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Posts Tagged ‘atlantis’

  1. Mission: Accomplished

    May 16, 2010 by Kelly

    It’s Sunday, May 16, which means Atlantis embarked on it’s ‘last’ flight two days ago. I was there to share the experience with 149 other Twitter users that had the amazing opportunity to be there first hand to witness such an awesome thing.

    However, we weren’t just there for the launch. We got a VIP tour of the entire NASA complex.. as they said, everything they could have shown us, they did.

    Also, any guest speakers they could brought in to talk to us, they did. Seriously.. a Close Out Crew member! One that had JUST help get the astronauts of Atlantis get situated and ready for flight. We watched him be apart of the crew on NASA tv and then about an hour later, he was in our tent telling us all about it: his final words to the astronauts before closing the hatch (“God Speed.”) and that it’s not always fun, as he was part of the crew that get Columbia ready for flight.. right before that horrible launch.

    We got to spend a lot of time hanging around the countdown clock and Launch Pad. (I’m sorry for whatever you were doing on Thursday and Friday!)

    Thursday’s speakers:

    Bobby Braun – NASA Chief Technologist
    Janice Voss – Astronaut
    Stephanie Stilson – Orbiter Processing Director
    Jon Cowart, NASA engineer
    Ron Woods – NASA spacesuit designer

    Thursday included a full VIP tour, with the added bonus of going to Launch Pad 39-A. Being there while the RSS – Rotating Service Structure – pulled away from Atlantis. What a freaking experience. Amazing!

    Friday’s speakers:

    Lori Garver, NASA Deputy Administrator
    Lt. Col. Patrick Barrett, Weather Officer
    Dave Wolf, Astronaut
    Chris Meinert, Closeout crew (for STS-132, how crazy!!)
    Madi Sengupta, Robotics Instructor (for STS-132..see totally mind blowing)
    Bobby Braun, Chief Technologist, came back for more questions

    The speakers came randomly throughout the day. Then everyone went out by the road to wave the Atlantis STS-132 crew off!! What a great experience!

    Once 2:10 came around we all went out to get our spots for the launch.. what an amazing view we ALL had. Felt the Earth shake. Got yelled at by a gator (honestly, it was SUPER loud and scary.)

    I have posted the rest of the pictures on flickr, so go and enjoy them! See NASA up close!

    Day one pictures Day two pictures

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  2. Mission: Still in Progress

    May 14, 2010 by Kelly

    Currently listening to Lori Garver, Deputy Administrator, talk about her job and the her two loves, Space and Politics. Gave us the information that David Letterman is here on property for the launch – he’s not Conan, but thankfully he’s not Leno as well!

    Before Garver came in to speak for a few minutes, we took our group photo out by the countdown clock! :)

    STS-132 Launch Tweetup (201005140001HQ)

    Here’s the photo next to the launch pad 39-A last night: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/4605256176/sizes/l/

    I was there… see! :)

    Today doesn’t have quite the same structure on speakers today.. we just got the chance to wave the astronauts off in the Astrovan. We are some of the last people that they will see! How crazy is that. My mind has been blown.

    Chief Meteorologist Lt. Col. Patrick Barrett is telling us about why the shuttle may NOT go off: low clouds, lightening, etc. Atlantis needs to be able to return to the pad if need be and the weather has to be clear.

    I can’t wait to get some of my pictures up today and tomorrow. There is over 14 gigs of pictures and videos to go through, so bear with me. I want to get them up soon so I can share them.

    Here is a photo for the RSS pulling away from Atlantis yesterday to hold you and me over.

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