The Road to MSL

Confessions of a Space Geek
My MSL NASA Tweetup Story

Chapter 1: The Road to MSL

I have always been a "fan" of NASA and have always thought of myself as a bit of a "space geek." I have vivid memories of watching Apollo mission events on television at school and at my father's television store as a boy. I remember thinking "how cool" the moon buggy was and wanting to someday drive one. I remember watching in fascination as our first orbiting laboratory, SkyLab, was launched and utilized. I recall lying on my back one summer evening in Iowa, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Apollo-Soyuz linkup as it flew overhead on one of its orbital passes. I followed the entire shuttle program, being one of those children who thought the prototype orbiter deserved a better name than the one chosen by the powers that be, and sending in my postcard vote to have it christened "Enterprise." I mourned the losses of Challenger and Columbia. I celebrated the successes of the shuttle program, including the three astronaut catch of the disabled satellite, missions to service the Hubble Space Telescope, the launches of the first American women and African Americans into space, and the construction of the International Space Station.

STS-135
©MWilkinson

I watched countless launches and landings on television, and when regular television deemed them unworthy of air time, I listened on the radio and watched on NASAtv on the computer. I got up before dawn to watch shuttles on night launches streak across the eastern sky and in July 2011, was able to take my family to Kennedy Space Center to witness the final shuttle launch, STS-135 Atlantis, in person.

Ferguson & Magnus
©MWilkinson

About a year ago, I rediscovered NASA astronauts tweeting on their preparation for missions and started following various NASA Twitter accounts. When I learned that NASA held special events for their Twitter followers, I began to apply. First for STS135 Launch, then JSC Shuttle Simulator, followed by GRAIL and Juno launch TweetUps. I became what some of my fellow SpaceTweeps called a Tweetject. Then in September of 2011, I was finally selected to participate in a post mission Tweetup for STS-135 at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. Even though this was a very short event, lasting only a couple of hours, it affirmed all I had thought a Tweetup would be. A chance to hear from people who were at the heart of space exploration and share that with people who shared my own enthusiasm and interest. I was able to meet several of my Tweeps in person and extend our virtual friendships to the physical world.

©NASA/JPL

When it was announced that there would be a Tweetup for the launch of the Mars Science Laboratory, I knew I would once again put my name in for consideration. I immediately recalled those first images sent back from Mars in 1976 by the Viking probe. I remember how exciting it was that summer to see the surface of Mars for the first time. The image of a rock strewn landscape and a cloudless sky first in black and white and then in Martian ocre, are forever etched in my memory. Several probes and rovers followed, each contributing to our understanding of our neighboring planet. Curiosity is the most sophisticated of all the robotic probes that have been sent to explore space and I found myself totally captivated by its design and potential. Being more connected to this important mission was very compelling. So, my application was submitted and the wait for a reply began.

On October 9 I opened my email to find a message from NASAHQ. As excited as I was to read it, I also didn't want to see the fateful "regret to inform that you were not selected" phrase I'd seen on my other attempts. Sure enough, that's exactly what it contained. But wait, there was a glimmer of hope this time, I WAS on the Waitlist! It would take another two weeks before I would hear that I had been moved from the Waitlist to the list of Attendees for the MSL Launch Tweetup. I was so stunned when the second message arrived, I hardly reacted. Once I convinced myself, after SEVERAL re-reads of the message, that I was indeed invited, the celebration began! I was going to be at Kennedy Space Center to help send off Curiosity on its mission to Mars!


Upcoming Chapters
Compelled to bring into curriculum
NASA is NOT Closed
Who Says Smart Isn't Cool?
Lift-Off
#NASATweetup Reflections
It Continues to be Relevant

MSL/Curiosty Launches to Mars

At the Countdown Clock on the Morning of Launch

We arrived before dawn to meet Astronauts Doug Wheelock, Leland Melvin, Charlie Bolden along with Lori Garver, Bill Nye, and Will.I.Am to witness this mornings launch. A few photos until I can prepare a proper post.

Bill Nye The Science Guy

Lori Garver, NASA Assistant Director

MW and Astronaut Doug Wheelock

Astronaut Leland Melvin,
NASA Director of Eduction

 

Astronaut Charlie Bolden, NASA Director

Will.i.am Speaks about the importance
of Math, Science and the Arts

Atlas V Launches from Pad 41
 carrying MSL/Curiosity
©mwilkinson

Launch -1 Day

Tomorrow is LAUNCH DAY! If all goes well, MSL/Curiosity will leap into space aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle at 10:02 a.m. A full day of presentations and tours. Each of the project members who presented were so enthusiastic about their work. I will share more about the presentations and more photos. I don't have the time or energy to write a proper post tonight an d have to get up very early tomorrow morning to be at the launch. In the mean time, here are couple of favorites from the tour today.

Inside the VAB
It's 40 stories to the top.
The entire Saturn V could stand erect in this room!

The VAB at Dusk

Pad 34
Abandon In Place

MSL Ready for Launch

MSL and Atlas V Launch Vehicle

Pre NASATWEETUP Activities

The past two days have been a wonderful opportunity to explore Kennedy Space Center and get to know some of my fellow SpaceTweeps. We spent Wednesday afternoon exploring the northern end of Merritt Island and the Wildlife Refuge there. Saw a lot of birds, including cormorant, pelicans, osprey, bald eagles, egrets and great blue herons. We also saw a manatee.

The next stop was Playalinda Beach, in the shadow of Launch Complex 39, where all of the Apollo and Shuttle launches took place. As the sun set, we were treated to a spectacular display of color and clouds.

Thanksgiving Day was spent at the Visitors Complex. About a third of the Tweeps attended "Lunch with an Astronaut" hosted by J O Creighton, 3-time shuttle astronaut. Creighton shared a description of the shuttle training flow and shared reflections from his missions. Later in the afternoon, I had an opportunity to ask him why he thought it was important for human space exploration to continue. He responded, "There a lot of reasons, but I think that the human desire to explore is one of the biggest reasons. So much [spin off] has come from the space program. It inspired an entire generation to explore science, math and engineering. And not just by those like myself who went on to become astronauts, or to work directly in the space program, but countless others who pursued careers in math, science and engineering." He concluded, "The robotic missins are learning a lot, but there is another dimension added when a human being is experiencing it directly."

I took a ride on the "Shuttle Launch Experience," a simulation of a shuttle launch. It was a lot of fun, and gave a great impression of what the launch might feel like.

After the simulation concludes, you exit down a spiraling ramp. Along the rail are plaques for each of the STS missions from 1 through 135. Each plaque featured a photograph of the crew, their names, and mission patch. It was a very moving exhibit, raising emotions, especially as you approached the Challenger and Columbia missions.

I also saw a full scale models of Curiosity and the Orion capsule, took part in a Lego build, and shared the day with some great people who all share my interest and passion for space exploration.

Now, it's time to get some rest before the official TweetUp begins tomorrow morning.


Happy Thanksgiving from Kennedy Space Center!

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!