The misadventures of Commander Merlin and the crew of RV-103
Wednesday September 18th 2013

Posts Tagged ‘Endeavour’

“Don’t Cry Because it’s Over, Smile Because it Happened.” The “We Made History” Event at KSC

A little over a week ago, I attended the “We Made History” event at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center.  The event was to celebrate the Space Shuttle Workforce’s accomplishments over the last 30 years.  The turnout was fantastic with over 8,000 former [Read More]

More Bitter Than Sweet

What can you say?  It is the end.  The last launch of the most successful American Human Space Flight Program, in fact the most successful HSF program in world history, after thirty years.  Fourteen people have given their lives riding these magnificent birds striving to [Read More]

We Do All We Can Do-Space Shuttle Workforce Tribute

Below is a music video (hat tip goes to Mark Bray of Braynstorms.com) giving tribute to the Space Shuttle Workforce written and performed by Dan Keenan and Kenny McLaughlin who both worked at Kennedy Space Center. I know many of the people in the video and you [Read More]

Fading Away Into Mythos

Mythos is a Greek word meaning story or legend.  Many myths throughout culture were just that, myths.  But, sometimes, those myths actually had some truth to them.  How does a real event become a myth?  How does something that we accept today become a legend or myth to [Read More]

“It is in the DNA of our great country to reach for the stars and explore. We must not stop.” – Commander Mark Kelly

Those were the words spoken by Commander Mark Kelly just before he lifted off on Endeavour’s final mission.  It was a spectacular launch and a spectacular honest statement by Commander Kelly.  Many people took his statement as a plea for our nation’s Human [Read More]

Rotating Service Structure Rollback for Space Shuttle Endeavour

Davidgojr on Youtube did a wonderful time lapse video the the RSS rollback revealing Space Shuttle Endeavour in all her glory on Launch Pad 39A.  Endeavour was being readied for her scheduled launch for April 29th, but the launch has been postponed to no earlier than May [Read More]

Talk About Chutzpah! Obama to Visit KSC For Endeavour’s Last Launch.

Florida Today reports that Obama is planning to attend the last launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour. Talk about chutzpah!   It was just one year ago when Obama came to KSC with his minions, hid from the workers whom he had lied to during the campaign, and killed [Read More]

Charlie Bolden Says: “Your State Voted For Obama? Here, Have a Space Shuttle!

I wasn’t going to comment on NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden’s decision for placement of the soon to be retired Space Shuttles, but since everyone else is throwing in their two cents, I might as well too.  The decision made by Charlie Bolden, and I’m [Read More]

The Space Show Interview Is Now Online

Last night I appeared on The Space Show hosted by Dr. David Livingston.  The interview went so well that it went a half hour over the scheduled time.  There were many good calls and email questions from all over the world and Kennedy Space Center.  I wanted to thank the [Read More]

The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same.

The editorial below was written by Jim Slade in 1991 for ABC Radio.  It applies to our situation now as it did then. Jim Slade 1991 More of Jim’s writings can be found here. [Read More]

An Idea Whose Time May Have Come.

America’s Human Space Flight program (HSF) is a mess.  With the attempted cancellation of Constellation by the politician in the White House Mr. Obama, 535 members of Congress fighting over two other options of their creation, America’s HSF program is truly [Read More]

Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?

The RV-103 lecture series visited the elementary schools in Olean NY this week.  The 5th grade curriculum for NY schools has the students learning about space related topics starting that year and talk about an enthusiastic groups of kids!  The kids got to hear a [Read More]

Rocketman Featured in Smithsonian Air & Space Magazine

The October/November issue of the Smithsonian Air & Space Magazine has done an article called “Throttle Down” by Tom Harpole.   The article is written about the end of the Space Shuttle Program and the economic devastation it will cause to Brevard County [Read More]

Put Your Face In Space!

From the NASA web site: “Fly Your Face in Space NASA wants to put a picture of you on one of the two remaining space shuttle missions and launch it into orbit. To launch your face into space and become a part of history, just follow these steps: First…Select the [Read More]

Join the Misadventures!

RV-103 is proud to announce the RV-103 Lecture Series.  The RV-103 Lecture Series is designed to present to civic groups, schools 5th grade and up, and scout troops what it is like to be involved and work in Human Space Flight, specifically the Space Shuttle Program. The [Read More]

Endeavour is Safely Home

Endeavour landed safely at Kennedy Space Center at 10:20 pm EST. The crew installed the last major piece of the International Space Station. Only 4 more shuttle launches until Obama kills our Human Space Flight Program. Well done to the crew, the contractors, and my friends [Read More]

Off Topic, but Important

Though this is a blog chronicling the misadventures of the crew of RV-103, many of you know I am retired from Kennedy Space Center and Human Space Flight is near and dear to my heart.  A major event recently occurred that I want to comment on.  It is not a launch, but [Read More]

Endeavour Launches!

This picture was taken by my friend Larry Tanner.  He was on the outside staircase at the Launch Control Center way past his bedtime to get this shot.  The LCC is only 3 1/2 miles from the Pad. [Read More]

The Beginning of the End

Space Shuttle Endeavour, or OV-105, will be launching early Sunday Morning, February 7th 2010, at 04:39 am EST.  This will be the last night launch of the Space Shuttle Program and after this mission, only 4 more shuttle flights will be left before the program is ended in [Read More]

Latest Topics

Goodbye and GodSpeed Discovery RV-103.

Goodbye and GodSpeed Discovery RV-103.

What can I say, but that it is an end to a major chapter in our lives.  Today I turned over the keys to our great and [Read More]

CollisionTEC: A Review

CollisionTEC: A Review

Towards the end of Mission #2, RV-103 had a mishap with a pole, as detailed here.  Last month, I finally got an [Read More]

Breaking News: Obama proposes an end to NASA’s Planetary Science Program

Breaking News: Obama proposes an end to NASA’s Planetary Science Program

“Word has leaked out that in its new budget, the Obama administration intends to terminate NASA’s planetary [Read More]

Mismatched Models

Mismatched Models

Most advocates of Human Space Flight programs always model HSF with the airplane model.  Government subsidized at [Read More]

Human Space Flight Trivia Week 7

Human Space Flight Trivia Week 7

First of all my apologies.  I had to take care of some duties at home that prevented me from posting the newest [Read More]

Recent Comments

Rocketman had this to say

Mr. Obama has not impressed me as a person that learns from his mistakes too often. Read the post

astronautics_student had this to say

When the president axed CxP, he wound up with a huge backlash from congress. Does he think this will turn out any Read the post

lowly contractor 2 had this to say

Now they're starting to realize that just because something has a 'science' label that doesn't mean the general public Read the post

Rocketman had this to say

This blog has already cost me several employment opportunities because I've pointed out what is being done to our HSF Read the post

Rocketman had this to say

I agree. The HSF debacle is just a microcosm to what is being done to our country. Our nation is truly facing an Read the post

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