An Up & Down Day

Got to work this morning, we were informed that Eileen Collins, who commanded the recent shuttle Return-To-Flight mission, lost her father when he was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street. He was going to hear her give a lecture at a local school in Elmira, NY. Jim Collins was 79.

We were also told, barring any unforeseen delay-causing events, we will launch STS-121 on May 10. We've also been given an 18-flight ISS completion manifest and a single-flight Hubble Upgrade Mission, then it's on to the new CEV and the moon.

If 121 is event-free, 2 or 3 more flights will follow this year, all as ISS-dedicated missions.

Also, one of the best, if not the best, Pinwheel Images from Hubble has been released.
http://images.spaceref.com/news/2006/heic0602a.l.jpg

 

Sorry to hear about Mr Collins.

The pic is now my desktop.

Give my regards to the moon.

Man, I hope we get back into some serious exploration before I shuffle off this mortal coil. I want some answers, damnit!

 

Ditto on both things.

 

My condolences to Eileen Collins, and her family.

Good news on the plans for future missions!

Hope y'all doing well over there, in Fl.

 

hey there rocket man, how goes it?

I thought all Hubble upgrades were cancelled, and that they were just going concentrate on the new James Webb tele?
what kind of upgrade are you rocketheads planning cameras or gyros?

 

Hey man! Nice to see you pop in; I just asked Abby the other day if she'd seen you signed in at all lately.

I don't have any details yet on what exactly is planned for Hubble, although you can pretty much bet gyros and lenses will be part of the deal.

Of course, with the way congress taffy-pulls our budget, nothing is certain except death, taxes and too much reality TV, so the flight could always be postponed or cancelled, or be changed to something adventurous like a manned landing on the sun.

Don't be a stranger...take care.

 

oh oh oh can i come along?

 

Gyros and lenses would be great, should keep it operational for atleast another 6 or more years.

Ya I been really busy...sort of, I still drop by from time to time but I have just not logged on. I do miss your paticular brand of humor though so you may see me around more offen. So how is Abby, still keeping the board clean

"too much reality TV" now that would be great TV ,average Joe shmoe gets sent to NASA to work along side Chris... ala Homer Simpson.

 

Oh yeah, divided equally between moderating and babysitting

She said to tell you hello; did you get a PM from her a couple months ago with some news? She can't remember if she sent you one or not.

Are you still taking part in 8-ball tournaments and fleecing the flock?

 

Hi Naz. Don't be such a stranger. Well, you've always been stranger than some, but that adds variety.

Would still love to come down for the launch Star, if that's still open. Don't know what shape I'll be in then, but I've got my fingers crossed.

 

That's the first time I hear of this Hubble upgrade, I haven't been keeping up, sorry to say. I sadly thought that it was going to burn up due to budget restraints. This is great news! Thanks star17. Oh, the moon thing is great though too far away. I hope to see this happen again.

 

Haven't you heard?

The "moon thing" was a hoax.

 

Hehe, the original ones or the future one? With the current budget deficits in the US with the 'war' etc., I doubt this will ever happen in my lifetime. Please prove me wrong, I beg you.) I'm 53 and in good health.

 

She said to tell you hello; did you get a PM from her a couple months ago with some news? She can't remember if she sent you one or not.

No sir i just check my PMs last one i recieved was in 01/05

Hello Abby, how have you been? still have you hands full with Chris?

 

Mr. GT, (The living encyclopedia) hows life been treating you?

 

Oh my! Coming from you Naz this could very well be a non-forum-friendly question!http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f368/star-n-abby/embarrassed.gif

J/K I'm doing good Naz. It's really good to see you popping in again. How have you been? Keeping busy chasing the ladies and playing pool?

Hey! Post some more so we can zero out your post count..been missing that little tradition!

 

Other than terminal cancer, life's been treating me pretty well. Star has taken over some of the encyclopedia duties; I don't have the energy I used to.

 

That's the plan here too...I told them at work if this thing gets delayed too many times they are gonna have to answer to you

Check you PM's, btw

 

LOL. I'm sure that just scared the crap out of 'em.

 

yeah I need to be zero out again

I've been well, keeping busy at work
now I only chase pool and play women. actually I am doing a lot less of both lately since I just put my house up for sale and things have gotten a lot more hectic(sp).
I am trying to get my life and other things in order so I can be ready for retirement in maybe 15 years or less.

 

Dude i don't know what to say, other then it hurts to read this and i hope you can stay strong and be well enough to stay posting here for many more years.

