Congratulations to the Boeing Delta IV team on the successful launch of the GOES-N mission yesterday! I've been fortunate to work with many of the folks on this team, and understand the amount of work and coordination involved in making this a success. Great job!
I was fortunate to see this rocket on the pad several times over the past year. Very cool stuff! I'm glad the Delta IV made the journey as intended, and that the GOES-N payload will help meteorologists in a big way.
Categories: Space
Check out what Google just released! Google Mars! I've always dreamt about going to Mars, but this is the next best thing to being there...
I thought it was also cool that the MRO (Mars Recon. Orbiter) entered orbit around Mars on my 10th Anniversary on Friday! Details on this mission are here: http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mro/. This mission/spacecraft should give Google Mars some GREAT images to use!
Categories: Space
We saw the new IMAX, Roving Mars, today!
It is absolutely incredible. Since I've been working with the Boeing Delta folks, it was especially impactful seeing the Delta II launch! I think that entire segment leading all the way to the rover bouncing and unfolding on Mars was my favorite part.
All of our kids really liked it, especially Connor (my Space Camp buddy!). I would highly recommend seeing it. If you get a chance, Magnificent Desolation is also a great IMAX to see. We waited too long, and we missed seeing it in Denver. I did get a chance to see it at the Smithsonian Air & Space, though.
If you haven't noticed, not only am I a space nut, but I'm also a huge Mars nut! I've always dreamt about what it would be like to walk on the Red Planet. We did an activity back when they launched the rovers, where we went on a rock hunt and sent in the rock to the Univ. of Arizona.They analyzed it with the same mass spectrometers that they used on Spirit and Opportunity and sent us the report and a certificate!
It's amazing how long those rovers have been able to continue operating. You can see more of Spirit and Opportunity at the JPL website.
Categories: Space
I've recently started reading "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. In chapter 5, he asks the question: What's your view of life [your life metaphor]?
He goes on to say that some people describe their life as a carousel, circus, minefield, roller coaster, puzzle, card game (you have to play the hand you are dealt), etc.
It's your description of how life works and what you expect from it. ... It determines your expectations, your values, your relationships, your goals, and your priorities.
I'd have to say my life metaphor is a Rocket. I think life, specifically my life but also applies to others, is a very complex piece of machinery that requires the expertise and advisement of specialists from many different people.
I think my soul is the astronaut sitting in the capsule at the top of that rocket, and the rocket itself is all of my life experiences. Some of those experiences are from the specialists from a variety of disciplines that become a part of the rocket. In rocketry, those disciplines would include electrical, mechanical, propulsion, guidance, etc. In life, I'd say those disciplines would be work, home, friends, church, etc.
I have confidence because I believe God is over at Mission Control for my particular mission. For others, they may have transferred that Mission Control over to someone or something else. I also believe that because I'm in such good hands, my journey to the Heavens, as I slip the surly bonds of this Earth, will be a complete success.
Now, as with real rocketry, each component must go through very stringent tests during design, manufacture, assembly and launch preparation before the countdown can go down to T minus 0 and go for launch. Many times there are built in Holds during the countdown for final checks. Life can also be a series of tests, but they are all meant for a reason -- a successful mission.
Even though tests can be difficult, it is always better to endure. I don't know about you, but I don't want to end up as a fireball on the pad or in flight!
So what's your life metaphor? Are you on a sound path? These are questions I think everyone should ask themselves. Let me know what your metaphor is! I'm sure it will be an interesting read, as I hope mine has been.
This is pretty cool! I'm going to have to try to listen for this with my mobile Ham rig:
Astronauts turn spacesuit into satellite | The Register: "all you need is 'an antenna (the bigger the better) and a radio receiver that you can tune to 145.990 MHz FM' to catch the 5-10 minute flyby as SuitSat passes over (you can calculate your next scheduled visit here).
What you'll hear is a 30-second transmission, followed by a 30 second pause followed by the message: 'This is SuitSat-1, RS0RS' and a prerecorded greeting in five languages. The transmission ends with an English-language report on 'telemetry: temperature, battery power and mission elapsed time'."
For more info, please visit: http://www.suitsat.org/ and http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/articles/SuitSat/. Thanks to Joshua for the extra links!
I was hoping that Stardust would not suffer the same fate as the Genesis torpedo. Thankfully, it looks like everything went according to plan: Space.COM coverage and spaceflightnow.com coverage
Now comes your part: If you'd like to help look for grains of cosmic dust captured by the Stardust mission, check out the Stardust@home program: http://stardustathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/
I'm already signed up!
Categories: Space
This is too cool. A tornado in space! Okay, if it's not on the ground, technically it should be called a funnel. Of course, since this Herbig-Haro object is almost 2 trillion miles long, maybe it should be classified as an F5 to the 10th power on the Fujita scale! :-)
For details and a picture, check out: SPACE.com -- Space Tornado! Cosmic Front Packs a Punch
The team that made the discovery was headed by John Bally of Colorado State University. Way to go, John! Go Rams!
