Giving it another shot

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So I’m going to give it another shot this year.  Endeavour is already on the launch pad as the emergency rescue shuttle for the Hubble Servicing Mission (STS-125).  The chance of delays should be minimized since it had to be ready to go in the event of damage to Atlantis during it’s mission.  The launch is currently scheduled for June 13.

I’m going back to Plan A, which is a road trip allowing me more flexibility in the event of delays.  I’m planning to take two or two and a half days to get to KSC.  Given enough time, I’ll try to swing through Great Smoky Mountain NP and Stone Mountain, GA.  If everything goes according to plan, after the launch I’ll head up the coast and spend a few days in D.C.  I’m thinking I’ll spend a day seeing the monuments and then a couple days at the Smithsonian before heading for home.

We’ll see how it goes…

Oh No!

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DSC_0022

So I made it to Florida last night anxiously awaiting the launch of STS-119.  I got to Kennedy Space Center around 11 in the morning, not too early since the launch was scheduled for 9:20.  I toured part of the visitor center, then had lunch with an astronaut (John Creighton) along with a couple hundred other people.  Then went to the ApolloSaturn exhibit where I snapped the picture of Discovery on the launchpad above.  It’s really there, just from the angle its mostly hidden by the gantry structure.  Leaving the Apollo exhibit I overheard some people talking about a scrub and then sure enough the bus driver confirmed.  At that time they were looking at a possible launch tomorrow night.

However…

The fuel leak they discovered has now pushed the launch back to Sunday night at the earliest, but listening to the launch managers it sounds more like Monday, maybe…  It’s even possible that it could be delayed until April.  That would actually be best for me, since I can’t stay for even a Sunday launch – work responsibilities call – a delay until April might let me still make it back here for this mission.

We shall see…

STS-119 is a GO! again…

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After lots of delay involving  damaged flow control valves STS-119 was finally given a GO on Friday.  I’ve got my trip re-booked and am ready to go.  I’m heading down to Orlando on Tuesday afternoon.  The launch is slated for 9:20 Wednesday night.  I’m spending the rest of the week in Florida and will be back home on Sunday afternoon.

STS-119 delayed

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So, due to some maintenance issues, the launch has been delayed until February 22nd at the earliest.  However, the new launch date won’t be set until February 18, so I just have to sit tight for now.  I cancelled all my reservations this morning…

STS-119 is a GO!

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ToTheLaunchPad

On Friday, January 9, STS-119 was given a green light for it’s scheduled launch on February 12.  Tickets for launch viewing at Kennedy Space Center went on sale Monday morning at 8 a.m.

I logged on at 8 a.m. and missed my chance to get just a viewing ticket.  Instead I had to purchase the additional Lunch with an Astronaut package.  Not a bad deal.  The launch is scheduled for 7:30 a.m., so “lunch” is at 12:30 a.m. – there’s a second at 3:30 a.m..  At some point in the dark of the morning, I board a bus to the closest viewing area to the launch – just 6 miles from the launch pad with an unobstructed view!!!  I can’t wait…

Point Reyes National Seashore

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Well, I’m back in the Bay area this week to wrap up some stuff.  I came out on a Sunday again in order to take in some more sights.  This time I decided to visit Point Reyes National Seashore.  The route there took me past Muir Woods so I got to drive the twisty Hwy 1 drive – lots of fun.  Oh, and my rental car this week is a Beetle convertible!

I stopped at the Muir Beach scenic overlook but it was still really foggy so there wasn’t too much to see.  Then it was up into the seashore.  I stopped at the visitor center first and took a quick stroll through the “earthquake trail”.  The San Andreas fault runs through this area and there is a fence that was broken during the 1906 earthquake – the two sections are separated by about 16 feet – which is how far the fault slipped.

From there I drove out to the lighthouse and made the walk up to the visitor center.  From there it is 300 some steps down to the lighthouse on the other side of the point.  Then back up again.  It was incredibly windy and still foggy.  Once down at the lighhouse it clears up for some great views of the coast.

Muir Woods

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Well, I’m in San Jose this week for work.  I flew out on Sunday morning in order to visit Muir Woods National Monument which is a short drive north of San Francisco.  I arrived around noon, grabbed some lunch and then found the Muir Woods shuttle bus.  The park has very limited parking and with its proximity to the Bay Area it fills up early, so the shuttle is perfect, and for 3 bucks round-trip you can’t beat it.  The shuttle takes a slightly different route than cars as the car road is apparently a bit too twisty.  Even so, the route the shuttle takes is like a roller coaster!  The bus route gives you a glimpse of the ocean (Muir Beach) and then it’s up into the woods.

The monument is actually located in the center of a California State Park and it offers an easy 2 mile loop hike along a stream through the woods and access to numerous other trails.  I visited on a beautiful Sunday afternoon so there were lots of people.  It’s quite a magnificent place to take a stroll with all of the enourmous trees.  There was a pair of deer enjoying the day as well.

Definitely worth the visit!

Bon Voyage

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7-22-07

So after spending Saturday in Boston, we decided to drive down the coast to have a nice lobstah dinner.  We stopped in Plymouth to have a look around and it turned out to be the 50th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower II.  To celebrate, they were taking her out for a sail down the coast.  When we arrived she was moored at the usual place.  We walked around a bit and then watched her be tugged out to sea.  Unfortunately, they had to take her out a ways so we didn’t get to see the sails unfurled.  Still pretty cool though.

Here’s a link to the website:  http://www.plimoth.org/features/mayflower-2/journey/

From there we drove on down to New Bedford where I’ve spent a bit of time and now a little place to get a great lobster dinner.  Yum!  Then it was back on the road to Pittsfield.

It’s Monday evening and I’m writing this even though my server’s down and I won’t be able to post until I get home to reboot.  Oh well, I’ll be home Wednesday afternoon which is a day earlier than planned so I won’t complain.

Mayflower II

Mayflower II

Boston

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7-21-07

Well, I was in Massachusetts over the weekend with a colleague from Germany.  We’re working in Pittsfield, which is in western Mass. in the Berkshires.  It’s a nice area, but figured Boston would be better suited for the weekend.

We walked the freedom trail on Saturday and it was a beautiful day for it.  The weather was in the 70s with a few passing clouds – perfect!  Below is a picture of the Bunker Hill Monument.  /Warning, some generic history content:  the Battle of Bunker Hill was actually fought on Breed’s Hill.  /end of history content.

294 steps to the top - not pleasant on a warm busy day - can you say sweat?

Bunker Hill Monument