I just kept plugging away at that dream. It paid off miraculously. - Captain Michael Foreman, Astronaut

Last week I posted about Bill Gates' question on LinkedIn. He asked how to get kids interested in science and technology.

I have found his answer. This morning, NASA launched the space shuttle Endeavor on Mission STS-123. If you have never seen a night launch of the Space Shuttle, then I encourage you to take a break and watch the video. Want to get kids interested in science and technology? Have them watch this video or, better yet, take kids to a launch in person. You can track the shuttle here. Dennis Howlett of ZDNet.com tested some live streaming video production software at the launch with interesting results. Remember, he is six miles away when that candle goes off!

Locally, the big news is that Flight Engineer Michael Foreman grew up in Northeast Ohio. This led me to his biography where his list of credentials is awe inspiring. But, more inspiring is the fact that Captain Foreman was "selected for NASA training in June 1998." This means, by my less than master of science degree in aeronautical engineering math, that he was 41 years old when he was selected as an astronaut. There is still a chance! Perhaps I need a bit more time at the gym, an advanced science degree, and 5,000 hours of flight time - but, they cannot say that I am too old.