SpaceX’s Dragon Launch 3:44AM EDT
Yes - we got up at 2:30AM to watch SpaceX's Dragon launch across the early morning sky. There really isn't much I could say about it - I am as speechless now as I was when I saw Atlantis launch two years ago. If there was a way to share this experience with more people there would be a huge priority shift from dropping bombs on sand castles to exploring what lies beyond Earth's atmosphere. The sights, sounds and feelings that come with watching a launch are hard to explain. So posting at 4:30AM? The explanation isn't going to make a ...
Kennedy Space Center
Almost two years ago a few friends in Raleigh rented an RV and headed South on a trip to see one of the last shuttle launches (STS-132). I know - I probably talk about it all the time. If the first trip was "To Infinity and Beyond" this one is Infinity behind the scenes. At the close of the shuttle program the Vehicle Assembly Building is open for tours for the first time in almost three decades. Currently the building is open because there is no vehicle to assemble. It it not only one of the largest buildings in the world ...
Brewgaloo
Or Veni, Vidi, Setit Linea. In the words of Julius Caesar I came, I saw, I stood in line. Et tu, Brute? Nope. This event went from - I bought tickets for what??? to nearly epic in a fairly short span of time. I'm not sure how that happens but for us the letters V-I-P are usually involved. And yes - a couple of us were speaking Latin by the end of the night. What went on exactly? This voicemail might make things a little clearer... We also popped into an Indian wedding. Almost had a kitchen tour. Saw someone get kicked out ...
Christ of the Abyss – Key Largo, FL
So today's diving included getting to use my new Canon PowerShot SX230HS with the Waterproof Case on the second dive of the day. Fortunately for all of us we went to the famous Christ of the Abyss in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. There isn't a lot I can say about the underwater statue except he didn't have a golf cart and I don't think a 8 foot tall statue would be underwater in the New River. Sorry Golf Cart Jesus - I get the feeling this isn't happening for you. The original Christ of the Abyss is a submerged ...
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let me play among the stars.” The moon might be a little bit of a reach but you can play among the stars. Just upload your picture here and let NASA take care of the rest.
NASA wants to put a picture of you on the final space shuttle mission and launch it into orbit. To launch your face into space and become a part of history, just follow these steps:
First…Select the Participate button at the bottom of this page and upload your image/name, which will be flown aboard the space shuttle. Don’t have a picture to upload? No problem, just skip the image upload and we will fly your name only on your selected mission!
Next…Print and save the confirmation page with your flight information.
Later…Return to this site after launch to print your Flight Certificate – a commemorative certificate signed by the Mission Commander. You can also check on mission status, view mission photographs, link to various NASA educational resources and follow the commander and crew on Twitter or Facebook.
You can also upload your picture to NOSVC and we’ll conveniently take you nowhere. Sorry but the budget for model rockets went towards the Lego train set so I can’t even offer a really really low gravity tour for anything you upload. That being said we do backups occasionally so there is that.
Thanks to vacationing contributor BobG for posting this on the “I’m watching the last US Shuttle Mission (STS135)” Facebook event page.
So this is a test of the WordPress application on the iPad. It is a little bit different than I would have expected and don’t be surprised if this post doesn’t last very long. Just wanted to test the new work device and see how it functioned for updating a blog post. Next stop? You tell me. I’m learning here.
Editor’s Note: The text above was sent through the WordPress iPad app – it worked surprisingly well all things considered. There is likely more I can do with the information it seems to gather but for the time being I am pretty pleased with the test run.
NASA’s space shuttle fleet began setting records with its first launch on April 12, 1981 and continues to set high marks of achievement and endurance. Starting with Columbia and continuing with Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour, the spacecraft has carried people into orbit repeatedly, launched, recovered and repaired satellites, conducted cutting-edge research and built the largest structure in space, the International Space Station. [LINK]
So I created a Facebook event today called “I’m watching the last US Shuttle Mission (STS135)” and am inviting everyone I know to join me in watching the last US shuttle mission take off on July 8, 2011. No – you don’t have to leave your home or desk to do it. The invitation is to join me via television, internet or if you are fortunate enough in person. Yes – I encourage you to invite everyone you know too. There is no STS136 – after this launch the Space Shuttle program is finished.
Join us in bidding a fond farewell to the US Space Shuttle and the end of the space race.
So I am in the planning stage for my new addiction addition to the house Lego collection in the form of a train set. So far I have Emerald Night (10194) and the Cargo Train (7939) making up my engine set and the cars that come with each of those. I am working on the track design with the free version of AnyRail and have temporarily taken over the dining room table until a permanent home for display can be found. (The actual time limit on temporarily may or may not depend on when the next dinner engagement may be at the house.)
More pictures after the jump – remember this is a first look so expect more-better-different before I post again. I am taking suggestions on where and how to display the set and yes – temporarily means it has to leave the dining room at some point. I am thinking with the right design a shelf or even suspended from the ceiling could be pretty awesome. You suggestions and web finds are more than welcome in the comments.
Unfortunately Star Wars was always a ‘little’ idealistic. Sure if you have an awesome ability like – say a Jedi – you should use it responsibly. You know – with great power comes great opportunity to be an a-hole and all of that.
Honestly I think this was a lot of us when we were younger – just no lightsaber and force powers.
Anyway – watch the video here or the sequel here.