Friday, September 9, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
STS-135 NASA Tweetup Attendees
The day before the launch we watched as the service structure was rolled away from the shuttle.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Amazing launch!
Viewing a shuttle launch live is incredible. There is no real way to describe the emotion and power you feel as the shuttle climbs upward. The immense light and the thunderous noise vibrating everything. Just amazing! Wow! What a beautiful sight!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Astronauts Enter Quarantine for Final Space Shuttle Launch
http://www.space.com/12157-final-space-shuttle-astronauts-quarantine-launch.html
"After months of intense training, the astronauts set to fly on NASA's final space shuttle flight are raring to go, so it's no surprise they are taking steps to avoid catching a last-minute cold.
The four Atlantis shuttle astronauts entered a standard preflight quarantine on Friday (July 1) to prevent illness and limit exposure to any harmful germs. Atlantis is scheduled to launch on July 8 at 11:26 a.m. EDT (1526 GMT) from the seaside Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla."
Friday, July 1, 2011
Teachers in the Underwater Astronaut Trainer (UAT)
My first time SCUBA diving was in the UAT at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. This tank was designed and built by Homer Hickam, author of Rocket Boys/October Sky.
Just keeps getting better and better!
Tweeps,
SpaceX has asked me to pass along on invitation to you to see the Dragon capsule. SpaceX invites you to come see the Dragon Spacecraft that orbited Earth and hear about SpaceX's plans to carry astronauts from former astronaut & SpaceX Commercial Crew Development manager Garret Reisman.
Location: Air Force Space and Missile History Center, behind the SpaceX Launch Control Center, just outside of the Air Force South gate.
Cheers,
Stephanie
How Atlantis' top tweeter got that way
"All four of the astronauts on NASA's final space shuttle missionhave Twitter accounts, but which one is Atlantis' "alpha tweeter"? That was one of the easiest questions to answer at Thursday's crew news conference at Johnson Space Center in Houston."
How Atlantis' top tweeter got that way
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Tips for viewing the final space shuttle launch - USATODAY.com
"If you're hoping to "feel the thunder" for the last launch of the space shuttle Atlantis, scheduled for July 8 from Florida'sKennedy Space Center, expect lots of company - and a tough time finding hotel rooms close to the action.
An estimated one million spectators will be on hand for what Space Coast Office of Tourismexecutive director Rob Varley calls "the world's greatest tailgate party." As a result, Varley says, most hotels, condos and campgrounds between Titusville and Melbourne Beach are already sold out."
Tips for viewing the final space shuttle launch - USATODAY.com
An estimated one million spectators will be on hand for what Space Coast Office of Tourismexecutive director Rob Varley calls "the world's greatest tailgate party." As a result, Varley says, most hotels, condos and campgrounds between Titusville and Melbourne Beach are already sold out."
Tips for viewing the final space shuttle launch - USATODAY.com
Upcoming mission events:
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Official NASA Press Release
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/jun/HQ_11-211_Tweetup.html
RELEASE : 11-211 NASA Invites 150 Lucky Twitter Followers To Final Space Shuttle Launch WASHINGTON -- The final launch of the space shuttle program is scheduled for 11:26 a.m. EDT on July 8, and NASA has invited 150 followers of the agency's Twitter account to be there. People selected will have a behind-the-scenes perspective from the press site at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
NASA randomly selected the participants from more than 5,500 online registrants during a 24-hour opportunity on June 1-2. Attendees represent 44 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the U.K.
Tweetup participants are coming from Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
They will share their experiences with their more than 1.5 million combined followers through the social networking site Twitter. Beginning at 10:30 a.m. on July 7, NASA will broadcast a portion of the Tweetup when participants get to talk with Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations, astronaut Mike Massimino and Angie Brewer, space shuttle Atlantis' flow director at Kennedy.
Joining them will be a special guest, Sesame Street's Elmo. Sesame Street will be at Kennedy to film Elmo, as he learns about space exploration at NASA.
To watch the broadcast, visit:
Participants also will tour Kennedy; make an up close visit to the launch pad, and wave at Atlantis' crew members on their drive to the launch pad. The Tweetup culminates with the shuttle's lift off.
Reporters credentialed to cover the launch also may cover the NASA Tweetup at Kennedy's press site. Reporters interested in interviewing Tweetup attendees in advance should contact Stephanie Schierholz at 202-358-1100 orstephanie.schierholz@nasa.gov.
This is the fifth time NASA has invited Twitter followers to experience a space shuttle launch. Previously, groups attended lift offs of Atlantis' STS-129 and STS-132 missions, Discovery's STS-133 mission, and Endeavour's STS-134 mission.
To follow the Tweetup participants on Twitter, as they experience the prelaunch events and shuttle liftoff, follow the #NASATweetup hashtag and the list of attendees at:
All four of Atlantis' crew members are posting updates to Twitter. You can follow Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley, and Mission Specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim at:
To connect with NASA on Twitter and other social networking sites, visit:
For more information about space shuttle Atlantis' STS-135 mission, visit:
Stephanie L. Schierholz
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-4997
stephanie.schierholz@nasa.gov
Alicia Durand
Sesame Street
212-875-6223
alicia.durand@sesame.org
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-4997
stephanie.schierholz@nasa.gov
Alicia Durand
Sesame Street
212-875-6223
alicia.durand@sesame.org
June 29, 2011
NASA randomly selected the participants from more than 5,500 online registrants during a 24-hour opportunity on June 1-2. Attendees represent 44 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the U.K.
