Exactly 120 Years Ago This Sunday... What Ultimately Becomes The Space Age... Opens.

Yes. Of course. I understand that Sputnik I (now 66 years ago) is officially the proper opening -- of the "space age".

In point of fact though, what the Wrights did at Kitty Hawk now 120 years ago. . . is the animating moment, for all of it.

But instead of 120 feet, a few feet off the ground, for 12 seconds, or even 1,440 low-Earth orbits, over 20 days. . . last month, we were flying an entirely robotic helicopter, some 41 million miles out into the night sky, on Mars. That was a 48th flawless, and smoothly-powered jump, on Barsoom. Whoosh.

So, we will offer a short salute, and link to NASA's photo of it (while offering our take on it, at right) -- as of tomorrow morning.

. . .120th Anniversary of the First Powered, Controlled Flight

Orville Wright makes the first powered, controlled flight on Earth as his brother Wilbur looks on in this image taken at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903. Orville Wright covered 120 feet in 12 seconds during the first flight. The Wright brothers made four flights that day, each longer than the last. . . .

I don't mean to be flippant here, but Sputnik was really just a rock thrown into the sky. Impressive that it achieved orbit, but it was a rock with a few wires inside -- it made no controlled descent after be flung into the sky. What the Wright brothers did -- even for a moment -- was controlled powered flight, with a human aboard. And a safe landing. Much more like the Moon landings, and returns, than not alike. Kudos.

And yes, it was nearly windless that day at Kitty Hawk. As it was -- this very morning, here. Smile. Onward. Whatever you might dream. . . it may. . . one day, occur.

नमस्ते