Shoot for the moon...and then some

Apparently, 6:45 a.m. is not too early to be up watching the preparations for a rocket launch. (Although it would have been a little more exciting if they had actually ended up launching the thing.)

This girl is taking notes. The success of this launch will put NASA one step closer to catching an asteroid, a critical step that brings the space program one step closer to landing people on Mars in 15 years or so. If you want to know more, you'll have to ask Abby yourself. She'd be happy to tell you all about it.

If all goes as planned, my little would-be astronaut will be old enough to go to Mars when the time comes. I'd be lying if I told you there wasn't a part of me that believes she'll be on board that flight. I'm not sure how many other astronaut hopefuls will have been tracking this journey to Mars quite as closely as my daughter when 2030 rolls around.