This year has been a fulfillment of several of my life's dreams. I finally got to go to Space Camp with Connor. I have wanted to go since I was his age. With my new job at Flatirons Solutions, I've also been able to work at Cape Canaveral two different times this year on Boeing's Delta rocket program. It was hard leaving Sun after 9 years, and the extensive travel schedule, but I have grown tremendously both personally and professionally. I also spent quite a bit of time in New York City, Kansas City and Washington, D.C. As a family, we also traveled on several trains in Colorado, including the Georgetown Loop and Cumbres & Toltec; we hope to ride more trains next year, and see more of our magnificent state. We also enjoyed our trip for the 50th Anniversary of Disneyland, and spending time with family and friends.
To all my family, friends and blog readers:
Happy New Year To One And All Long Life, Happiness, Peace and Prosperity to You Lang May Yer Lum Lou (may there always be the warmth of a fire in the home and so employment and prosperity)
Categories: General
Looks like I have something to save my frequent flier miles for! Too bad it's only on Virgin Airlines... Check it out: http://www.space.com/news/051206_virgin_galactic.html. Only 2 million domestic miles needed for me to get my Astronaut wings! :-)
Categories: Space
The Delta II Space Launch Complex (pads SLC-17A and SLC-17B) in the background. These pads were visible from the museum. We actually got an official tour the Delta IV HIF and drive right up to the Delta IV (SLC-37B) with the GOES-N rocket ready to launch, but I didn't dare take pictures. Those guards pack heat! Same reason I don't have any pics of Vandenberg AFB SLC-6...
See also: Space
Scotty fulfilling a life goal: to work at NASA! I've wanted to be an astronaut since I was a boy. Even if that won't happen, working at NASA still fulfills that dream. The Boeing Delta LPD project has been extremely interesting. Even though I missed the Mars Recon Orbiter launch by a day, touring the Cape and VAFB has still been a highlight of my career!
Speaking of astronauts, check this out: Apollo Lunar Surface Journal and go see the new IMAX!
See also: Space
Boeing: Home of the "Can Do Team". I've been priviledged to work with the folks from the Boeing Delta Launch Preparation Documents team for the last several weeks, both at Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg AFB!
See also: Space
Complex 14, launch site of the Free World's first man in orbit. We weren't sure how much access our badges allowed us, so we didn't get much closer. I also did not want to park in the bug guys parking spaces...
See also: Space
The most beautiful sunset I've ever seen, complete with palm tree and Mercury Redstone!
See also: Space
Timing. That's really what most of life is about. And only God knows the best timing for each of us.
For me, this year I wondered when was the right time to leave Sun. It turns out, the timing was perfect. Since working at Flatirons Solutions, not only have I been able to go to Space Camp with my son, but now I'll be working on a project for Boeing at Cape Canaveral!
So for bad timing, I didn't know when the Shuttle Discovery was scheduled to return when I bought my tickets, and it looks like I'll miss seeing the landing by about 12 hours (Godspeed and safe return, STS-114!). Then I scheduled my return home in time for the Perseid meteor shower peak (camping trip), but I'll miss the launch of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite N, or GOES N, for NASA and NOAA aboard a Boeing Delta 4 on Friday!
Oh well, for good timing, I've always wanted to be an astronaut on Mars, so I'm hoping to catch the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter launch on Wed, Aug. 10 at SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
See also: Space
Just found a link with info on listening to audio from the Space Shuttle on your ham radio: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sarex/shutfreq.html (145.460 MHz in Boulder). I'll have to try it out. I've been a little lax on turning on the radio lately.
My primary reason for getting my ham license was for storm chasing. I wanted to be able to report in and warn people of dangerous weather. I've been a member of SKYWARN for a number of years, but seem to be under deadline at work when the best storms come up!
I've always wanted to talk to the Shuttle or ISS, so I'll have to try it some time.
In other space-related news, check out this cool blog: http://damarisbsarria.blogspot.com/. Good luck, Damaris!
See also: Space
My son, Connor, wore his flight suit for the occasion. He's seen the Shuttle Enterprise at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington Dulles, and been to Space Camp in Huntsville, AL. Watching the STS-114 coverage helped tie it all together for him. I've also been to Kennedy Space Center twice! Now we just need to see a launch in person, or get a ticket for the BIG trip!
You can get all the latest information at:
http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts114/status.html and at
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-114/sts-114-info.html and
http://www.space.com/returntoflight/.
Also, thanks to Jason for the link to track the shuttle: http://science.nasa.gov/temp/ShuttleLoc.html
See also: Space
This is TOO COOL! Check out moon.google.com, based on Google Earth/Maps technology.
From this site, you can locate the landing sites of the Apollo missions. Today also happens to be the anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing (and my cousin, Brandon's birthday).
See also: Space
