Bold Gold!
Gosh, do you think I could procrastinate any
more?! Well, maybe it's all for the best, because now that
I've talked with our fellow classmate and super-dude Erik
Bowman, we have a MUCH better arrangement for the class to
come cheer on fellow classmate and astronaut Jim Dutton as
he pilots the Discovery into orbit! Basically, Erik has
invited us to come watch the event on the roof of his
building. You see, he is the SQ/CC of the 45th Launch
Support Squadron -- and how awesome is that?!
What:
STS-131
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts131/index.html
When:
2010
Where:
Cape Canaveral
How:
Ask to be invited on the Facebook event page:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1103474432&ref=mf#/event.php?eid=223597519139&index=1
You're on your own for lodging (but see the
event page for latest chatting about who's staying where...)
and plan to bring food and drink to the 45 LCSS building.
Not everyone will need cars; we'll determine carpooling to
the gate.
Who:
The first 140 grads to "sign up" on the Facebook event page
will definitely get to go. Beyond that, we'll have to talk
to Erik about remaining available room allowed on the roof.
Because we have a 140 cap, we need at this point to
keep attendance to just grads, sorry. If we end up
seeing there'll be room for spouses, we'll go to that level
later.
Here's some extra comments:
1. The launch could easily slip. If we have more than two days notice, we'll delay the
whole event. Plan plane ticket purchases accordingly. If a
critical mass of grads has non-refundable tickets, those
committed to going would be encouraged to go "anyway" and
have a great time in FL together. We'll have to present
more info later regarding decision points about launch
delays. For me, I'm driving so that I can go "anytime"
2. The access to the 45 LCSS will be
accomplished through distribution of placards for cars
driving there. We'll likely do distribution at the main
gate to Cape Canaveral AFS, but details will work out
later. Basically, I will need everyone's name to make a
visitor list.
3. The actual view from the roof will not
allow us to see the Discovery while on the pad. Upon
liftoff, no problem. Monitors and screens inside the
building will provide a view of the pad.
4. If you want to tour Cape Canaveral
overall, that will be done on your own as a regular
tourist. Our access to the 45 LCSS will be only for the
launch; we won't be allowed to drive all around. I'm sure
there will be enough folks interested in touring the
facility that we could let folks know when/how to get
together and do that. I did it with my kids two summers ago
and it was so cool.
5. We won't be seeing Jim Dutton at all.
He'll have gone into quarantine long before any of us want
to arrive in the area. Plus, he has a huge family and will
be dedicating any extra time to them, basically. But sends
his best to the class and wishes he could join us! : )
6. We are trying to send up the class flag
(big yellow flag with Polaris star and "91" that dozens of
you signed at the 10-yr reunion)
7. If anyone coming is a Colonel, please
point that out for the Cape Canaveral VIP visitor
notification list.
8. Be sure to watch the nasa.gov page for
mission info and changes. I recommend also making it a
"teaching moment" for your kids, if you're into that. My
kids are really grooving on the whole astronaut thing right
about now. : )
Catch you later!
Carson
cell 301-367-8969
work 202-231-2484
