Thursday, May 27, 2010

Mission Complete!

The crew of STS-132 landed safely yesterday to close out Atlantis' final voyage from space. With that, I have served my final mission as Lead FAO and my final day on console as a Shuttle Flight Control Room operator. Two more missions to go, but none of them will be served by me in the "front room". I will be supporting them from a behind-the-scenes place. It is a bittersweet ending to my small piece of the space shuttle program.

Thank you Atlantis, you've served us well.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Mission Commence!

STS-132/ISS-ULF4 launched successfully on her first try yesterday from Florida. 13 days in space, 3 spacewalks, a slew of robotic activity and undoubtedly some antics from the crew will happen before they all return safely to earth around May 26th.

This is my final Lead Flight Activities Officer (FAO) assignment before the end of the shuttle program and it is also the last time I will get to sit in the Shuttle Flight Control Room ("front room", people you see on NASA TV...) in my career.

It is certainly bittersweet. The road to getting this mission off the ground has been a long one, so on one hand it is exciting to get the ball rolling and have an end in sight. On the other hand, since it is the final mission of this vehicle, Atlantis, my final mission as FAO, and nearing the end of the space shuttle program, I can't help but feel a small sense of loss. I will be focusing on enjoying the last moments of my time as a shuttle flight controller and reflecting on how much this program has meant to me and should mean to the American public.

Go get 'em Atlantis!