Rocket Shot

Mir Ceased to Exist

2011-03-23T09:38:00.003-05:00

2dayNspace: Ten years ago today the Mir Space Station was deorbited and burned up in the atmosphere. The stansi precrasnaya (beautiful station) was designed to last 5 years. When I was on rotation in the TsUP during the 10 year anniversary, we had quite a massive celebration (vodka flowing of course). The pride and accomplishment was evident in the eyes of the Energia engineers in the control center. To ditch it after fifteen, was painful to say the least. But resources needed to be freed up for the new international space station - ISS.

The official statement from the TsUP echoed the sentiment... "Mir ceased to exist" at 05:59:24am GMT (12:59:24am CDT). That's it - not even able to glorify her achievements. The news release from Pravda includes an interesting statement at the end: "the work of the specialists in ballistics received an excellent mark, although there was no applause at the Mission Control Centre (TsUP)."

The very sad video.

Obviuosly a Major Malfunction

2011-01-28T12:20:00.008-06:00

25 years ago I was released from class early because my professor had a laryngitis. I headed to the student center and saw everyone crowded around the tv. Assumed Reagan had declared war and kept walking. As I got to the second tv room, I saw the shuttle launch footage on the screen and heard Peter Jennings say, "And here is when it happened." I stopped in my tracks and watched the horrific view. I don't remember much else from that day, only that I watched tv coverage of it ALL day... until I finally had to turn it off to breathe.

As I spoke of yesterday, I allow myself to experience this pain yet not fall into it. You keep it alive in you by whatever method you may use - mine is the first patch on my wall even though I started working at JSC between STS-29 and STS-30. But on these anniversary days, we watch the videos and allow ourselves to get closer to falling into that pit of which we have no control.

Take a minute today and allow yourself to go there in their honor!

Live Footage - extensive coverage of crowd reaction (chills among chills... BEWARE - includes families)
More new footage from someone's yard (they've got trouble of some kind... really? - sobering shot at the end depicting the cold weather)
ABC Newsflash with Steve Bell
NBC Live Aftermath Coverage
Four hours after live coverage clip with an emotional and haggered Peter Jennings
Peter Jennings World News Tonight
NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw
Reagan's words (slip the surly bonds and touch the face of God)

New Challenger Tribute for the 25th Anniversary with song that took 25 years to release! The story behind the "new" tribute song for the 25th Anniversary of Challenger

Slipping the Surly Bonds

2011-01-27T16:13:00.007-06:00

I have always grumbled at the fact that NASA wants to group three very distinct tragedies into one Day of Remembrance. Today was the first time I had been to the Astronaut Memorial Grove for an event. And most certainly the first time I had been there since Columbia. As I drove in the gates at NASA, I saw a small gate by the badging office open. I simply thought, oh how nice & convenient. I parked and walked towards the grove. There were three wreaths placed central to their respective crewmembers. As I got closer to the Apollo 1 wreath, I realized there were family and friends in attendance. A lot of effort is put into this Day of Remembrance by NASA to honor the fallen astronauts and comfort the family - blood and the NASA family. I realize Day of Remembrance is the best approach after all.

I stayed back and let families and close friends pay respects. As they would move on, I would follow and pay mine... watching the time so as to be ready for the flyover. Then it covered me up as I was waiting my turn with the Columbia wreath. I was surrounded by the memorial tress when the T-38s screamed by... Looking up, I caught a quick, masked glance at the low-flying jets and saw Charlie's pull up to form the missing man. I have never been able to hold it together for a missing man formation. I just stood there - for the longest time... and finally moved over the Columbia wreath. Realistically, I was still in another place. Because I went back by later as I was walking out and had another "moment" with Columbia.It amazes me this still affects me the way it does. For the most part, my strong nature controls these feelings - allowing myself to experience them but not fall into them. Like my first trip to KSC after Columbia... Totally not even thinking, hurt and pain filed away, I wander on up the the ASF memorial with my parents and see the names of the Columbia crew on the wall. I lost it... like such a shock, seeing it makes it real. And today after already paying my respects, I stop by the Columbia wreath once more - and just stand there. No other activity or people to watch. Everyone is gone and it's just me - me and that pain. When I finally walked away, a photographer stopped me to get my name, asked if I worked here, and if I knew them. Yea, I knew a few of them. But, it is just so more than that.

When I got in the truck, Amazing grace was on. Why did I even put makeup on today?

T-38 pilots for the flyover were:
Astronaut Charlie Hobaugh/Astronaut Pat Forrester ("pull up")
Astronaut Ken Ham/Astronaut Steve Robinson
Ray Heineman/Astronaut David Saint-Jacques
Nebojza Solunak/Astronaut Soichi Noguchi (photo by Soichi)

A fifth T-38 in the air on standby (and likely not seen):
Mike Giles/Astronaut Mike Hopkins

I noticed the clouds several times and thought they seemed to emanate slipping the surly bonds of the Earth.

A fitting end. The poem

Little Piece of History

2010-12-10T11:51:00.005-06:00

Found this neat Mercury Capsule bank at an antique mall this week. I have to say, it is pretty rare when I find a manned spaceflight bank I have never seen before (I have far more than on that website...)! It is pretty thick plaster and has the original cork on the bottom. I thought I had found a little piece of NASA history - but instead I find that I found a pretty major piece of Houston history!

Minimal googling revealed that Texas National Bank was in Houston. The building was shared with Conoco and opened in October 17th, 1955. On top of this building was a weather ball - popular in the mid 50s - mid 60s. It could be seen at night from 25 miles.

Most people erroneously think that Conoco sign on Houston's weather ball came later. But from this Aug 22, 1955 Life magazine clipping, the sign had two different sides upon inception in 1955. You can also see the Conoco side peeking through from the backside in this photo.

Weather balls were fairly popular at the time (providing an alternate way to get your forecast) and they all seemed to use the same jingle. When the ball was glowing red warmer weather was just ahead, when shinning white colder weather was in sight, when wearing green no change was foreseen, colors blinking light and day precipitation was on its way.

Houston's was dismantled in 1964 as a result of complaints and found its way to the entry fountain at Astroworld. In 1994 (shortly after Time Warner bought half of Six Flags), the globe was removed from the fountain. In 1995 it had been located in Astroworld storage. I am researching if it was auctioned off during the Astroworld auctions after the park closed in 2005. Stay tuned for an update!

Great video on the fate of the Northwestern Bank weather ball in Minnesota

Do you know where Houston's Weather Ball is???

Today in Space - 2001: Mir Reentry

2010-03-23T12:02:00.002-05:00

Mar 23rd - a 143 ton space station falls from grace during a controlled reentry over Fiji and into the South Pacific. Progress M1-5 was launched in January to escort Mir on her final farewell. As expected, six main pieces survived the breakup to give one final show. We had a party that day ... to celebrate her and our opportunity to be a part of her storied history. An attempt was made to save her by private industry - they even sent one last Soyuz mission that spent 70 days there in April, May, and June of 2000.

