Vining watches shuttle

By Trisha Marczak (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Saturday, June 14, 2008

The town of Vining has kept a close eye on NASA’s STS 124 shuttle mission over the past few weeks. Astronaut and Vining native, Karen Nyberg has opened up a whole new world for her hometown’s residents, who may not otherwise have taken such an interest in the mission.

Nyberg’s Saturday landing is drawing many Vining locals to the television screen, once again, to witness their hometown hero land safely on earth.

Dick Trana regularly watches live footage of the mission on his NASA channel at home — something that wouldn’t have happened before Nyberg’s trip to space.

“I’ve been watching the NASA channel in the evening and during the days,” Trana said. “It has made us (local residents) a lot more aware of it.”

And Trana isn’t the only one that has become more inclined to tune-in for the action. Judy Hendershot, who works in the town’s post office, said most people that stop into the shop are updated on the mission’s progress.

Locals who have recently traveled out of the Vining area have had the opportunity to put their space knowledge to good use. Residents have come into the post office to talk about Nyberg’s attribution to Vining’s recent rise to fame.

“It has put Vining on the map,” Hendershot said.

Nyberg’s sister, Becky Kaatz, has kept in contact with her sister during her time in space. Regular emails have allowed Kaatz to hear all about Nyberg’s experiences.

“She just said that it was awesome...beautiful,” Kaatz said.

Her sister’s recent launch into space was nerve wracking for Kaatz. And although she’s felt much more at ease since take-off, she and her family are looking forward to having Nyberg back on the same planet.

“Once she’s safely back on earth, we’ll be able to breathe again,” Kaatz said.

Many in the town are feeling the same way.

“Hopefully it will be a safe landing,” Trana said.

And although Kaatz and her family have spent their fair share of time worrying, she said, in the end, it’s all worth it.

“It’s pretty exciting,” she said. “Our family is part of history now.”

Nyberg’s parents, Karen and Phyllis, are greeting their daughter after her landing in Houston, Texas. According to Kaatz, her parents are doing all they can to convince Nyberg to take a trip to Vining for some summertime fun and relaxation.