#space myths

[sixminutestoriesblog]

moon landing anniversary

Fifty four years ago, the first human footprint was left in the powdery dust of the moon.  For the first time in history, humanity had not just left their own world behind but had set foot on a completely new surface.  For as long as humanity had been humanity, they had looked up at the moon and know it for the brightest light in their night sky, their one ever changing, consistent companion.  Now, finally, man had managed to reach back across that darkness and touch that familiar face.  The moon landing was the culmination of not just a decade and a half of a space race between two world powers, it was the realized dream of humanity back into the very early mists of time when ancestors that weren’t even entirely what we’d call humans today looked up into the night sky and fell in love with the pale light that fell down over them.  The sun gives us light and warmth and life but the moon is what humanity has hung their dreams, their wishes, their magic and their romance on.  

It has always been something we have hung our superstitions on too.

Superstitions are a part of humanity.  And when we went to the moon - we brought them with us.

Instead of talking about goddesses and harvests and animals and omens, I thought, today, on the anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing on the moon, we’d talk about the superstitions that they took with them on that flight and the ones some astronauts still honor today in the space station that orbits between us and the moon and that may one day, hopefully soon, see us back on the moon and then even further.  Sailors have a reputation for being superstitious.  When you cast out into the great Deep, you can’t help but feel that you are very small and the world around and, more importantly under you, is very, very wide and very, very deep.  On land you can sooth yourself into believing that man has tamed nature.  There’s no such comforting lie when you are out of sight of land.  What are astronauts but sailors of the stars?  A ‘star traveler’.  And the space between here and the moon is a much longer and deeper horizon than any sailor on the water ever watched fade behind him.

Let’s start with the light stuff.  I was surprised by how much food factors into space launch tradition.  Not sprinkling corn meal or salt in circles to keep away evil spirits but eating food.  An astronaut’s breakfast the day of the launch?  Scrambled eggs and steak if you’re American.  If it worked for John Glenn and Alan Shepherd, it should work for every astronaut after, right?  Cosmonauts however get a champagne breakfast, because Russians know how to send someone off in style.  NASA has a cake delivered with the mission’s emblem on it.  No one cuts or eats the cake though.  Damaging the launch’s symbol would be bad luck.  When America first wanted to launch probes to photograph the surface of the moon in the early 1960s with the Ranger missions, every mission failed until the seventh one.  A seventh launch attempt that just happened to have everyone sharing the can of peanuts one of the engineers had brought into the room.  It’s been peanuts at ground control ever since.  After the rocket launch, everyone on the ground gets a meal of beans and cornbread, the meal that the original control crew had after the first successful launch.  And lets not forget the bagels and donuts ground crew gets after the shuttle orbiter gets successfully delivered to the launch pad.  Bagels and donuts are round; the shuttle is round.  Obviously.

In Russia, people would lay coins on the railroad track the shuttle would arrive via.  The flattened coins were not only a completely cool way to memorialize the event but were also considered lucky.  Cosmonauts were not allowed to lay coins on the tracks though.  It was considered unlucky for them to see the shuttle arriving.  Instead they were given haircuts during the shuttle’s arrival, as much a tradition as ward against bad luck.

In fact, you’ve probably already noticed that a lot of these seem to be tradition as much as superstition.  At its core though, what is a great deal of superstition but at some point someone did something and got the result they were hoping for and thought ‘if its not broke, don’t fix it’, carrying on with the habit until everyone forgot why it was a habit in the first place?    

For instance, cosmonauts sign Yuri Gagarin’s guestbook in his old office and, in some traditions, ask his permission to fly.  They also leave red carnations in his honor on the Memorial Wall.  And, like Yuri, they too pee on the right rear tire of the bus taking them to the launch pad.  Ladies don’t have to but some of them bring a jar of pee to contribute.

Both astronauts and cosmonauts bring a talisman with them into the shuttle.  Its for good luck, but it also is the first indication to the people inside the shuttle that they’ve left Earth as it starts to float once they’ve cleared the tug of gravity.  Stuffed animals are popular for this purpose.

Before launch in the States though, while waiting to enter the shuttle, the astronauts and the tech crew play cards until the commander of the mission has the losing hand.  This lets him leave his bad luck behind with his cards.  While the crew is playing cards, the launch crew fills the tanks with fuel for the launch and writes a woman’s name in the frost that forms during the process, a superstition picked up from their Russian counterparts.