86,331 orbits... 31 spacecraft, 64 cargo ships, nine shuttle missions... 125 cosmonauts/astronauts from 12 different countries. A five year space station stays in service for 15! But unlike our last party after the Mir Station was left unmanned in August 1999, at least on this sad day there were men living in orbit again.

Mir Reentry FGAN radar Image from above
Website for FGAN radar imaging
Video with simulated reentry, actual reentry footage, and a map
Details on controlled reentry of Mir
Neat website with all kinds of data
Interesting reflections on the reentry and what it meant to TsUP workers

2dayNspace 1962Friendship 7 Launch

2010-02-20T10:25:00.003-06:00

John Glenn became the first American in orbit aboard a Mercury Atlas (MA-6) launched from Launch Complex 14. The complex has been dismantled, but some of its structure still sits there today. Fresh off a trip to KSC, I wandered around the complex just a week or so ago. Some new structure has been put in place to secure what is left of the obvious historical treasure. The parking spot nameplates (a newer John Glenn one had been installed) were not original. They were added some time later - I am researching this one (perhaps when they did the monument dedication in 1964?). The 45th Space Wing restored the inside of the blockhouse and turned it into a conference room around 1998 just before John Glenn's shuttle flight.

Hi res phot o of Glenn and the capsule artwork
Aerial View of SLC-14
Amazing drawings of the original structures
Photos of the restored blockhouse

2dayNspace 1986Mir Space Station Launched

2010-02-19T11:57:00.003-06:00

The first module of the Mir Space Station, known as the Base Block (Core Module), was launched aboard a Proton rocket February 20th Russian time.

The Mere Meaning of Mir
Does Mir REALLY mean peace? Maybe not... Frank Culbertson's extremely well-written letter to Congress in 1996 sheds a different light. Frank's letter also points out something amazing that is very timely in our current space wars of money and direction. The fact is Mir was done when they had NO resources! They cared enough about their foothold on space to make huge sacrifices in the eye of pride and mankind's absolute need to explore the unknown and achieve things some think impossible! At times I heard stories from my Russian counterparts in the NASA-Mir program that they had not been paid in months or often were paid in solid goods - like toilet paper that was found in a warehouse and recognized of value. Did the workers leave? Did they quit, mad about the wages owed to them? No, they did not! They found a way to survive to maintain that foothold. They found a way, utilizing every resource to its maximum - they sent one Soyuz to two different space stations at the beginning of Mir because they did not have enough Soyuz spacecraft! Not only did they do it, they maintained the life of that space station three times longer than intended. I had the fortune to be there for the 10th anniversary and a few proud office celebrations with chilled Zhelka... and they weren't done yet! Mir was not deorbited for another six years!

I strongly recommend Frank's letter, and especially the last paragraph and concluding lines!

Parent Site on Mir Space Station History - with even more moving thoughts!

Shuttle Commemorative Patch Winner

2010-02-17T12:15:00.002-06:00

The winning design for the Commemorative Shuttle Patch was announced today, along with the two runner-ups.

Complete story at CollectSpace

Despite the absolutely production readiness of the winning patch, I am slightly surprised a specific patch was picked. NASA Shuttle Program reserved the right to make modifications and I always expected them to take a few elements of the favorite designs and add something to the winning patch.

NASA's Bold New Era = One Giant Leap Backwards

2010-02-02T17:02:00.003-06:00

I have to ask myself why Bolden gets so choked up when talking about the passion, the safety of the crew, or the death in the family. If he is so excited about this bold new era Obama has blessed us with, why the tears? Does he not really believe in it? I hope so… having worked with him my jaw continually drops to the floor these last two days at response to some of things he has said.

So excited to find ways to get us out of low Earth orbit

Excuse me, isn’t that what Constellation was? Oh no, it wasn’t an idea… it was a plan! My bad…

Same ol’ Same ol’…

I find this particularly amusing that Obama would like us to spend the next ten years figuring out a way to get out of LEO. So many of the entries for the SSP Commemorative patch contest lamented on the fact that the shuttle KEPT us tied down in LEO.

Everywhere vs. Nowhere

“When you are going everywhere, you are going nowhere”. Okay… but we are NOT going everywhere - we are indeed going nowhere!

What Dreams Are Made Of

Bolden said this was so much better because we are not building programs from our dreams… huh? Is that NOT how we excite our supporters, how we interest students in math and science? The exact quote: “It’s different because, for one thing, the president has set out a budget that supports where we think we want to go. And we are building programs based on the budget that we have and not building programs based on a dream “. Did he listen to what he just said…??? How is that not settling?

Completely Drunk on the Kool-aid

The next thing I heard Bolden say was that with STS we were given a plan but no money. And now we have a plan and here is the money that you are going to have to do it….. what, how is that any different than what you just said??? The entire statement was absurd! Obama has supplied Charlie with an IV, I guess. Well I guess if you scale back to status quo, it doesn’t really cost that much – so you will certainly have enough money.

Hmmmm, I want to drive to Colorado but need a new car. So instead of figuring out how to budget the new car and maybe not spend wasted money on health care for the squirrels in my yard… I am told that I think I don’t really need to go to Colorado yet. So, I can just get a cheap car that can get back and forth to Houston and ultimately go nowhere I haven’t been. Yea, I can afford that!

Managing to pull through, Managing to recover

“We are going to get through this, kind of stick with us if you can”… If this is such an exciting, bold, new challenge – why are we recovering, pulling through, or sticking with you? Oh yea, not exciting enough… true!

Press Club Video from CSPAN

The Votes Are Tallied

2010-02-02T15:20:00.002-06:00

Voting concluded on Sunday for the SSP Commemorative Patch design contest. I have been comparing and contrasting the vote below in my blog for the last couple of weeks. Here is the last graph illustrating the differences between the collectSPACE fan poll and the internal NASA voting.

As for the changes since the last comparison, there was not much. The only significant delta was a 3% increase for patch 7 in the internal NASA voting - borrowed 1% a time from three separate patches.

I still find it interesting how the two top vote-getters were so strongly favored over the other entries and would love to run the fan poll with all 85 of the original entries. Especially with so many strong ideas excluded from the 15 finalists!

2dayNspace 2003Columbia Lost

2010-02-01T13:00:00.002-06:00

The crew of Columbia had a higher mission - one to teach us about ourselves. And they still teach us today in the wake of Obama's wish of NASA's new direction (or lack thereof...). The spirit of Rick Husband, William McCool, David Brown, Kalpana Chawla, Michael Anderson, Laurel Clark, and Ilan Ramon will always remain in our hearts and encourage us to explore into the unknown despite whatever setbacks we may encounter on the way!

My original tribute site can be seen here.
My experience in the Super Bowl XXVIII Pre-Game Show Tribute to Columbia.
Still very moving flash tribute.

