We All Do What We Can Do - Shuttle Workforce Tribute

Dear Friends, it is a time to come together, not apart. To dig deep and rebuild. To face uncertainty head on; with courage and clarity. Just do what you can do. Winter always comes just before Spring. Be well, Dan
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(Lyrics below) This chapter of America's manned space program is nearly closed. We here at the Kennedy Space Center wanted to say thank you to our larger space family, and to those who supported us along the way.

We all did what we could do to accomplish our goals and get our astronauts and orbiters to space and then safely home... Each of us brought something different, but together we found ways to overcome the challenges and build a future together.

To a person we feel blessed to have worked on Shuttle... You will see that in the smiling faces within this simple video. It is an indigenous effort - We wrote, played and recorded the song, then put together the video... and are grateful to share it with you.

We did what we could, and in these times of uncertainty, we ask you, wherever you are in the world, to just do what you can do to make your life and your community better... progressing day by day... no one can ask any more than that. That's all our country asked of us, and we did our best. Thank you America for giving us that opportunity. It was a good ride.

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We All Do What We Can Do - Lyrics

Be still our beating hearts, we take another breath.
And every time we launch it scares me half to death.
And I know this, yeah I know this, you feel the same.

A sigh of relief comes over me
When we're two minutes in and drop the SRBs.
And I know this, yes I know this, you feel the same.

And we all do what we can do
To make this bird fly on wings.
And spirits soar, yes they soar,
When three main engines sing.
And I see you feel the same.

Orbit after orbit she spins in outer space,
She is dancing through the cosmos, biggest smile on her face.
And we're proud, loud and proud, to see you shine.

Standing by the runway they call us Convoy Ops.
You can hear the engines roar when her wheels come to a stop.
We all do what we can do to bring you home.

And we all do what we can do,
And live what others dream.
The bonds we knew,
These memories, forever they will be.
And I can see you feel the same.

When the crew comes out they wobble 'round the bird,
Our family in blue. Sweetest booms we've ever heard.
And I know, yes I know, we feel the same.

And we all do what we can do,
And live what others dream.
The bonds we knew,
These memories, forever they will be.
And I can see you feel the same

Safety watches out, and Quality inspects.
Engineers write the paper that's driven by the Techs.
Have you seen the magic they can do?

Flow managers make sure the puzzle pieces fit.
Schedulers keep runnin', they never seem to quit.
We all keep, we all keep pushin' on.

And we all do what we can do
And live what others dream.
The bonds we knew,
These memories, forever they will be.
And I can see you feel the same.

To all those who designed her and built her piece by piece,
Pride brought her home to launch from KSC.
And I know this, yeah I know this, you feel the same.

For thirty years we've launched her, did the best we could.
We learned from our mistakes, think we did pretty good.
And I know this, yeah I know this, you feel the same.

We all do what we can do
To make this bird fly on wings.
And spirits soar, yes they soar,
When three main engines sing.
And I see, I see, you feel the same.

And we all do what we can do
To make this bird fly on wings.
And spirits soar, yes they soar,
When three main engines sing.
And I see, I see, you feel the same.

And I see you feel the same.


Copyright © 2010 Dan Keenan and Kenny McLaughlin

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[dang1953]

This video brought me to both tears and laughter all at the same time. How do you summarize my 25+ years working on this wonderful program? I just watch this video and bathe in the warmth of the memories and friendships. We really are a family.

Yes, I feel the same.

[dankeenan2007]

@dang1953 It did the same thing to me as I made it... so many of the smiling faces looking back into the camera were pictures I took. As I edited hour after hour it would hit me that these happy faces were smiling at me... bam! ...oh man, where's the tissues!?! Major holes punched in my "man card." :)

[BadKitty0718]

Thank you for taking the time to create such a wonderful video. As an ISS employee, I share with you the pride and honor in working in the "space family".

"Space... the Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before." Captain James T Kirk

[dankeenan2007]

@BadKitty0718 Wasn't the tribute with his narration amazing!?! How cool is that? 

[txaggienaut]

I miss all my friends! Fantastic video Dan!

[dankeenan2007]

@txaggienaut I am guessing this is you my Boeing friend? Hope you and J are well! We miss you guys too. :) Keep the faith!!

[TileEngineer]

Some of the people you see in these photos hired in for "a summer job" 30 years ago and never left. Some were BORN 30 years ago and have never known a time when we did not launch ourselves into space on these beautiful spacecraft. It breaks my heart to see the shuttles retire, but I look forward to a time when I can have the privilege to support American manned space flight again. Thank you America!

[voodookitty6669]

My father is a member of the shuttle building team... I just want to say Thank You to him and everyone else that has worked so hard through out the past 30 years to make this happen... Thanks Bear!!!!

[littlefife324]

go Dan!!!!!

[MichaelTJohnston]

Wow Dan, this was awesome! I found myself crying and laughing at the same time. It was wonderful seeing all the people who made flying this beautiful ship possible. If you're about to watch this, grab some tissues. You'll need em!

[shuttletechfrank]

Great video! I worked on the Orbiters from 2002 to 2006...Endeavour, Discovery, Atlantis and Columbia. Amazing machines all, lovingly prepared and maintained by the best workers in the world! I have many great memories of my time there, and even though I left the program over 5 years ago, I still keep in contact with many friends I made while I was there. I live in North Carolina now, but I made sure I returned to the Space Coast for the final launch...the end of an era. Thanks for posting!!

[kittypie070]

It is you who have seen the Orbiter Vehicles with your own eyes, it is you who have touched them with your own hands, it is you who have read their downlinked telemetries, **it is you who have spoken to the crews** and given

all possible aid and guidance, it is you who have given your love and work to them from the least distance, where I, a civilian, could only watch from a greater distance. Please..preserve the knowlege you have.

It must exist for as long as mankind exists.

[RocRizzo]

Many thanks to all who made the Space Shuttle Program possible. You are all patriots, and deserve commendation, AFAIC. Everything that the program has done for everyone on Earth is taken for granted by many.

Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart!

[RandomRockets]

This makes me homesick for my brothers and sisters at KSC. Well done!

[prohlimyou]

Friend @dankeenan2007, you could write in English lyric poetry of this music. I can not understand the whole message that says the song. I'm a fan of NASA and USA. You are doing a great job for humanity. I'm from Brazil. thank you so much.

[TaniaLenceria]

THANK YOU!:)