Knowing how far it has traveled is important for measuring any wheel slippage that may have occurred, for instance due to high slopes or sandy ground.

FORBES: Curiosity Leaves Its Mark

"People were amazed to see an area that was salty, sandy ground, turn into a lush green forest, that had mushrooms growing from the soil, " Lawton said.

CNN: Making barren lands bountiful

In fact, at the time of this writing, AERObridge had coordinated over 40 flights in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy to support relief efforts on the ground.

FORBES: Business Aviation Community Provides Critical Help After 'Superstorm'

Top House Republicans responded by bringing new Sandy aid legislation to the floor under ground rules designed to win over as many Republicans as possible while retaining support from Democrats eager to approve as much in disaster aid as possible.

WSJ: Obama says he'll sign $50.5B Sandy aid bill soon

And when the unexpected has happened -- like the Gulf oil spill or Hurricane Sandy -- he has been on the ground making sure that people get help right away and we deal with these challenges as professionally as possible.

WHITEHOUSE: Our Top Stories

Once it was on the ground, the moon was a pockmarked, sandy boulder, so dull and opaque that it was incredible to think that it had once illuminated the sky with its shining reflection.

NEWYORKER: The Daughters of the Moon

Sandy Alderson is in the midst of rebuilding the Mets from the ground up, but the fruits of his labor will not be realized for at least two seasons.

FORBES: Mets' Next Chapter Should Start With Honoring Gary Carter

Closer to home, Shelterbox was on the ground in Haiti as well as New York and New Jersey following Hurricane Sandy.

FORBES: 12 Days of Charitable Giving 2012: ShelterBox

"The state was better prepared when Sandy hit than it had been for any past natural disaster, and the results on the ground back that up, " said Jerome Hauer, the commissioner of the New York Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.

WSJ: Poor Training Fueled Gas Shortage After Sandy