a Discovery Shuttle astronaut lost grip on a tool while
doing an outside the shuttle procedure. The 15 lb. device
was allowed to go into orbit with little thought as to the
likeliness of ever having to "meet up" with it again. A
direct hit would likely spell disaster. In 2004, it was
estimated that there were 10,003 pieces of space junk in
earth orbit - some small and some as big as a refrigerator.
Smaller pieces of "space chunks" fall ever 2-3 days, larger
chunks . . . every 10-12 days. On 4/29/03 a 2.5-ton Italian
satellite fell into the Pacific Ocean. It had been in orbit
for seven years!
The second poem was inspired by a Minnesota state-wide
air pollution alert in which everyone was encouraged to
remain indoors unless absolutely necessary - especially
persons with asthma or lungs. Since I had both, I stayed
mostly inside. I couldn't help but wonder where "road dust"
must go. With the help of the cooperative staff of the local
Tires Are Us and Firestone outlets, I calculated that there
is about 16.8 million tons of tire dust produced each year
in Canada and the U.S. If the dust is compressed into a
somewhat-solid mass, that translates into a column that
measures 6 x 6 feet at the base and rising 140 miles into
space. Or . . . it would form a block the size of a football
field soaring to 9,835 feet. ( 1-1/2 times higher than
Mt. Washington.)
+ + + + + +
Heavy, vise-like tool,
slips from astronaut's grip.
Released to orbit -
assumed never-to-be-seen-again.
Then, after three days -
a fifteen-pound emergency
looms.
Shuttle rockets fire.
Dodges
disaster.
Almost not seen.
Often,
what goes around,
comes around.
+ + + + + +
Tire circles
wear thin -
spinning off rubber.
Particulate matter,
released to join soil, water,
air and -
lungs.
Disasters mostly unseen -
insidious.
Inner pollution.
Often,
what goes around,
comes around.
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