MSL Launch Day at KSC – 11/26/11

Ug, I’m in the middle of finishing my multi-part posting about the JSC NASA Tweetup for STS-135, so I don’t want to get side tracked before I finish that (as it is taking too long already!), but I felt it important to get some thoughts down on the MSL mission that just launched.  I’m not a participate of the NASA Tweetup, as I was for the Juno Mission, but since I’m just a few hours from KSC, I made the trek over to see the launch first hand and hopefully catch up with some of the tweeps attending the NASA Tweetup.

The launch itself was pretty uneventful, at least from my vantage point.  I decided to park on the NASA Parkway that leads into KSC and the Visitor’s Center and setup my video camera on a tripod in the back of my pickup.  The spot on the parkway was a section were the parkway is still crossing the inter-coastal waterway before getting to Merritt Island.  I had planned on just watching from the Visitor’s Center, but since the view is so limited there I figured this spot along the waterway would be more scenic, offering a clear view of the VAB and a few of the launch sites to the South, close to were MSL would be launching from.

A large crowd was gathering, with everyone pulling off the road, lining up side by side.  I did my best to tell everyone who was pointing and saying “there it is on the launch pad” that what they were pointing to was the Mobile Launch Platform for the SLS program parked on Pad 39B and not the Atlas V that was launching today.

I had the NASA TV app on my phone streaming the countdown activities.  I completely failed to realize it was not streaming live, but about a minute or two behind.  As a result, I did not have my camera on and was totally unprepared when the Atlas V lite up a white hot point of light that rose from the horizon.  I quickly jumped to my camera and tracked it up on the tripod.  With all the low cloud cover it quickly disappeared only to pop into view now and again between clouds as it rose higher into the sky.  The rumble came but it wasn’t the thunderous cacophony of God bowling that closer launch viewings demonstrated.  It was quickly gone for good in the overcast sky and no hope of seeing booster separation existed.  Then I looked at my camera and realized I had never hit the ‘record’ button.  I had nothing.  However, I was thrilled – the Mars Science Laboratory was on it’s way to Mars for what is expected to be a very exciting mission!  I couldn’t be any happier!

I continued to the Visitor’s Center were I expected to spend the bulk of my day.   First up was seeing Al Worden again at his 11am presentation.  I had figured that if I was to hook up with any of my friends from the NASA Tweetup, they wouldn’t be done with their activities until at least noon, so Al’s 11am presentation would guarantee seeing Al in case any other plans came up later.  Apollo 15 was probably my favorite of all NASA missions, so I didn’t want to miss Al, who was the Command Module Pilot for the mission.  Of course, I’ve already seen Al at least 4 or 5 times before, but he’s always a favorite with his fiery attitude, humor and bold persona.

I set up my video tripod and camera at the back of the Astronaut Experience auditorium.  Once the typical cue of “Dare Mighty Things” came on, I fired up the video camera and stood next to it near the rear wall of the seating area.  Once Al came on, I’d frame up the shot and then have a seat.  Halfway through “Dare Mighty Things”, the Visitor’s Centers 3 or 4 minute overview of the space program used to get the audience in the mood, Al came around the corner and almost ran right into me, giving a surprised look in the process.  ”Hi Al.” I said.

He was getting ready to make his entrance at the end of the presentation and took up a spot next to me along the back wall.  He gave a curious smile and asked, “How are you doing?”

“Good, how are you sir.”

He gave a look towards the video camera and asked, “What are you up to?”

“Video taping you.”

“Are you!?”

“Yeah.”

He now gave a mischievous smile and said, “Well… you got to promise me to delete anything I say that is bad.”

As usual Al gave a fantastic presentation and shared different insight on the Apollo mission than in previous presentations.

Here’s where I have to complain.  As Al gave his presentation there was an endless stream of people coming in and out of the auditorium with kids wondering around unsupervised.  Unfortunately, the auditorium alternates during the day between astronaut presentations and some silly Star Trek skit.  As certain people realized they were not attending the Star Trek skit, they got up rudely from their seats, squeezed through the seating aisles and walked out, some of them in noisy flip-flops (don’t get me started on people who wear flip-flops in public).  Walking out on anyone giving a presentation is rude.  Walking out on an Apollo astronaut is unthinkable.  Idiots!

After Al’s presentation I realized I missed an opportunity to hook up with one of my friends from the Tweetup.  Jennifer (@wxgirl) had to take an early flight home and swung by the Visitor Center to pick up her family that flew down with her.  Since guests aren’t allowed at the Press Site, Jennifer’s family spent the morning at KSC.  By the time I got out of Al’s presentation and checked my Twitter stream, she had already came and gone.  She tried to tweet me, but I had my phone off during Al’s presentation.  Jennifer and I attended the Space Camp Tweetup together back in July for the launch of STS-135.  We actually performed a mock shuttle mission on the simulators at Space Camp the morning of the launch and then watched Atlantis launch on a movie screen in a theater full of very enthusiastic kids.  I had looked forward to seeing her again.

Still feeling the sting of missing Jennifer and meeting her family, I headed over to the Mission Status Center to see if there was anything of interest on the MSL mission going on there.  Good news – there was!  However, before I entered the domed building of the Mission Status Center, I noticed that the mock up shuttle Explorer and the entire Shuttle launch experience building were fenced off.  Construction had begun for the new building that would display the now-retired Space Shuttle Atlantis – more good news!