In 1980, this tradition was left out during a satellite launch and 47 ground crew were killed in an accident.

Baikonur, Kazakhstan, leased by the Russians for their space program, has an Avenue of Heroes where a tree has been planted for every launch.  The successful ones - and the ones that weren’t. Every cosmonaut walks the route past the trees before launch.

Russia will not launch missions on October 24.  A disaster in 1960 was followed by another in 1963 on that date and it was permanently scratched from the calendar after that.

The Apollo 13 mission has put due to the taint already associated with that number for most Americans, though it did have a happier ending.  Incidentally, the vest worn by mission controller Gene Kranz during that mission is on display at the National Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington DC.  His wife sewed him a new vest for every single mission he was involved in.  The Apollo 13 vest was white.

Lastly, every mission after the ill-fated Challenger explosion has seen a bouquet of flowers delivered to mission control.  One rose for every astronaut on the flight and a single white one to remember the ones that have been lost.

[rustic-space-fiddle]

WIP of Penelope with her forever-unfinished shroud.

[xinyuehui]

Who do you like more ⸺ me or Lumiere? ⊹₊｡ꕤ˚₊⊹

[coldshrugs]

glamtober #31 - supernatural: mothman

my favorite american cryptid. i spent half my childhood in appalachia and those mountains are haunting and comforting. there's something nice about a fucked up creature trying to warn folks away from harm. this fit is silly but we can pretend she found it in eorzea's version of spirit halloween, right next to the sexy chirurgeon costumes.

items used:

head: tonberry head (jet black | ruby red) body: quaintrelle's ruffled dress (jet black | jet black) arms: demonic gloves (N/A | ruby red) legs: bunny tights (N/A | jet black) feet: makai priestess's longboots (ruby red) fashion accessory: fallen angel's wings

[mehiwilldoitlater]

Y/n: Yuán Fèn, you're cool..but you'll never be cool as Captain Charles "Chuck" Simian!

Destined One:.......Who the fuck is-

[silverorchideon]

"What Do You See, Red Dwarf,

Sailing In the Night Sky?"

Got inspired by Doc's newest episode.

(The original plan was to recreate the "Do You Love the Color of the Sky?" Post, but the size made Tumblr absolutely eviscerate the quality, so you get this instead)

[furiousgoldfish]

While growing up in an abusive family, a part of me strongly refused to grow up, in fact it's still resisting it. I thought at first, it was because I was taught that I am less and less valuable as I age, but it wasn't only that. It turns out, growing around mostly abusive people, can give you some horrifying notions of what it means to be an adult.

I am going to write down how I perceived adulthood, as an abused kid, because I need to work on it myself, and if there's somebody else feeling this, know that these are not your only option for a future:

All adults are stupid, unkind, boring, bitter, aggressive, obsessed with money, do not understand people around them at all.

All adults have to play specific roles assigned to them and don't step outside of these roles. For instance: mother, grandma, father, aunt, teacher, uncle, neighbour. All roles are restrictive and people can only do whatever is assigned to this role (cleaning, cooking, working a job, going to army, being married, etc)

Adults can't play, be curious, or have fun. Adults have to be focused on their role and stay grumpy, serious, bitter and busy. They don't laugh except when drunk.

Adults are having it tougher than children. They are unloved, uncared for, nobody considers them nice or pretty, nobody wants them around or gives them gifts. Adults are permanently unwanted and undesired everywhere.

Adults have good opinions only of people who are already dead. Everyone alive is constantly being humiliated, shamed and criticized. It's better to be dead.

Adults don't care about children, and only think the worst of children. Adults think children should only exist to work and to be yelled at. Adults are dangerous.

Adults don't care about friendships, loyalty, kindness, courage, bonds, closeness, care, or love. Adults friendships are drinking and smoking in the same room while talking badly about every other person in their life. They don't play, laugh or share things. It's a big game of pretense that the other has it better.

Adults lie and fake everything. They lie about their home life, about what they know, about money. They lie about, and to their children. They tell lies confidently. They make things up if they don't know and then tell those lies as if they're truths. They don't feel guilt if caught lying and instead double down on it.

Adults have money but they can't spend it. They have to keep paying bills and they never have enough money for bills and food. They will buy alcohol and cigarettes though, but they're always stressed about bills. They consider it children's fault.

Adults are endlessly stressed about having to 'feed a family'. This is so bad that they actually end up hating their families. They wish all of their children were dead so they wouldn't have to feed them. They can't seem to stop having children but also hate feeding them. It's like they're forced into it.

