NASATweetup Registration

It's official! I am now fully registered for NASATweetup. The official #NASATweetUp badge is my passport to the events. It's also an easy way to connect the person to the Twitter handle. Spent the day exploring Merritt Island with other SpaceTweeps

MSL Tweetup Details

I'm currently in flight on my way to Florida's Space Coast. NASA has sent out more details about the really cool things we will be doing this week. On Friday morning, we will hear a variety of presentations from various scientists and engineers with the MSL mission. On Friday afternoon we will get a special tour of Kennedy Space Center. From my email from NASA: "The really cool part about this is it means when we visit Launch Complex 41, we’ll be able to see the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on the launch pad! We also get to go inside the Vehicle Assembly Building and will get to see space shuttle Endeavour there. We’re very lucky to have such great access!" It's going to be an incredible day spent with other NASA geeks!

On Friday we will have a group photo taken by the countdown clock, a Tweetup tradition. Then of course, the main event, the launch of MSL/Curiosity on an Atlas V rocket! I will have the special privilege of watching the launch from the closest allowed vantage point. It should be spectacular.

After the launch, we will enjoy another round of presentations from Doug Ellison JPL Mars Rovers Programs, astronaut Doug Wheelock, Bill Nye the Science Guy, NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden and Deputy Administrator Lori Garver, astronaut and head of NASA Education Leland Melvin, and a special guest to be announced tomorrow.

A portion of the Tweetup on Friday will be broadcast live on NASATv, as will the launch on Saturday. The televised portion of the program will begin at 11 a.m. and continue through to 12:45 p.m. It will be broadcast on UStream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-tweetup and NASA TV’s Education Channel available at http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/edu_flash.html.

In the mean time, I will be exploring the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex with other SpaceTweeps. We plan to ride on the shuttle launch simulator and have Thanksgiving lunch with an astronaut.

As for tomorrow, that's registration day and time to make plans with everyone.

Out to Launch

Just finishing things up here in my classroom. Everything is packed and I'm ready to head to the airport for the first leg of the MSL NASATweetup and Launch trip.

Looking forward to meeting the scientists and engineers who have worked on planning this incredible mission. Also looking forward to meeting my twitter friends in person. Should be a lot of fun. Kennedy Space Center here I come!

Curiosity

A drawing by one of my third grade science students. Curiosity at work.

MSL launch delayed to Saturday, Nov. 26

The launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V carrying NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) has been delayed one day to allow time for the team to remove and replace a flight termination system battery. The launch is rescheduled for Saturday, Nov. 26 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The one hour and 43 minute launch window opens at 10:02 a.m. EST.

MSL GO!

Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) 11/18/11 1:51 PM One week to launch! @NASA gave me the "GO" to proceed toward liftoff, 10:25am ET, Nov 25. Countdown page: bit.ly/rxAEkz

Plants in Space

Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) 11/18/11 12:49 PM Sergei Volkov studies plant life in space for potential nutrition on future missions. go.usa.gov/Ife pic.twitter.com/PukeZ60s