2day N Space 1986Challenger Explosion

2010-01-28T11:40:00.001-06:00

Truly amazing that 24 years later these words can still send a chill up my spine - "Obviously a major malfunction... We have a report from the Flight Dynamics Officer that the vehicle has exploded". I was in college and had just been let out of historical geology early due to my instructor's laryngitis. Heading straight into the student center, I saw tons of people gathered in the the two lounges that had a tv. I assumed Reagan had declared WAR on Iran (or whoever was acting up in 1986). When I made it around the hall to next lounge I heard the words from Peter Jennings "... and this is when it happened." Or something like that... I stopped dead in my tracks, stunned. I think I watched that footage for hours at home before I finally had to turn it off. My desire to work at NASA never wavered. To this day a wall in my cube/office has all the shuttle stickers since I have worked at NASA. I came along between STS-29 and STS-30 but decided my wall should start with 51-L to always remind me of the bottom line and to keep the safety of "our friends in hight places" in mind! It also stands as a vigil of why we do what we do, slip the surly bonds of Earth and explore. It is in our nature to explore, it defines us, it makes us great! "we must never... stop exploring, stop hoping, or stop discovering. We must press on." -VP George H.W. Bush
Live NBC coverage video while it actually happened (holy cow...)
CBS breaking news video of Challenger disaster with Dan Rather
ABC coverage with Peter Jennings five hours after ( he is emotional and haggard)
NBC Nightly News from 1/28/86 - Tom Brokaw (still painful, but a powerful reminder)
ABC Challenger explosion news coverage (beware - includes some classroom reaction)

Outpost Update - Headed to a Court Near YOU!!!

2010-01-27T15:26:00.000-06:00

Apparently the land owner decided to lock out the owner of the Outpost January 15th by changing the locks. He claims he did it because he was concerned thousands of dollars of memorabilia had already been removed. Huh? He seems to think he owns The Outpost Tavern... and he wants to move it and re-open it. How could ANYONE other than the Foster family honestly think they own the contents that they have compiled over 30 years??? The land has nothing to do with the business or the building. I was very disappointed when I went in December and saw most of the memorabilia had already been removed for the fear of people grabbing souvenirs... Oh Thank God she did! Except.... the beloved swinging doors - the ones I had wanted to take my picture with in the last weeks - are presumably still in there. In fact, I was headed there today to have some crawfish! Walter Wright has stolen two weeks worth of farewells from those who loved the Outpost Tavern. Let me steal a line from Color Purple - Walter Wright, nothing you do will succeed until you do right by Stephanie Foster!

If anyone needs someone to break in and steal those doors from the grubby-handed, greedy Walter Wright, SIGN ME UP!!!

Outpost new url
Houston Chronicle article
New Outpost Store

2day N Space 1967Apollo 1 Fire

2010-01-27T10:02:00.000-06:00

I prefer to "celebrate" the space memorials individually instead of the cost-saving Day of Remembrance NASA has created. So today, let us reflect on the Apollo 1 crew. No new nuggets or amazing information with this entry - just a few links.

A nice video (unsure of publication date)
Some original TV footage
Launch Complex 34 site
Neat older photos of LC 34
The Plaque photo I used in my collage
Original patch artwork I used in my collage
Apollo 1 Memorial Foundation site

Some transcripts from the investigation, and conclusions
NASM Apollo 1 site
The debate regarding the Russian fire

SSP Commemorative Patch Voting Update

2010-01-25T17:27:00.000-06:00

In the last ten days there has been no real change in collectSPACE voting. Again, pretty much the same people voting over and over outweighs any new votes. As for the JSC vote however, patch 7 has gained some popularity without any significant sacrifice to the other finalists.

The first graph illustrates JSC vs collectSPACE voting on January 25th. You can compare this one with the two red and blue ones in the earlier post.

The second graph is a total picture of the voting so far. I added a key with the dates and identified each chart with the logo of the source voting. The collectSPACE voting is fairly close across the board with the exception of patch 4 and patch 10. What I find interesting is most of the select favorites are divided about the same (of course with exception to patch 3 which is the clear favorite.

As for the JSC voting on the second graph, there is more variation and the continued struggle between patch 3 and patch 7 is evident. Other than what seems to be more of a daily flux with the JSC site voters, patch 10 stands out as going in the opposite direction as the collectSPACE voters.

Shuttle Commemorative Patch Vote Update

2010-01-15T16:34:00.000-06:00

Looking at the current votes, there has been some minor shifts. I have made an excel spreadsheet to assess some of the differences.

The first graph illustrates the initial JSC (actually internal NASA - website is a JSC based site) voting with the current trend today. The biggest change is that some of the patch 3 votes went to patch 7. These have been the top two vote-getters across both sites and all dates hands down. Patch 8 seemed to lose some of its popularity while the exact opposite is true on collectSpace. Patch 10 lost half of its vote with patch 14 and patch 6 gaining 3 and 4%. The trend I can see there is an immediate wow-factor of patch 7 giving way to the traditional mission completeness of patch 3. Patch 10's waning could be due to the similarity to the STS-107 Columbia patch.

The second graph illustrates the same initial vs. current voting for the collectSpace Fan Poll. Interestingly enough, none of these percentages vary significantly. This leads me to believe the same select few are voting over and over.

The third graph illustrates JSC on-site voting vs. collectSpace fan poll on the initial voting day. Huge difference of opinion here! And quite unexpected that the overwhelming favorite was not the new, out-of-the-box artistic design of patch 7. In fact, patch 3 and its bottom line engineer mentality with the Mission Complete message was favored by the collectSPACE fans. The collectSPACE voters responded measurably better to patch 6 than JSC voters - it was created by one of collectSPACE's major contributors. The other significant difference was the favor of patch 14 on collectSPACE over those at JSC. This particular difference eventually levels out.

The fourth graph illustrates JSC voting vs. collectSpace fan poll on January 15th. The general trend is that everything is leveling out. But patch 3 has become the overwhelming favorite. Patch 10 favor jumped from JSC to collectSPACE - which I think is pretty interesting. Possibly some of the JSC voters fled to patch 14.

Notes on some of the artists and some additional cool submission ideas.

SSP Commerorative Patch Voting

2010-01-12T16:02:00.000-06:00

Voting on the internal NASA site and fan voting on Collect Space started yesterday. I just cast my votes and was surprised to see the current tally.... The first column is the internal JSC site voting and the second is the Collect Space fan voting - here it is:

	14 votes=2%	cS 5%
	15 votes=2%	cS 3%
	103 votes=15%	cS 25%
	86 votes=12%	cS 15%
	24 votes=3%	cS 2%
	28 votes=4%	cS 12%
	218 votes=31%	cS 9%
	45 votes=6%	cS 8%
	4 votes=1%	cS 1%
	71 votes=10%	cS 3%
	3 votes=0%	cS less than 1%
	17 votes=2%	cS 1%
	12 votes=2%	cS 3%
	29 votes=4%	cS 10%
	36 votes=5%	cS 2%

Designing An Uplifting End to the Shuttle Program

2009-12-22T12:16:00.001-06:00

Patch designs submitted by Space Center employees have been posted on the Collect Space website. I decided to critique them from a design aspect... a little emotional content is thrown in for good measure. Did your entry make my list of comments???

