C Raggio: February 2008

On October 4th 1957 The Russians beat the U.S. in the space race launching the first satellite "Sputnik" in orbit. Pasadena's JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) had been working on several rockets to take our own satellite in to space. Only 4 months later January 31st 1958 we put EXPLORER 1 up with a few science experiments one being the Van Allen Cosmic radiation instrument. My grandfather was on the Design team at JPL and I am proud of his accomplishments as he is recognized as one of the few left alive from the LAB. Its amazing to think what we have accomplished in 50 years with the satellite space program, yet how little man has traveled the same.

Explorer 1 6ft long just under 30 lbs.

"Sputnick" 23 inches in diameter. Many don't know that the russians launched a second satellite a month after sputnick this time carrying a very highly trained Dog!

Ollie Johnston estate

Last may, while flipping through a penny saver, possibly by fate I found this "Estate Sale Famous animator La Canada Flintridge", assuming it was Ollie Johnston, and I had never got the chance to visit with him at his house, I jumped at the chance to visit his home. Once there, it felt more like leeches rummaging through the Johnston's belongings. It didn't feel right, who were these people didn't they know who this man was? I saw a few fellow animators but mostly the flea market type. Ollie needed assisted living and had left a few months prior. The proceeds went to his care I assume. So I took this chance to photograph his home and show those who don't know the way his mind worked at home. I apologize to any one in advance that may be offended I too feel sad just looking through these images, however I was more astonished and mesmerized by Ollie's sense of engineering and love for building things, especially the trains.