ETC.: "Worm" logo and SpaceX spacesuits
ASA astronauts Douglas Hurley (left) and Robert Behnken (right) wore their fancy
SpaceX-designed suits for the launch today and here at the test flight
Photo by Kim Shiflett, courtesy of NASA
{Personal Note: Me To You
Formerly known as “A Fashionable Blog” (2011–2024), REAL SHERYL SAYS has officially moved to Substack!
You will still find posts from AFB archived here — including that unforgettable NASA suit tie moment when I was a VIP at a night launch in South Florida — go read it, it’s a gem).
Also, prior to 2023 you may see my sign off signature using my birth name. I legally changed my name to Sheryl Saint Clair (Sheryl is was my birth middle name) — a shift that reflects who I’ve become (yes, I blogged about it). The stories are still mine. The sparkle definitely still is).
Thanks for reading — I’m glad you’re here. Now, let’s get into this post —- buckle up.
~Sheryl x}
{This blog has updates at the end of the article 2021, 2023}
The last time NASA had a photoshoot it was way back in 2011, when the very last time NASA zoomed astronauts into orbit. That was the last time I blogged about space and NASA and a very fashionable tie the (then) Florida Governor, Jeb Bush, was wearing at the night launch at the Banana Creek viewing area.
You can read that blog here.
Today, marked an extraordinary day in America, space, and for scientists and exploration in general as the International Space Station (ISS) will be welcoming new spacesuits with a worm logo displayed like a Gucci emblem. The worm means the NASA red logo in the former worm font. Why did it disappear in the first place?
FAST FACTS: The logo was used three decades ago from 1975 to 1992 as is the work of two young designers, Bruce Blackburn and Richard Danne, who had recently opened a firm in New York. In a 2015 interview, with CNN, Blackburn said they set out to create something "very simple, very direct; otherworldly, unexpected, something that you would remember, for sure." - CNN Style
The meatball logo (yes, these designers are literal) was cast aside for the red squiggly worm to be celebrated again today. Some classics, it turns out, can be replaced.
Of course, if your fashionable self is not aware, the owner of SpaceX is none other than Tesla founder and owner, Elon Musk, and when the astronauts were shuttled to the launch pad in a shiny white X model electric car -- the model of vehicle with the doors opening up to space and not out to the side as most luxury vehicles. If you are going to have a Red Carpet event (minus the red carpet but all the exciting feels), the best dressed better be the astronauts. In this case, the white and black sharp-suited Hurley and Behnken transferred from the white X model to the Dragon atop the equally crisp white Falcon rocket. Their first-class ride to ISS for 19 hours.
(SIDEBAR: Elon named his Tesla models on purpose if you do not know anything about this man, the S model, E model, and X model. Did you see what he did there?)
Today was also the historic mark of a private company sending astronauts into orbit. Russia and China are now joined by the U.S. -- and 18 years of dedicated ideas and talents all have one goal: space.
“It is really neat, and I think the biggest testament to that is my 10-year-old son telling me how cool I am now,” Hurley told The Associated Press
And, if you were viewing tonight around 8:15pm PST / 11:15pm EST when the pair introduced us to their location (just over Newfoundland, Canada) outside the port hole and their glittery "dragon" that looks more like a brontosaurus of purple and pastel colors took a floating tour around the interior of the zero-gravity cabin and explaining the personal reasons why the stuffed toy is the chosen mascot (answer: their kids chose and named the toy...too cute.) Also, the 'good night' shout-outs to wives and children, who were no doubt up past their bedtimes but when your dad is in space, you know you are going to have the sweetest dreams.
You can gather your kids around the computer on NASA.gov and watch the LIVE feed -- Dragon should be arriving ISS around 6am PST / 9am EST Sunday, May 31st.
Did you watch the launch today from South Florida? Comment below. Were you a proud, crying mess like I was, waving my American flag I only save for the Fourth of July and the Olympics?
God speed,
{EDIT UPDATE: JUL 2021}
Trailblazing Astronaut Doug Hurley Retires from NASA
{EDIT UPDATE: JAN 2023}
Former NASA Astronauts to Receive Congressional Space Medal of Honor