The below comments are without reading any of the artist's intent - just solely on graphical interpretation. In order of presentation on CollectSpace site, not preference...

Interesting overall design element. Read the words on this one... Earth shown because shuttle was bound by low earth orbit - did Wayne Hale design this one? ;)
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp04.html

Strong graphics
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp10.html

Dawn to Dusk interesting concept, although somewhat limiting to end the shuttle in darkness instead of the stepping stone low earth orbit really is. However, some may seem that fitting... (see bound to earth comments above)
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp15.html

Several very familiar patch elements (especially STS-8), looks like an old DOD patch minus a flag.
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp16.html

I would really, really like to meet the person that has this image of the shuttle program...
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp18.html

God bless those who are not so artistically gifted... I appreciate their desire!
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp20.html

Shuttle paths are cool - although I grow so tiresome of the Astronaut symbol on every damn patch. However, ISS orbit finishing the design does not really work with the earth below on teh patch.
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp23.html

Love the "reflecting" idea! Probably was most moved by this entry.
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp26.html

Good, clean design (and I have always loved that view of the orbiter).
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp29.html

Like the idea of the paths creating "feathers" - looks like a PHALCON designed it.
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp31.html

There are elements I really like about this one. But would want 1981-2010 type dates on there. Love the inclusion of a star for every flight.
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp35.html

Not sure what it is that intrigues me on this one... has merit!
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp36.html

Whoa... completely out of the box. Innovative, good design, not sure about the colors.
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp37.html

Interesting, like the shuttles being differentiated.
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp40.html

Clean - would def do something differentwith the numbers though.
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp41.html

Kind of sad, riding away - gonna be a rough goodbye!
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp42.html

Nice design, flat out! Add some dates.
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp44.html

Another shout-out to those less artisticly gifted but care enough about the shuttle to put their idea out there! (Of course, I had to read this description to understand why there was no image file.)
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp45.html

Very original! I feel like a shuttle timeliner cam eup with this idea....
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp47.html

Really, really nice. Think I would have to represent the earth graphically though. A consistent element with almost every patch from the shuttle era - the overall patch should represent the genral feel of all.
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp51.html

Clean graphics, appreciate the orbiter floating at an angle - maybe a little to simple and subtle for me though.
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp53.html

Calling this one out because it has Mir on it (probably my all-time favorite program to work on thus far). Might be nice in color - and I like the hand-lettered look, actually. Need to add a micro-gravity M if you keep the little nebula above Hubble.
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp54.html

Again, very symbolic of an ending. Pretty sure the Space shuttle has never been depicted this way on a patch.
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp55.html

I really like the white vs. orange ET - shows we learn as we go. And I like the steam plume at the bottom of the patch. Stars around Hubble and ISS need balancing. Interesting how many people used Hubble to symbolize all other not ISS.
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp57.html

Neat view, needs words and stars!
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp59.html

Lot of good elements here, except I can not tell what the two presumably science symbols are. And I like the differentiation between orbiters, a record of those lost.
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp60.html

Like the graphics and I like the EVA guy in there - HUGE part of the program to not overlook. Plus, that image of Bruce is iconic!
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp61.html

I am now realizing there have been many more images added to the gallery.....

Hmmm.... I like this. I particularly like the two orbiters at the bottom. Would be interesting to see in color.
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp62.html

Neat idea... but not a patch. Keep going!
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp67.html

I like this odd little job too. Even with the hypercycloids instead of stars!
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp68.html

Interesting... looks more like a Challenger Center logo though. Several of these are made by the same guy/gal.
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp74.html

Clean, in memorium look. Tears....
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp79.html

I realize this one is more of an STS-133 entry. We have NEVER had a square/rectangular shuttle flight patch. Had to look at # of stars significance. I would like to see a star for every mission in the border (or dividing the border from the patch as I have seen in some entries). Starting to wonder how American we CAN go with all the International participants that flew - but there should def be a dominance. The shuttle is our muscle, after all! ;)
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp80.html

More tears..... star trail # of missions is a neat idea.
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp81.html

This entrant must be from Arizona...
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp84.html

Service dates on the shuttles is an interesting thought. As long as we make the two lost gold... like the others I mentioned ;)
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp85.html

Just lots and lots of intriguing elements on this one!
http://www.collectspace.com/images/sscp/sscp86.html

End of an Era - Outpost is Closing

2009-12-11T14:43:00.000-06:00

Sad news finds me today. Just one week ago a decision was made to close the Outpost Tavern. They have really tried to stick it out... they really have! Unfortunately, they do not own the land on which this historic little place sits. And that land has a new owner. The inevitable is on the horizon. So instead of risking an ungraceful exit by a greedy land-owner, they have decided to write their own destiny with a Farewell Party (or three!) celebrating their thirty years (I think it's been around longer but maybe under a different name).

This place was my induction to NASA! Sort of our own special hazing ritual... of course the hazing results were far less than anything I experienced in college - especially on weeknight (since they close the doors at midnight and send you home because they KNOW you have to work in the morning)! In my twenty years in the space biz even I can look back at the Outpost and reminisce about "the old days." This place is a gem... a true bright star amongst the dreary and dull. The walls are covered with space history and even seem to talk themselves, telling those old stories.

And only at this storied bar can these not offend me... in fact, I even grope her when I leave! ;) I will shed many a tear for this place... but a lady always knows when to leave.

News about the Farwell Parties
A clickable map of just some of the history here!

2dayNspace 1969Apollo 11 Crew ReceivesPère Marquette Discovery Award

2009-11-08T10:31:00.001-06:00

The Père Marquette Discovery Award is Marquette University's highest honor. In the spirit of the discoveries of Père Jacques Marquette, the award honors those who achieve an extraordinary breakthrough that adds to human knowledge or the advancement of humanity.

On November 8 in 1969, the Apollo 11 crew was the first recipient of the University's highest honor.

Presented to Neil A. Armstrong, Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., and Michael Collins. "In perpetuating the memory of Father Marquette as one of history's greatest explorers and discoverers," President John P. Raynor, S.J., said, "it is most fitting that the first Père Marquette Discovery Medals be presented to the heroic crew of Apollo 11. Like Father Marquette, the Apollo 11 astronauts share in full measure the qualities which distinguish all great explorers — a questing spirit, uniqueness in deed, and a consuming dedication to the betterment of civilization."

From the SI Vault: "Apollo 11 astronauts are to be honored by Marquette Saturday when the university presents them with the school's first Père Marquette Discovery Award Medals—and three basketball warmup suits and jerseys. Marquette Captain Joe Thomas will give Buzz Aldrin, Mike Collins and Neil Armstrong jerseys bearing the No. 11. But the school will take them right back again, retire the number and hang the jerseys in the gymnasium. For the rest of the season Marquette basketball players will wear replicas of the Apollo 11 patch on their uniforms. As for the astronauts, they will wear those warmup suits, tailored from NASA's measurements and especially designed for jogging".