Adults have to work constantly. They work their jobs and have to do endless chores when they get home. They have to get up early to do chores and do them late at night. They have to do everything alone, unless they can get a child to do it for them. They can't select not to do it, they have to shift it to someone else to avoid it. Adults have no free time, or hobbies. They have to work at all times and always know what needs to be done.

 Adults have bodies that work less and less. They can't run, climb or jump. They're always having surgeries and can barely walk. Their backs and hips hurt and they complain about the pain every time they need to do anything. They blame the work for this but can't stop working. They're still somehow stronger than children when they want to hurt children, and then they're fully mobile. But at all other times they appear sickly and need stuff done for them.

Adults never get over anything that ever happened to them. They're always victimized by everything that ever happened to them. We the children have to get over things instantly, but they are angry and bitter about the past forever. They hold grudges against family members forever. They freely take things out on other family members. They never forgive or forget or calm down.

Adults are not passionate about anything. Their main priority is looking good in front of others and convincing everyone they're better than they are.

Adults selectively care when someone is crying. If it's someone they don't know, they'll act nice about it. If they know the person they will tell them to shut up and stop annoying them. It's like they fall for strangers tears but see through anyone else's as pretense. I don't understand.

Adults die and then other adults get drunk at their funerals. They say you need to cry but they're only serious for the public part and then go and have parties where they just laugh with everyone. Adults don't care about the dead people but say you're not supposed to say anything bad about them now they're dead. They pretend they cared while the person was alive but they didn't. They obsessively clean and decorate graves just for others not to think they 'didn't care'.

Adults will betray anyone's secrets. Adults will tell other adults whatever you told them in confidence. Adults cannot be trusted with information.

Adults judge and badmouth anyone who doesn't act the way they think people are supposed to act. They will impose their own rules and morals on others and shame anyone who doesn't agree. They insist that everyone needs to follow their assigned family role even though they complain about hating their own. They use the most horrid slurs for people they consider 'bad at their role' and write these people off as parasites and worthless people

Adults all agree children should be obedient, quiet and never want anything or disturb them. They want children only to present them with achievements and work for the rest of time.

Adults have sex but nobody is supposed to say anything about it. It's unclear whether they want to be doing it. If it's a part of a role it doesn't seem like they can say no.

Adults can't be cared for or pampered like children can. Adults do not get candy or chocolate. Adults say it's because children are cute and they're not. Adults are jealous of children. Adults complain about not being cared for.

Adults don't understand how hard children have it and always say being a child is the easiest and best time of life. They seem jealous and tell children to be grateful because it's only going to get worse. I can't imagine surviving worse. They claim their childhood was better than anything they deal with now because food was free and they didn't have to have a job.

Adults have no freedom. They have to stay with family and play their role. They can't survive otherwise. They leech off of each other and hate everyone. They live by imposed rules that force everyone to stay together even if they hate each other. They hate everyone around them. They feel loyal to no one. They bring misery to themselves and people around them and don't feel shame or responsibility for anyone they've hurt or ruined.

Adults don't see others as people with their own inner world. They insist that everyone except them is stupid, shallow, mindless and worthless.

Adults are all cowards who will submit to anyone who is stronger and louder. They'll only fight those who are weaker. They don't care about justice and will happily punish victims in unfair fights. They themselves are bitter and upset if they don't get the justice.

Adults only ever look out for themselves. They don't care about other people. They want money and others to admire them and to serve them. If that is not happening they are angry and bitter at the entire world.

Adults don't see good in other people. They don't see what someone else needs or deserves. They don't care about adventures or magic. They don't have wonder or awe inside of themselves. They don't even look at beautiful things in front of them. They don't care about nature, animals or trees. They don't care about books or knowledge, or reading. They don't care about stories or legends. They don't care about people who suffer so badly they want to die. They judge people for suicide.

They don't care about creating or making something unless it can be sold for money. They don't even tolerate others doing it.

They love no one. Everything they do is a drag and a pain to them and they want to push their work on someone else all the time. They don't care about anything except money and how to get more attention and keep pretenses. They have no true friends or care for anyone. All they have is work, rules and roles they need to act. Their lives are meaningless. Even though they have money they cannot travel or use it for fun or joy. They don't think anyone should be free to do as they want. They have no dignity or honor but pretend they do when in company. They yell but pretend they're victims for 'having to yell'.

