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What Was That

The fastest man made object was launched into space 
On August 27 in 1957 from a nuclear explosion without a spacecraft’s grace
When an American Robert Brownlee an astrophysicist left over 
A 485 foot hole a half ton metal  cover

Earlier on 26 July 1957 they did the same thing
Launching the manhole cover into space with an explosive ring
So they decided to film it this time round
To calculate how fast and how far it flew to find it on the ground

So they exploded the bomb in quite a show
Creating the world’s greatest Roman candle all a glow
So the end of the countdown came
And the bomb exploded with flame

And the camera filmed the launch of the manhole cover
Travelling at 125,000 mph over
Being 4 times the speed needed to leave the earth
So it travelled out into space 
Amazing the scientists in that place

So they calculated that it left the solar system in the 1961 year
Provided it passed the planets clear
But I like to think that it’s in an alien museum display 
With them pondering Made in the USA.

© Paul Warren Poetry

Copyright © | Year Posted 2021




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Book: Reflection on the Important Things