherish... back in time and in the future...great shots for both of them!
Who gives a f***??
who gives a crap??
I remember July 17th, 1969, staying up late with my parents and siblings to witness history when Neil Armstrong first stepped on the moon! Watching it on our little black and white T.V. was one of the highlights of my childhood memories. I still have my scrapbook I made of the Apollo era. Forty-two years later, I watched with the same sense of awe, the launch of STS-135 Atlantis from the NASA causeway! I can't help but feel a sense of sadness at the end of this era, but can't wait to see what's next. Thank you NASA, for the great memories.
What a different and better nation we would be living in, I believe, if the Kennedy boys had not been assassinated. The corporate take over of our nation and the deregulation and privatization and stacking of our courts makes me fear for our democracy. Our founding fathers did not trust corporations and limited their existence and warned against their gaining power. Look what we have now. The unnecessary war with Iraq and even the corporate influence that has gained foothold in the Supreme Court and the corporate control of the media and press as witness Murdoch scandal. Wake up citizens we are loosing our democracy. As someone who went through the first depression I could see what was coming.
Great post. Hope you're here for our 3rd great depression.
Rakesh, Careful who you meet up with now-a-days, nothing personal Alan, Just be careful who you meet up with on the net. I'm from MA.....Ever hear of Craigslist? Just be careful, all I saying....It's amazing that Chris is still wearing the same shirt!
U noticed that too?!?!!! lol. Cute.
U noticed that too?!?!!! lol. Cute.
Yup - from the fading, it's been washed a few times, adding to the legend it might be the original shirt. If so, Chris might consider an eBay auction!
I live about 30 miles away (Lake Mary, FL area), have watched shuttle launches over the past 10 years from my backyard, and have been up close to 3 (congressional passes). They will be missed!
Yea, but were they at ALL the others in between?
Kidding. That's very cool. My best moments are those with my DAD.
I agree with Chris, I have had the amazing opportunity to watch many shuttle launches over the past several years with friends as I attended college in Melbourne, FL. No matter where you are along the Florida East coast the launches always look mostly the same. But being less than 10 miles away and hearing the rocket engines, and even feeling them in your gut if you pay attention, is indescribable to those who haven't witnessed it.
The camera in the '81 picture looks SO modern... wow!
Unfortunately, it will Chinese kids who will be taking the next "batch" of pictures. Really doubt that the US will ever be able to relive the Moon Shot, going on 50 years ago when we could still get things done. Never again, bye, bye.
Charlie-399018, I lived in Florida from 1973-1991, but I lived on the East Coast and worked so hard as a divorced mother of 2, that it was really hard to just drive up and over to The Kennedy Space Center. I look back as many do and say" I just wish I had just taken' the kids and gone there. I am so very happy that you were able to do it!!!! Not many in the nation could. But I watched it on TV! LOL God Bless you and yours.
Thanks, Jan. We will surely miss the show! God bless to you, also.
Cool photos and story!
The family unit lives on..... Congrats to both Dad & Son!
Priceless!
I was laying in my hooch in Chu Lai, Vietnam watching it on AFVN. I remember going out right after his walk and looking at a very bright moon in wonderment of Americans on that bright patch of sky. I have followed the space program closely ever since. Even witnessed sever shuttle launches for Coco Beach in year past.
Wow......that must have been truly an experience! Glad you were and are here to watch more. Let's see what's next?
those two photos together is just amazing. how many subjects does it cover?? wow. amazing.
I was lucky enough to have witnessed a shuttle launch. It was quite a process to get yourself to the viewing area and when i first got there and realized just how far away we were from the shuttle (I THINK it was 5 miles...i forget), i was really disappointed. But, when that baby launched.....OH, the disappointment went away in an instant.
One of a handful of things I've done in my life that really ranks up there.