They don't care if someone wants to die because of their actions. They don't care for anyone who wants to live differently. People who live differently are worthless and stupid to them. They think they're the only ones who are always right even when they're always wrong.

Adults are convinced that when I grow up this will all make sense and I will grow up to be exactly like them

If you felt as a child, or still do, that these are the truths of adulthood, and something you'll end up becoming, it's not true, and it's mostly just abusers who live their lives in this manner. If this is the only thing you've ever known and seen as a child, adulthood would be terrifying and feel like you'd have to lose your soul in order to become like this.

I'll write another follow-up debunking these and writing what I feel adulthood is right now. It's just definitely not that. And living around people who act like this is normal, is traumatic.

[madame-helen]

[puppetmaster13u]

Prompt 242

   He looks the same as he had that fateful day, a storm raging around him and risking sending the ship down into the abyss. Hair whipping in the wind as the sky roars its deadly challenge echoed by the beasts they all sought to bring down those centuries ago. 

   It looks just as human as they- that is to say not at all, not anymore. A body twisted, sand and lightning melding into a molten sea ever-expanding. Its eyes as gold as the treasure it guards, brilliant blues and greens dancing across bodies in sigils unknown. 

   It looks exactly as it did that time ago, smile dancing on its lips as the sky opened up in torrents, like blood gushing from a wound. “You’re free to go,” it says, in words they understand and words they don’t. “You don’t have to stay here any longer.” 

   “Where will we go?” They ask, so very tired of this eternal battle, of being trapped in crashing waves and storms of water and sand. Being tossed one way and the other, never able to go home, for home was gone long ago. 

   It looks up, their own gaze following, the ship crashing through the dredges of a storm they had thought eternal. And for the first time in eternities, they see them. The stars. Dancing and dripping from a serpentine form that cradles the Sun and Moon, smiling down to the beast and them alike. 

   And so, they take from the seas, and take to the stars instead. 

[apollo18]

Concept: the justice league finds out that Blaze and Satanus, the rulers of hell, are kids of their ‘even more of a boy scout than Superman’ coworker’s “boss” and think Shazam is the Christian God. They ask Billy really vague questions that lead Billy into confusing them even more and they become convinced that Marvel’s Wizard guy is God with a capital G and Marvel’s either an angel or the second coming of Jesus.

Meanwhile Shazam doesn’t even know what the Bible is and his knowledge about religion is so outdated he still thinks Solomon’s Judaism is new age and not worth his time to research such a ‘fad’ religion, but he knows humans will make a religion out of anything as well as bastardize existing ones and very well could have mixed up actual tales that involve him, his allies, and his children into some sort of melting pot of a religion.

So when someone finally asks Marvel outright if his “boss” is God, Billy goes ‘wait… old guy in white robes and sandals, with long white hair and a beard… lives in space… aka the “heavens”, whose a ghost(Holy Spirit), and knows everything(historama)??? I need to dig deeper into this hold on guys’ and goes off to ask the wizard.

So when Billy asks the Wizard he just tells Billy “well, my boy, if so many things match up, maybe it is so and the tales of myself and my champions grew so estranged from their origins or mixed in with other beliefs that it can explain the things that aren’t true to our reality.”

Then The Canonical Character To The DC Universe, Jesus of Nazareth, shows up.

[m1nsur0]

[JTTW OC: 智平] “Feeble Scholar, Feeble Healer”

[hawkp]

You are the Sisko.

[ivymoonstudios]

annabeth chase

[nufc-carraville]

Jamie, you’re genuinely ridiculous.

GET A GRIP (he did) (twice, if you look closely).

[sableunavailable]

Monstrous Greek gods are like cocaine for me

[casual-eumetazoa]

Genre: adult sci-fi

Summary:

In the distant future, humans live in a utopia where even death is not the end—for everyone except Amber’s parents. At 25, she is a cynical, aloof Ph.D. in history who resents her sheltered life at home and yearns to find her place in the world. Then, an exciting job offer comes her way—the chance to uncover the mystery of a civilization that disappeared thousands of years ago. Teaming up with the archeologist Lullaby, Amber embarks on a hitchhiking quest to find the fabled Aquamarine Moon and, perhaps, some much-needed meaning in her life.

Publisher’s website | Amazon

Pre-order my novel if you enjoy: the myth of Sisyphus, space operas, hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy, autistic protagonists, disaster lesbians, insectoid aliens, existential crises, queer side characters, and Buddhist legends