Meet My Stunt Double (JSC135 Tweetup – Part 6)
Sarah finished her overview of the consoles in the control room and was answering questions when suddenly a cell phone rang. It was made very clear to us that there was no flash photography and no cell phones during the tour. So why do I hear a cell phone ringing? Even if our hosts hadn't make a point about no cell phones, I still felt it very rude for someone to be taking a cell call during our Mission Control tour. Suddenly everyone's attention changed drastically as Ameko announced "Sorry to interrupt... we have 30 seconds of coverage, can everybody hear? I have Ron Garan on line with us from the International Space Station." Ok, I stand corrected on that whole cell phone business - a ringing cell phone from an astronaut in outer space is never a rude interruption!
Read MoreSave My Spot (JSC135 Tweetup – Part 5)
"What? Astro Ron needs a number? What is she talking about?" The light rain was becoming heavier and I was starting to become distracted in my driving so I put the phone back in the cup holder, "Sorry Shannon, it'll have to wait. I have to get to the Tweetup first before I can figure out what this is about."
Read MoreRunning on Empty (JSC135 Tweetup – Part 4)
It had been 18 hours since I had eaten anything and I remembered my nutrition bar tucked in a pocket of my carry on. I pulled it out along with the last remains of the bottled water from the Birmingham terminal gift shop. I put my cell phone on GPS and quickly wolfed down the nutrition bar before getting out of the parking lot and onto the main roads. I now had finally had my breakfast... sort of.
Read MoreHouston, I Have a Problem (JSC135 Tweetup – Part 3)
Ok, I'm already touching a sleeping stranger on an airport bench, but it looks like I was going to have to take it up a notch to get her awake. I couldn't abandon her, so I looked around seeing we were alone and placed a hand on each of her shoulders, gave her a careful, but firm shake and in my best Jerry Lewis voice yelled, "HEY LAAADY!"
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.
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