The basketball team wore Apollo 11 patch replicas on their warm-up suits for the 1970-71 season (which started a month after the award). There was also a sweet special uni set for their post season appearance in the NIT.

2dayNspaceThe Walt, Wally and Donn ShowOctober 13, 1968

2009-10-13T15:45:00.000-05:00

Apollo 7 used a specially designed camera to downlink the first live television from space. The Walt, Wally, and Don Show aired on this day in 1968.

As Walter Schirra explains, the broadcast received an Emmy. He also talks about his use of Actifed and Kimberly-Clark tissues to nurse their colds on-orbit. He later did a commercial for Actifed!

A video about the RCA camera here.

Note: Apollo 7 was also the first spaceflight to have hot coffee. Looks like someone missed out on the coffee commercial opportunity...

Apollo 7 - As it Happened video.
40th Anniversary flash feature - click the Apollo 7 patch.
Apollo 7 NASA page.
Apollo 7 NASA History page.

Third ALT of Space Shuttle Enterprise23 Sep 1977

2009-09-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

Flown by Haise and Fullerton, the five minute flight included an autopilot manoeuvre and was the last free flight with the tail cone attached.
Approach and Landing Tests (ALT) at Dryden all consisted of a ride atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (modified 747) - three captive and five free flights.
The last two free flights had simulated main engines and the OMS pods exposed for true aerodynamic man-in-the-loop testing.

Once the free flights were complete the ALT Program conducted four ferry flights.
Enterprise was readied by reinstalling the tailcone and lowering the cant of the orbiter on top the SCA from six degrees to three dgrees.

Now here is the cool part I bet you didn't know: Maybe I should wait and give you clues like Google did. Ha, mine would be better!
Did Space Shuttle Enterprise ever land at Marshall Spaceflight Center?

Of course not, there is no shuttle landing facility there. However, it was ferried to MSFC on March 13, 1978. It was mated to an External Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters for a year-long series of verticle ground vibration tests. Enterprise was ferried to KSC on April 10, 1979 when the fit checks were done with Launch Complex 39A. So... the pad fit checks came after the flight tests, interesting!

Note: All photos of a white external tank and a completely white Space Shuttle on the pad are of Enterprise. Only the first three flights had a white ET (realized we could save weight by not painting the tank). However, Columbia had black paint on her wings.

Awesome site with lots more cool facts about Enterprise

Photos of ALT-3
Really, really cool photo of Enterprise @ Verticle Ground Vibration Tests

Today in SpaceSTS-79 Launch

2009-09-16T11:42:00.000-05:00

Fourth Shuttle-Mir docking with first crew exchange done by the Space Shuttle. STS-79 delivered Phase One's Increment 3 John Blaha to replace Shannon Lucid.

Only shuttle to roll back twice due to hurricane threats (In this case, Bertha and Fran).

The patch is in the shape of the Space Shuttle's airlock hatch, symbolizing the gateway to international cooperation in space.
The EVA handshake between a US EVA suit and a Rusian Orlon suit represents teamwork - not only the crew members, but the teamwork of both countries' space personnel.

From the Shuttle Mir History site:
In his Oral History, astronaut William Readdy said: "There are things that you remember visually and things that you remember, I guess, kind of emotionally. I remember first looking out the overhead window when I saw the Mir during the rendezvous. I could just see it as the brightest star in the sky, and I remembered somebody, when I flew my first flight in January of '92 called me up to the flight deck and said that, 'Hey, in five minutes you're going to be able to see the Mir go by,' because we were in similar-type orbits. So I remember floating up to the flight deck, and I saw the Mir go by, and I guess never would I have thought, given the political situation back then, never would I have thought in a million years, that we'd be joining not only physically with the Shuttle-Mir, but also joined up in this International Space Station."

Shannon Lucid Video Tour of Mir
Hatch Opening video with Lucid waiting

Unexplained Google Doodle Phenomenon

2009-09-15T23:55:00.000-05:00

While this entry may not really fit here, this is the closest blog I have that I can file this topic – I have linked some of the sweet vintage space-themed arcade games so that it may fit a little better. If you don’t care about the current Goggle Doodle mystery, skip to the bottom and hit the vintage pinball and arcade game links.

First and foremost – the first Google Doodle and/or Zero Wing has nothing to do with H. G. Wells - hence, the third doodle on the 21st for a 143rd anniversary of H.G. Wells' birthday is unlikely. However, there are often birthday doodles for randomly numbered anniversaries.

I tried to rationalize what the missing letters meant (and there may still be more to that one). But it seems an obvious by-product of simply, the doodle design. Here’s why:

I asked myself, why the "L" in the second doodle - since they left a clue about the second "O" being critical in recognition of the logo and the file names utilize the missing letter. However, the second "O" is commonly dropped to render a doodle. And the missing “O” was conveniently used to create a clue on their Twitter page that once deciphered said “All your “O”s are belong to us”. Linking the first Google Doodle to the Zero Wing Arcade Game. But let’s explore the path anyway to make sure there is no connection between the missing letters... why the "L"? All the other letters are circular allowing a crop circle - that was easy! So they made the “L” a tractor making the crop circles (implying crop circles are not real - that alone kind of diminishes any theory of celebrating outer space theme of its own). However, it does support a sci-fi theme (which may hurt my overall theory later in this blog). Crop circles are just a way to imply England (with the coordinates clue pointing directly to H.G. Wells' home where he wrote War of the Worlds). Again, no major anniversary of War of the Worlds on this date. As for the coordinates reportedly (I don’t know – I don’t have Google Mars installed) pointing to a similar upside down Google crater formation – I think just a red herring.

So – Akeem’s Theory comes into play. When all things seem the same, it is the most obvious answer. A missing O and a missing L are just a product of Doodle Design!

Turns out September 15th is the anniversary of the first black & white release of War of the Worlds Arcade Game. I admit the War of the Worlds Arcade Game is quite random - no big internet craze like with Zero Wing and the funny Janglish interpretation. But the date is key here. So we have two Arcade Games.

You must look at the link between the three events (Sept 5th, 15th, and ???). So far both are major anniversaries of Arcade Games. But what else do these two have in common? UFOs are certainly a feature of War of the Worlds, but I am not sure Zero Wing can really fall into that category - or is the common UFO just part of relating the Google Doodles? What started this after all? An untagged Google Doodle… that linked to “Unexplained Phenomenon”. It was unexplained why the Doodle had been deployed - simply the football tee used to kick off this whole mystery? Crop Circles are indeed unexplained phenomenon – another link between the Doodles. So there might not be a need to link Unexplained Phenomenon to Zero Wing. That being said, we have space and sci-fi.

