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The Florida sky was lit in a surreal glow early this morning as NASA's space shuttle Endeavor blasted into the sky at 4:14 a.m. TWU Local 525 members were an integral part of sending Endeavour to space and ensuring safe pre and post-launch conditions here on Earth. They represent the ground crew at Kennedy and Cape Canaveral space centers.

Clouds forced a delay for the shuttle's lift off early on Saturday morning, but clear skies made this morning's launch successful, and a beautiful sight for the thousands of spectators who gathered at Kennedy Space Center for the occasion. Endeavour is the first of the last five shuttles to launch before NASA retires the almost 30-year-old orbiter fleet to make way for future spacecraft.

Obama's proposed budget for NASA announced last week has drawn both criticism and praise from space industry experts and the media. If passed by Congress, the budget will cut funds for NASA's Constellation program, to return to the moon by 2020, and make other drastic changes to United States space travel. Instead of choosing destinations in space and then developing the technology to carry out those missions, technology would be developed before destinations are chosen. NASA would need to rely on private companies to develop the technology and spacecraft that would send American astronauts into low earth orbit.

Watch TWU Local 525 members discuss their worries about the future of their jobs, their industry and their communities, which rely on the current model of space exploration for their survival.