Planning missions to the Moon.
Former Opportunity rover driver and lead flight director.
Amateur FJ40 mechanic.
he/him
Personal account. Opinions are my my own.
This past weekend I had a chance to visit and old friend in it's forever home.
Seeing Dusty, Spirit and Opportunity's Earth based copy, in the National Air & Space Museum definitely had me a little misty eyed but with a smile.
I spent many years as the testbed lead responsible for Dusty's health and safety and lots of shifts operating it in the testbed, I definitely have an attachment to this specific rover. Dusty may not have gone to Mars, but it was the only MER I have seen with my own eyes.
Went solo flying this afternoon. It was a beautiful afternoon. Lots of other folks in the skies, but I was the only one out of my home base airport.
I took advantage of the quiet airport to get in a few extra practice takeoffs and landings.
Having only ever seen historical footage of a crew rated spacecraft returning from the moon, dang it is awesome to see it happen in real time.
Great work Artemis I team! May your post flight analysis have no surprises.
Discovered that my tablet will generate up to a 6 second gif from video. So I tested it with some video from my drone.
Here is a clip from when I flew my drone along the Nothwest Passage this summer when I visited Somerset Island.
It was a nice warm November afternoon, so I got one #LamdCruiser project off of the to-do list.
Installed new Koito H4 headlamps in the #FJ40. A major improvement over the old 7" sealed beam headlights.
But of course the night test drive highlighted that I need to bleed the brakes. So one item off the to-do list, one item added to the to-do list. Such is life with a 49 year old vehicle.
Good morning. #GoodNightOppy has been released on streaming for everyone to experience.
Having seen it in theaters and having lived the mission, I encourage you to watch it. It's the mission as seen though the lens of the emotions between a team and their spacecraft.
And yes, be ready to shed a tear for Oppy and her twin Spirit. (Seriously, it's not just those of us that worked the mission. https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/good-night-oppy-about-nasas-rover-mission-may-make-you-cry-2022-11-22/)
With separation from the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage after a good TLI, Orion is on it's way to the Moon.
And with spacecraft separation, I am off to get some sleep.
Well done Artemis 1 launch team!
Back in 2015 @nujoud told me about the cameras that were going to be installed on the Orion solar arrays.
Wowza! The views from those cameras amazing. I can't wait to see video from them with the Moon in the background and the Orion in the foreground. (Current image has the ICPS and adapters to that connect Orion to the ICPS in view)
As someone that grew up in the shuttle era this is a wonderful sight to see again. I got goosebumps the moment the boosters ignited.
A beautiful start to the first human class launch (though uncrewed) to the Moon in my lifetime.