So that is where I started… looking for the next game that would be the third Google Doodle. These anniversaries are Arcade Games, NOT video games. 20th, 30th… so what came out in 1969. Crap, there were no “Arcade Games” as we know them. So… maybe a pinball machine? A natural direction for me to take since I know a bit about space-themed pinball machines. I look in my online pinball databases. Hmmm… space related ones certainly came out in 1969. But most (especially ones that feature sci-fi/UFO artwork) either are different dates or do not have an exact day associated with them – often we only have a month and year. But there was this one… and there are no pictures, so I have no idea what the graphics theme might be other than the obvious implied ones – Apollo Ball by Bally. Now this was actually some kind of Bingo Machine – looks like a pinball machine, but different play and was often a gambling device before conversions were forced. The thing is, this game was released on September 25th, 1969. And THAT is my sole fact building this theory. The game does have some special uniqueness in that it was a six-card game that utilized “Mystery Intervals” (basically coin insertion resulted in different play each time). That is rather intriguing since we would now have a 20th on the 5th, a 30th on the 15th, and presumably a 40th on the 25th – all ten days apart.

What other commonality could be there? Is there any uniqueness about these two games? Someone has suggested solid state vector graphics of War of the Worlds. But what does Zero Wing offer in that category?

• The first two arcade games are very sci-fi (which supports the common UFO in both Google Doodles – along with the Tractor making the crop circles).
• Both relate to shooting things – where could that go? So many were.
• And both are an attempt to save the world. Hmmm..... that is a pretty big connection and would omit anything manned spaceflight related.

There are indeed, as I have found, in my searching many extremely cool space-themed Arcade Games of that time (and some alien shoot-em-up ones like Invaders). None of which I was able to associate a specific September date with (a complete list below). Except there are two pretty nifty ones that could be additional candidates because I have no month or day associated with their releases.

Space Flight - ?/69
A very cool lunar landing game that used an 8-track in it for sound. There is an awesome video of the game’s operation from a guy who restored one replacing the 8-track with Solid State sound. No sci-fi there though… unless you are a moon-hoax supporter! And if you are, check out Mythbusters – the hoax theory was busted.

Apollo Moon Shot Rifle - ?/69
Which totally ties in the shooting aspect of the puzzle.

There is also a pinball released in 1969 (no exact date) called Suspense - not space related… but Google has kept us in suspense!

So if it just the anniversary of a few Arcade Games, there is still one thing that bothers me… why?

Google Doodles began as scientific natured fun. But obscure arcade games? I can completely imagine a circle of laptop techies sitting in bean-bags with a Google Doodle brainstorm session on-going and see the whole thought process. There is a linkage – one was doing research for the Apollo 40th Google Doodle and found this obscure Apollo arcade game which also celebrates a 40th this year. Another remembers (due to its popularity) that Zero Wing has a big anniversary. And then you connect the dots, split the difference and go look for a 30th anniversary and find a perfect example, lending itself to clues, confusion by the public, and easy artwork. Great Puzzle, no?

But again, why? What is the bigger picture?

Why anniversaries ten days apart? As I said above – coincidence and splitting the difference? The Mysterious Intervals aspect of that bingo machine is quite coincidental… is it enough? Obscure arcade games don’t seem to be in the Google Doodle playground.

UPDATE: Just found out the “All your base are belong to us” was not in the arcade game – only the Sega Genesis/Megadrive version. Not sure if that is case-breaker or not…

Pinballs:
Astronaut - 6/69
Cosmos (converted) -?/69
Cosmos (Bally) - 7/68
MoonShot - 8/69

Nifty Space-related Arcade Games:
Apollo 14 - ?/72
Apollo Moon Shot - 1/69
Lunar Rescue - ?/73
Missle - 6/69
Moon Rocket - ?/?
Radar Rocket - 40s
S.A.M.I. - 6/70
Space Ace - 10/83
Space Glider - 11/60
Space Gun - 5/64
Space Gunner - 5/58
Space Invade - 50s
Space Pilot - 11/68
Star Rocket - 50s

This Day in SpaceSTS-8 Landing

2009-09-05T12:12:00.000-05:00

September 5, 1983 - STS-8 was the first night landing of the space shuutle. Coincidentally, it was also the first night launch.

The crew patch shows a night launch. The crew also had an unofficial patch which illustrated the night launch/landing aspect of the mission.

STS-8 Press Kit

Today in Space1965 Gemini V Launch

2009-08-21T08:30:00.000-05:00

The most memorable aspect to this mission was, sadly, the mission patch - despite it was the longest flight at that time. It was the first flight to actually have a specific mission patch - noted as a missing item by the crew. All military missions always had patches. Since spacecraft naming was vetoed (had wanted to name it Lady Bird after Lady Bird Johnson), they decided to design a patch. With the pioneering nature of their flight (longest attempted), they went for a covered wagon and stuck "8 Days or Bust" on it. Which was met with great displeasure with the head of NASA and they flew with the "8 Days or Bust" covered up on the patch (they had already had hundreds made prior to the censorship). They were told once the mission succeeded, they could reveal the slogan. Despite Webb's efforts to depersonalize the space program (naming of Gus's GT-3 spacecraft as Molly Brown), the desire of the astronauts for mission identity won out... sort of, and Webb wrote a memo which established guidelines for crew insignias now called "Cooper patches."

The original NASA photo (S66-59530 actually taken in 1966) clearly shows the patch with a canvas cover on it. However, the flight patches on their suits have different lettering for their names. And postflight photos show no 8 Days or Bust. So, not sure how they could have uncovered it as stated by Cooper's ghost writer in "Leap of Faith." Photos after the flight (inspection of recovered capsule) of them in their jumpsuits show no patches either. That custom was adopted later (maybe only by the shuttle guys).

The NASA websites all use different patches/illustrations - many still show no 8 Days or Bust. Presumably because "8 Days or Bust" never really flew on their spacesuit. The original photo above of an obvious original patch with the words covered up supports this since it was taken in 1966.

I might add, there were Robbins type medallions flown and they included the words "8 Days or Bust."

Original Patch per Cooper's autograph!
Patch history and details.

Neat Project Gemini Diagrams!

Today In spaceBelka & strelka Land Safely1960

2009-08-20T11:57:00.000-05:00

August 20, 1960 - Belka & Strelka became the first living creatures to return from an orbital flight aboard Sputnik 5! They made 17 orbits. Belka apparently was the first case of space sickness... evidenced I presume by the video cameras they had trained on the two pups.

During a summit dinner a year later Kruschev was bragging about the flight of his space dogs and told Jaqueline Kennedy of Strelka's recent litter. Jokingly, she asked if he could send her one. Imagine her surprise when a Soviet ambassador brought one to the White House two months later!

They are now stuffed and on display in the Cosmonaut Memorial Museum.

Website about Kennedy's pupnik.

Today in SpaceSvetlana Savitskayasecond woman in space

2009-08-19T11:02:00.000-05:00

August 19, 1982 - Svetlana Savitskaya launches aboard Soyuz T-7 headed for Salyut 7. She would go back to Salyut 7 and become the first woman to do an EVA (July 24, 1984).

On the anniversary of her historic EVA, Svetlana talked about how she changed sex discrimination by flying on soyuz T-7.