Inside the Mission Status Center they were getting ready to broadcast some live presentations over livestream.com.  The program was “Scientists in Action” hosted by Steve Lee and they were setting up for their first guest Jen Blaine (I think I got her last name right?) from the NASA Ames Research Center.  I set up my video camera on it’s tripod next to the rear high-end camera being used in the filming of the show.  Jen discussed the rover’s ChemCam and took questions from both the live audience and those calling in.  While Jen’s mic volume seemed weak, I enjoyed the show and figured I’d take a lunch break after Jen’s segment ended and they went to a programming break.  However, that’s when Steve announced the next guest on the show – Astronaut Doug Wheelock.  Never mind lunch just yet, I’ll stick around.

I was familiar with Doug, or “Wheels” as he is more commonly known, from all his participation in various NASA Tweetups and Twitter activity.  He was never at one of the Tweetups I attended, so this was the first time to see him in person.  Wheels is 51 years old, but honestly doesn’t look like he’s hit 40 yet.  He is very charismatic and perfectly fulfills the NASA spokesperson role well.

Wheels talked about his experience launching in shuttle Discovery vs. a Russian Soyuz rocket that he used to get to his first assignment aboard the International Space Station.  He talked about his favorite teacher that inspired him on his path to becoming an astronaut.  He also gave the most fascinating description of readapting to gravity after six months floating in orbit.

Wheels’ 30 minutes went by incredibly fast and at the end of his segment he quickly had a large crowd intercepting him on his way to the door – I admit I was one.  Wheels was very accommodating and posing for pictures with kids and talking genuinely to them.  Even during his interview on the show he often connected with kids and young adults in the live crowd, as if reaching out to them to instill a passion for science, engineering and exploration.  I shook Wheels’ hand and talked briefly about NASA Tweetups with him but didn’t hold him long as I knew he probably had more activities to attend that day, and more photos to take with the slowly thinning crowd around him.

As Wheels was still working the crowd around him, the “Scientists in Action” show fired up for yet another segment.  ”Well, I may as well stay” I thought to myself and took a seat in the audience.  Unfortunately, my battery and camera memory were pretty used up so I didn’t get to film this segment.  Too bad, as it was with Michael Myer, the lead scientist for NASA’s Mars Exploration Program.  Michael’s segment ended up being closer to an hour and although I was loving the show, I left before their next segment as 3pm hunger pains were reminding me I really needed to have lunch.

At 4:45 Al Worden was going to be in the gift shop signing autographs.  I am not an autograph seeking guy.   Actually, I have seen over 40 astronauts at KSCVC and have yet to ask a single one for an autograph and always shunned the gift shop autograph signing sessions.  Not that I don’t have a small handful of astronaut autographs, but they were all acquired unsolicited.  This time, however, I gave in and decided to give it a try as an excuse to get a chance to talk to Al again.

While waiting in line on the top floor of the gift shop where Al would be, I saw a familiar face walk through the downstairs floor of the gift shop.  It was Margaret (@mlm101), one of my favorite space enthusiast friends.  I abandoned my place in line a hurried downstairs to try and catch her but she was nowhere to be found.  I had figured we’d eventually find each other and proceeded back upstairs.

Since I don’t seek autographs I had nothing for Al to sign accept for a business card in my pocket.  I figured that might be novel enough to generate some conversation.  As I stood next in line, Nick Thomas, the announcer working with Al that day asked what personalized message I wanted Al to write so he could print it out for Al to copy down.  I told him no message, just a signature.

The whole autograph thing was still just weird to me and I unfortunately carried that awkwardness with me as my turn in line came up to get my autograph from Al.  I put the business card down and Al was obviously perplexed.  I tried to tell him that despite my many visits to KSC and meeting many astronauts, he was the first one I had approached for an autograph.  I figured that would be a pretty kind statement to make.  Instead I somehow said the following:

“Hi Al, this is my first time here…  I mean not my first time here, I’m been here many times and met many astronauts…”  I tried to save it with a joke, “I figured I’ve seen you enough times that if I didn’t ask you for your autograph you might get offended.”

Completely butchering any logical statements I had intended to make, Al just looked at me and tossed my signed business card back across the table at me.  His gaze was that of “come on kid, you can do better than that.”  I completely agree Al.  And to think, I actually have a job in sales?  Go figure.

My less than stellar conversation attempt with Al now over, I proceeded back down to the first floor of the gift shop and made a second attempt to find Margaret.  I eventually did as she was wrapping up a conversation with one of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory employees who was in town for the launch.

I first meet Margaret on May 5th at KSC as we were both attending the 50th Anniversary of US Manned Space Flight.  We spent a lot of time sitting next to each other on the tour bus talking about space exploration.  Since then we continue to run into each other often at KSC and have formed a nice friendship.  Margaret is one of those types of people that I consider a “connector”.  She knows lots of people and likes to connect her friends together.  Through Margaret I was introduced to her friend Jon McBride, retired NASA astronaut.  She was picked for the NASA Tweetup for the MSL launch and since I was an alumni of 4 Tweetups (3 NASA and 1 Space Camp) I provided information to her in preparation for the event as well as introducing her to a few individuals I knew that were attending the Tweetup.

In typical fashion when I get a chance to hang out with Margaret we end up talking for hours and such was the case here.  Sitting under the shaded courtyard of the Visitor’s Center we talked right up to closing time at 7pm.

There were many other space enthusiasts in town for the launch that I know online that I didn’t get a chance to either meet in person or see again from meeting at previous Tweetups.  One example would be Marlene (@omaflinger) whose fate at the JSC135 Tweetup a few months ago was tied to my own fate.  I also somehow managed to miss 2 other JSC135 alumni, such as Joe (@JoeCLucas) who I had figured would be by KSC while his wife Sarah (@selucas) attended the Tweetup.  There were many others, so until next time, it’s back to Twitter.