CSE's Congressional Reception

Below are just some of the Florida travelers that funded their own way to advocate the importance of space exploration with the Citizens for Space Exploration.


Pictured in this photo below are all of the students sponsored to attend this year. We are all very grateful of the opportunity that was given to us to experience this trip and to voice our concerns on the Hill. So..apparently in this picture I see I am the only one showing off their certificate. I thought everyone was doing that! How embarassing. Ha ha!

Making the Case for Space

Today, my group has mostly had appointments with the Colorado and Washington congressional members. We visited the offices of Rep. Lamborn (CO.), Rep. Ken Salazar (CO.), Rep. Perlmutter (CO.), Rep. Udall (CO.), Rep. McMorris Rodgers (WA.), and Rep. John Salazar (CO.). In an hour we are having a reception where we invite the Representatives and Senators and their staff. We're really busy with the visits, so I won't be able to do much sight seeing. However, below are some shots from walking around from building to building today.

Leaving for Washington D.C

I am about to take off to the airport for the annual Washington D.C trip where the Citizens for Space Exploration gather to advocate the importance of space exploration and express to the members of Congress to continue their support in the budget. Tonight is the reception where all the members will meet each other. I will also be able to meet my other team members that I will join for congressional appointments on Tuesday and Wednesday. Well....here I go... :)

Send Your Name to the Moon

Visit this link to send your name to the Moon on board a Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO)
http://lro.jhuapl.edu/NameToMoon/index.php

Orlando Muddy Buddy 2008: Completed!!!!! :)

After running and biking about 6 miles, here I am about to crawl through the mud pit to get to the finish line:



Here I am submerged in the mud:



And then there is the after shot of me all muddy after the race and ready for a shower. :)


It was a fun, yet an exhausting day.

And some more pictures :)

2008 Muddy Buddy Ride & Run in Orlando!

Wish me luck! Tomorrow, I am participating in the 2008 Muddy Buddy Ride & Run in Orlando. The race features a 6-7 mile course and 5 obstacles. At the start of the race, I will run and my buddy will ride the bike. At the 1st obstacle, my buddy will drop the bike, complete the obstacle, and begin running. Then I will arrive, complete the obstacle, find our bike, and begin riding. All the other participating teams will continue leapfrogging each other through the entire course. At the end of the race, all of the buddies will crawl through the infamous Mud Pit crossing the finish line together!

By the way....Anyone out there watch the Colbert Report? Astronaut Garrett Reisman, currently living on the International Space Station, was featured on the show. The segment was quite comical and Astronaut Reisman has a great sense of humor.

Space Shuttle Discovery at the Launch Pad (STS-124)

Space Shuttle Discovery made its way from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39A in preparation for the STS-124 mission. The 3.4-mile journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building began at 11:47 p.m. on Saturday. Discovery arrived at the launch pad at 4:25 a.m. early Sunday morning. We're still on target for a May 31 launch date!!

Citizens for Space Exploration

I have been actively working with the Florida sector of the Citizens for Space Exploration as the annual Washington D.C trip is approaching at the end of May. The Citizens for Space Exploration is an organization comprised of multi-state taxpayers who support America's investment in space exploration. The organization represents private citizens, small business owners, students, teachers, space and non-space business representatives, and county and municipal officials. Together, our mission is to promote awareness of the benefits of human space exploration and support for NASA and the US Space Exploration Policy. To help out with the trip, I have been gathering the biographies along with the budgeted NASA funding for the 2008 fiscal year. These two pieces of information will be placed in the folders that the groups will take with them to their appointments with the congressional members and staff. I will be sponsored to attend this year by Ensco Inc. and am looking forward to going to the Hill to advocate the importance of supporting the space program.