Well, not exactly.... there were quite a few comments and jokes made about cleaning getting done aboard Mir when Shannon Lucid was on her way to the Russian space station. In fact, there are not even any female cosomonauts at this very moment... but soon will be?

She also uses the opportunity to take a swing at Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper who lost a tool bag on an EVA.

About the first female EVA.

Savitskaya was slated to command an all female Soyuz crew to the space station in commeration of National Women's Day - but due to lack of available Soyuz vehicles, it was cancelled.

Today in Space 1971First Lunar Rover Driven on Moon

2009-07-31T12:21:00.000-05:00

July 31, 1971 - First Lunar Rover (LRV-1) driven on the moon by Scott & Irwin. First EVA started at 8:13 CDT and began with the collection of the contingency sample (last flight they did this) and then deployment of the Lunar Rover. Details below on its deployment - very cool video and graphics! Activities included a 10.3-kilometer geological traverse and the deployment of lunar surface experiments. Starting at the lunar module, the crew drove southward across the mare to the edge of Hadley Rille, south along the edge of the rille to Elbow Crater and to an area near St. George Crater. The return route was past Elbow Crater and directly across the mare to the lunar module. The EVA lasted approximately 6 hours, 33 minutes, ending at 3:46 p.m. LRV-1 total distance for three EVAs 27.9 km - 3 hours, 2 minutes of drive time. Very cool Traverse Map!

Cool animation of how the rover gets deployed.
Actual video of the same thing.

Amazing Lunar Surface Journal online!
The Lunar Rover Handbook
Lunar Rover image with definitions.
Another neat image with itemizations.
Air & space Museum description page on the Lunar Rover where those drawings came from.

Excellent source for Apollo 15 Extravehicular Activities.
Cool Air & Space Museum Site on Apollo 15.
Good site about Lunar Rovers.

Today in Space51-F Launch 1985

2009-07-29T12:20:00.000-05:00

19th shuttle flight loaded with astronomy and solar physics experiments. Dr. Henize was a astrophysicist scientist-astronaut and explained during an astronomy lecture I attended that he designed the stars on the patch to be in the position they would be at launch time (in relation to the sun).

He joined NASA in 1967 and waited 18 years for his first flight because his flight Skylab 6 was cancelled. At the time, he held the record for the oldest man in space (later overtaken by Vance Brand, Story, and then of course John Glenn). He still holds the record for oldest rookie in space. STS-51F flew Coke and Pepsi (with modified cans as the Carbonated Beverage Dispenser Evaluation (CBDE) payload) which was deemed a failure, but not entirely due to zero-g... the non refrigerated pop never had a chance.

Dr. Henize was an explorer and oddly enough (with all the Everest books I have been recently reading in the wake of Scott's Summit), he succumbed to HAPE climbing the north face of Mt. Everest in 1993 (in October) days before his 67th birthday. He was buried at 22,000 feet (Advanced Base Camp). Scott Parazynski carried with him to the summit of Everest in May a 51-F patch in honor of Karl Henize.

JSC Press Release on Henize's Death

Today in Space 1973Skylab 3 Launches

2009-07-28T11:45:00.000-05:00

Second manned Skylab mission launches (the first mission to deliver the Skylab is considered Skylab 1 so the numbering on the patches refers to the Skylab Expeditions).

The Skylab II patch had a sister patch for the wives (probably one of the most famous alternate patches - as they were seen wearing their patch during the mission). The female version of the patch was done as a joke for the crew who did not see it until they reached orbit.

I tend to avoid much of the news around the "spaceflight participants". And I must confess I had no idea Richard Garriott was the son of Skylab's Owen Garriott. Of course now that I look at him, he is the spitting image of Owen!

When Richard Garriott flew to the ISS as a spaceflight participant, he designed his own patch from the elements of his father's Skylab II patch because some of the elements of their missions were similar.

The original artist of the wives patch had the idea of a wives'/lady friend patch for the ISS mission after she saw a photo of Garriott wearing the Skylab II wives' patch on his Soyuz suit during his training. She suggested the patch to a friend in the space patch business (who contacted another artist) and they designed a patch.

Skylab II patch History.

Richard Garriott's story on the patches including the similarity of him and Sergei Volkov being the first second generation American and Russian to fly in space.

The ISS wives/lady friends patch story.

Lots of controversy around what happened to patch after its design!

Today in SpaceLaunch and Loss of Liberty Bell 7

2009-07-21T16:03:00.000-05:00

In 1961 Gus Grissom's sub-orbital MR-4 flight ended with the loss of the capsule as it became too heavy during retrieval while taking on water due to the blown hatch. It remained on the bottom of the ocean for 38 years until July 20th, 1999 (thought there was enough Today in Space for yesterday...). Liberty Bell 7 was recovered by Curt Newport (undersea salvager who worked on Challenger and Titanic recoveries) as a part of a Discovery series called Liberating the Liberty Bell.

The Discovery websites have been deleted - rather unfortunate because there were daily logs of the recovery process. I remember following it live - they found it, lost the undersea robot, then lost the capsule when getting a new robot (or retrieving it - don't remember) to the site, found the capsule again - and I was so excited when they finally succeeded at recovering it from three miles below. The Kansas Cosmosphere restored it, and made the recovery a travelling exhibit. It was hoped that the recovery would provide evidence of the source of the blown hatch - however, no conclusive findings were realized. The exhibit is currently at the Cosmosphere.

Lost Spacecraft Travelling Exhibition
Some images of recovery effort.
Some video of recovery.
Neat video with Liberty Bell 7 Recovery items with Chris Orwell from the Cosmosphere.
Recovery article from Underwater.com
CNN article on Recovery.
Space.com article - Gus didn't do it.

Today in spaceLunar LandingOne Small Step, One Giant Leap

2009-07-20T15:22:00.000-05:00

On this day I am saddened by the absence of Walter Cronkite. Was hoping there would be some kind of live replay of his coverage on that fateful night. I would just love to pretend it was happening at that moment while sitting in front of my HD... suppose it still wouldn't be live though, since I am headed to the Astros game and will be there when we "actually walk on the moon." I was able to synch up the CBS coverage with Cronkite from Youtube and the live NASA audio rebroadcast - pretty special way to watch the landing!

I find it fitting that Cronkite died gracefully a few days before so we could celebrate him along with Apollo 11.

Wally, say something I am speechless... CBS video as it happened here.

Walter Cronkite Moon Landing reflection here.

On a lighter note... Google decided to wait until landing to splash the Apollo 11 Moon Landing logo. Well played. And an extremely nice logo at that!

Mythbusters bust Moon Hoax tonight on Discovery Channel - a peek is here.

Today in Space 1975Apollo Soyuz Docking

2009-07-17T13:06:00.000-05:00

This was the single most important event paving the way to the International Space Station. The collaboration that began with the design of the Docking Adapter for Apollo Soyuz eventually allowed my involvement in the NASA-Mir Program. I worked alongside the Russians in the very same room that was used for the Apollo Soyuz mission. I did this for three years - on a continuous rotation of five weeks there in Moscow and five weeks home. Provided me with 11 passport stamps (or 22 if you count my returns), my voice transmitted over air-to-ground to the Mir Space Station, and loads of opportunity to see some pretty special space hardware, including Yuri Gagarin's space capsule and Tereshkova's as well! Both of which we were allowed to touch!