Tweetup participants are coming from Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
They will share their experiences with their more than 1.5 million combined followers through the social networking site Twitter. Beginning at 10:30 a.m. on July 7, NASA will broadcast a portion of the Tweetup when participants get to talk with Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations, astronaut Mike Massimino and Angie Brewer, space shuttle Atlantis' flow director at Kennedy.
Joining them will be a special guest, Sesame Street's Elmo. Sesame Street will be at Kennedy to film Elmo, as he learns about space exploration at NASA.
To watch the broadcast, visit:
Participants also will tour Kennedy; make an up close visit to the launch pad, and wave at Atlantis' crew members on their drive to the launch pad. The Tweetup culminates with the shuttle's lift off.
Reporters credentialed to cover the launch also may cover the NASA Tweetup at Kennedy's press site. Reporters interested in interviewing Tweetup attendees in advance should contact Stephanie Schierholz at 202-358-1100 orstephanie.schierholz@nasa.gov.
This is the fifth time NASA has invited Twitter followers to experience a space shuttle launch. Previously, groups attended lift offs of Atlantis' STS-129 and STS-132 missions, Discovery's STS-133 mission, and Endeavour's STS-134 mission.
To follow the Tweetup participants on Twitter, as they experience the prelaunch events and shuttle liftoff, follow the #NASATweetup hashtag and the list of attendees at:
All four of Atlantis' crew members are posting updates to Twitter. You can follow Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley, and Mission Specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim at:
To connect with NASA on Twitter and other social networking sites, visit:
For more information about space shuttle Atlantis' STS-135 mission, visit:
- end -
NASATweetup... A Once in a Lifetime Experience
"A once in a lifetime experience" is phrase often used by people who have viewed a space shuttle launch up close from the media site. Since the inception of the NASA space shuttle program I have dreamed of seeing such a launch in person. My interest in space and space travel is one of the reasons I became a science teacher. It is also why I have sought out programs and activities which would increase my understanding of America's space program.
Thanks to Honeywell I attended the Educators Space Academy (also known as Space Camp) at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. I was also fortunate enough to return for the advanced program in Alabama and Florida. And while these programs allowed me to see how astronauts train, put me in simulated missions, and showed me so much history, there was still something missing. That excitement of seeing and hearing the immense power of a live launch.
Everything changed on the 10th of June, 2011. I, like thousands of other space enthusiasts, had been anticipating a special email on this day. It would be an email that could bring wonderful or sad news. I was hoping it wouldn't be the same email I had received twice before which included "unfortunately" in the message. Now I was told the emails wouldn't be sent out until the afternoon, so I was caught a little off-guard when one suddenly appeared at 10:40 AM. I had forgotten about the time difference between Arizona and the east coast. Even though the subject line read, "STS-135 NASA Tweetup CONFIRMATI
As I read the first couple of sentences I was filled with a strange feeling of excitement and disbelief. Could this be real!
Thanks to Honeywell I attended the Educators Space Academy (also known as Space Camp) at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. I was also fortunate enough to return for the advanced program in Alabama and Florida. And while these programs allowed me to see how astronauts train, put me in simulated missions, and showed me so much history, there was still something missing. That excitement of seeing and hearing the immense power of a live launch.
Everything changed on the 10th of June, 2011. I, like thousands of other space enthusiasts, had been anticipating a special email on this day. It would be an email that could bring wonderful or sad news. I was hoping it wouldn't be the same email I had received twice before which included "unfortunately" in the message. Now I was told the emails wouldn't be sent out until the afternoon, so I was caught a little off-guard when one suddenly appeared at 10:40 AM. I had forgotten about the time difference between Arizona and the east coast. Even though the subject line read, "STS-135 NASA Tweetup CONFIRMATI
As I read the first couple of sentences I was filled with a strange feeling of excitement and disbelief. Could this be real!
"Congratulations, you have been selected to attend the NASA Tweetup on July 7-8 for space shuttle Atlantis' targeted launch at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida! The event will provide you the opportunity to speak with shuttle technicians, engineers, astronauts, and managers, and to experience the launch of space shuttle Atlantis to the International Space Station."
I read it again, and then rushed over to Twitter to see if anyone had posted about getting such an email. Nothing... but then I quickly started seeing messages from others who undoubtedly were experiencing the same emotions. I read the email a few more times, all the while becoming even more excited. In the days since receiving the confirmation that feeling has not dissipated. This is like winning the big lottery or the golden ticket which promises to change your life.
Not only will I (along with a group of other lucky individuals) be viewing a space shuttle launch, but the last launch for the space shuttle Atlantis and the shuttle program. This is history in the making... it is truly a once in a lifetime experience.
Not only will I (along with a group of other lucky individuals) be viewing a space shuttle launch, but the last launch for the space shuttle Atlantis and the shuttle program. This is history in the making... it is truly a once in a lifetime experience.
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