 

Take 2 aspirin and you'll feel better in the morning.

Don't sweat it. I'm not planning on dying just yet. I can't afford the funeral expenses.

 

Hey Naz. Good to see you're doing well, even if it is a bit hectic with the house move and sale. I did the same about three years back, and it sure takes a lot out of ya, especially moving by yourself. I see you're still shooting wimin' and chasing Pool, LoL!

Gary, I hope you're fairing okay with all the discomfort and so on, and that it's responding to treatment. I guess staying active, and positive and motivated is a big part of it all. That's from someone that's already been down that kind of path. Guess I had too much to live for at the time, as do you. Take care.

 

Well, ask me next week after next PSA test. January PSA levels started rising again, and bone pain is back and increasing, indicating the hormone depravation therapy is losing effect already. Doc started me on oral Casodex to see if that would help, but based on pain levels, I don't think it is. Next is traditional chemotherapy, which may throw a wrench in plans to watch the next shuttle launch in May. Darn it. Never saw a launch live, and we don't get all that many of them anymore.

 

What a pity that the hormone deprivation therapy is loosing some effectiveness. At least there's a few other alternative treatments available, albeit more uncomfortable, and with their own perils. As ya know, I had to go down the 'Chemo' path as well. Not a pleasant experience, but at least I'm still around, I guess.

Just use the shuttle launch viewing as a goal type of thing (which you probably do, anyway). Helps keep one positive and motivated. I wouldn't mind going to see a launch myself one day. I was pretty young the last time that happened. Be a trip if we could it together one day. I still owe ya a visit or two, I.I.R.C.

I think of you often. Take good care of yourself.

 

Yeah, you're still around and kicking.

That it would. My spare bedroom is free, but getting here sure isn't. LOL.

Ditto.

 

Maybe they could prop you up by the juke box!!!

 

That would work. OK, I can die happy now.

 

lol cool spend all your money now and enjoy yourself, FLA sound great to visit especially the Cape ... when i read about your cancer it reminded me of a buddy of mine who passed away 3 months ago.

 

Phantom how the hell are you sir, computer business going well?
ya selling the house is wierd i had someone who wanted to see the place at 12:30am... i should have told her to see it through windows live

 

Well, I've been spending money, but not enjoying much of it. LOL. So far I've spent close to 2 grand paying for what insurance didn't. Some of it interesting, but not what I'd call fun. Spent 2 hours on a huge MRI table that was so loud I had to wear foam ear plug like on a shooting range. Made weird noises and vibrated. More entertaining than the "Magic Fingers" motel beds. This year I get 3 weeks vacation (for the first time ever), plus I've put in almost 40 hours of overtime in the last month that I can take as comp time, so I do plan on doing some traveling this year, health permitting.

My company does random drug testing of all employees. I'm waiting for my next test. Hydrocodone and oxycodone will set their alarms off for sure. All legal, but I'm sure they'll get all excited.

 

The business' are doing fine - making me money and paying the bills, which is the main thing. Health took a nose dive last year, but it's on the mend, as much as can be expected. That's another long story, though.

@ G.T:- Expense isn't too much of a problems for me (although, I suppose two grand, or so is reasonable chunk of change), but I do have a few commitments, both with work and various duties of care, which would make leaving here for more than a few weeks impractical, a.t.m But I don't intend things to be that way for ever. So ya just never know!

Well, if you’re down this way, ya know my home is always open to you. (I’d have take the computer geek junk off the spare bed, which isn’t supposed to be there in the first place, though, LoL! . Three years – and I still aint sorted, junk-wise, yet!

(Yeah, I had the M.R.I. 'spook tunnel' bit again, back in late Jan. I know what you mean.)

 

No, this wasn't the standard tunnel shape. Circular slab about 8 FT diameter with flat top about 4 ft. off the ground, with a matching slab hanging from the ceiling, maybe 18 inch gap between them. Thin bed that you lay on moves you over the apparent focus in the center and moves you around in very small increments for it to snap it's pictures. I felt like a Big Mac without the special sauce. MRI on steroids.

 

I see. I was wondering how it would go, with the conventional tunnel bit, considering the location of the problem. Makes a bit more sense now. I've seen what you're referring to.

 

How heartbreaking...my condolences and hugs to Mrs. Collins.

glad for the good news though.

someone hasn't called lately...snifflies.... but might want to wait for next week Chrissypoo. My last dance competition is this weekend (ahh!) and we're practicing like crazy this week.

 

Okey-dokey, PM me if plans change...and blow your nose