We have seen much of Alexi Leonov's artwork over the years. However, it wasn't after his career he started painting... This little nugget of the US crew ready to lasso the Soyuz was actually rendered by Leonov during mission preparation.

Well, we didn't need the lasso, but we made history that day with the first International handshake. And at the time, it was the most people together in space at one time. Along the same lines, we have already tied the record of most people in space at one time with the STS-127 launch (six on ISS and 7 on the shuttle). The other time we had 13 people in space at one time was in 1995 with 6 aboard Mir (TM-20 and TM-21) and 7 on STS-67 which was not a Mir docking mission. Also in 1995 we achieved 10 people on one vehicle with the STS-71 docking at Mir (TM-21 Mir 18 onboard Mir). But later today we will break that record with the hatch opening ceremony aboard the ISS. It will be the first time 13 people have been on one vehicle!

Quite a busy day in space, huh?

This Day in SpaceApollo 11 Anniversary Overload

2009-07-16T15:23:00.000-05:00

You would have to live under a technological rock to not know that 40 years ago today Apollo 11 launched. In fact, between live Tour de France video feed, Apollo 11 audio rebroadcast, live NASA TV with a press conference for Apollo video restoration and mission coverage, and the many emails on Apollo goodies I experienced my very own personal whale fail early this morning! Had to step off... Quite overwhelming - but here is my top list:

Events next week (crap do we have to do this all over again on Monday...???):
July 20th - NASA night at Astros game w/ Astro singing National Anthem and xxx throwing out the first pitch.
July 24th - Splashdown Party at Space Center Houston

Ridiculously thorough list of events is here.

Live Rebroadcast:
NASA site
WeChooseTheMoon

Good supporting site that shows flight events here.

Awesome vintage Mission Sequence graphic here.

Goodies:
Restored HD mission video here.
Never before on the internet on-board audio when the mikes were off here.

Michael Collins Shines a Tiny Spotlight Back on Himself

2009-07-15T18:09:00.000-05:00

When asked how he spends his time, he answers:

Running, biking, swimming, fishing, painting, cooking, reading, worrying about the stock market, searching for a really good bottle of cabernet under ten dollars. Moderately busy.

Awesome! Because a really good Cabernet under $10 is one of the secrets to enjoying life... Well, under $25 anyway! Wish he had a Twitter feed - I have a hell of a list for him!

Neat answers to his most asked questions - although, some dispelling lifetime beliefs I have had regarding him and his mental state. I remember long ago I heard his daughter (on one of the soaps) tell about he never even talked about the moon to them. I just assumed he wigged out being in a spacecraft all alone knowing that he would have to leave his crewmates on the moon if things went wrong. Apparently, this is not true and he really just does not like the spotlight. He also has lots of insight... but is saving it for the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11! Cute...

Press release here with his questions answered.

Today in Space 1975

2009-07-15T12:32:00.000-05:00

Apollo Soyuz launches. The first International Mission carries on-board some neat swag and one Super Florida mosquito!

List of items carried can be seen at CollectSpace. The soyuz launched first with Leonov and Kubasov. After Slayton, Stafford, and Brand launched aboard their Apollo, Slayton was noted to say, "Man, I tell you, this is worth waiting 16 years for". Finally being cleared for flight after being grounded through the Mercury and Gemini programs with a heart condition, Deke was in space and became the oldest man in space at 51 (of course the record later fell when Glenn flew on STS-95 at the age of 77 on Space Shuttle Discovery).

During the extraction of the Docking Module and numerous maneuvers for rendezvous, Brand asked Capcom Truly to tell the launch crew at the Cape that they had permitted a stowaway to board the spacecraft. "We found a super Florida mosquito flying around here a few minutes ago." Slayton said that he planned to feed it to the fish that they were carrying onboard if he could catch it, and Brand wanted to bring it back and give it astronaut wings. But after flying about for several hours, the mosquito was never seen again. Apparently, it died in the reduced pressure pure oxygen of the CSM. Full day's events here.

Awesome Timing ofSTS-119's Sonic Boom

2009-06-26T12:15:00.000-05:00

Well, I guess it would have been more perfect had it been after Tiger's tee shot... After Vaughn Taylor's tee shot at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando there are two sonic booms from the space shuttle landing sixty miles east. Someone in the crowd can be heard saying "Wow, nice shot Vaughn!" I don't think Tiger is confused as the announcer suggests (he has a house in Florida and if I can hear the booms at my house in Houston some times, I am sure he has heard them before). He is just standing there looking at Vaughn awestruck by the timing and it stole a bit of his thunder. Classic! I wish Dad was around to see this video - he would have really appreciated it!

Today in Space - 1997

2009-06-25T17:05:00.001-05:00

During a docking test, the Progress cargo ship collides with Spektr Module on Mir Space Station!

The collision caused depressurization of the Spektr Module - which was where Foale's living quarters and toothbrush were, not to mention a whole lot of our science experiments. Two things you never want to happen to you in space: a hissing sound and your ears pop! After Foale retreated to the Soyuz per protocol, they realized depressurization of the station was not imminent and they were able to sever the cables leading to the module and close the hatch connecting it with the rest of the station. However, those cable had live power - so they were cutting away with sparks flying. This later changed our philosophy with "drag-through" cables through the Mir hatches.

I was in Russia and working the A-B-B-A shift when Linenger dealt with the SFOG (Oxygen Candle) fire earlier in the year. We come in for our B shift at the TsUP and our A shift tells us there was a fire onboard - and you just look at them and know they must kidding... But I was stateside on my five week off rotation when the Spektr collision happened. I remember checking NASA TV first thing in the morning and just being stunned.... it was the first af a handful of critical incidents we ended up experiencing on the Shuttle Mir Program.

They later did an internal EVA to retrieve a few of Foale's items and install a a hatch plate which allowed airtight passage for power cables needed to regain some of the power from Spektr's solar arrays. Many attempts were made to find and repair the leak in the pressure shell.

The Russian Mir-23 crewmembers Tsiblyev and Lazutkin had been plagued by bad luck their whole mission. The fire from the oxygen candle occurred during NASA 4 when Linenger was onboard and their Soyuz braking rockets failed during landing. In fact, Tsiblyez had been warned by an astologer of the impending bad fortune. Tsiblyev was made a scapegoat with poor health accusations (which were all probably brought on by the leaking antifreeze and stress from all the problems on their increment) and never flew again. Neither did Lazutkin.

Videos with downlink from Michael Foale:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNKmErhW0TI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrFK6DTtSPU&feature=related

Shuttle Mir History website:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/history/shuttle-mir/history/h-f-foale-collision.htm

Newstory upon landing:
http://216.116.225.82/stories/1997/09/03/tec_214107.shtml