Going, Going, Gone! (JSC135 Tweetup – Part 2)
The voice of the captain came on the intercom, "Folks, we seem to have lost oil pressure on our left engine and are diverting into Birmingham. Flight attendants please prepare the cabin for an emergency landing."
Read MoreGo For It! (JSC135 Tweetup – Part 1)
Sitting in the cockpit of this simulator would be identical to being in the cockpit of the real shuttle - the motion based simulator even tilts up 90 degrees to put you on your back for launch. Since STS-135 was now in orbit and the last shuttle mission to fly, this simulator was going to be decommissioned only a few days after the JSC Tweetup. To me, this was the closest I was ever going to get to being an astronaut, so I felt like it was a now or never opportunity.
Read MoreAl Worden at KSC – May 2, 2010
"On my third trip out I stood up on the outside of the service module – you figure we’re 50,000 miles this side of the moon and 200,000 miles from Earth – hooked my feet to the foot restraints and stood up and just looked around and – unbelievable site, I could see both the Earth and the Moon in the same phase. Really, really weird place to be, you know."
Read MoreWe’re All On The Same Team (#sctweetup – Part 6)
Our Discovery crew had just finished our simulated shuttle mission and we were feeling quite chumy with one other - back slaps, fist bumps and all. This despite our Commander's attempt to lock Jessica and I outside the shuttle during our fiery re-entry proved that we were a tight, unflappable team willing to sacrifice for the greater good of our fellow teammates.
Read MoreThe Color Coated Shuttle Mission (#sctweetup – Part 5)
After a few more minutes and stripped of our extra layer of EVA gear, Jessica and I crawled back up the tunnel and through the cabin hatch. We were still unaware of the fact that technically, we were dead.
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