Back to being BUSY!!!!

Well, I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday. I completely finished all revisions to my research proposal and incorporated comments from my committee chairman. It looks like I will be registering for MY LAST CLASS at Embry Riddle in January! I also received the application for graduation form from my advisor, so I am well on track to graduate with my first Master's in May 2008!!

So in the meantime, I have been thinking..WHAT NEXT!? Well, I have been looking at some other graduate schools and am currently eyeballing University of Southern California's Masters in Biomedical Engineering and University of Washington's Masters in Aerospace Engineering. They offer both degrees through a distance learning network and that seemed to have worked out very well for my current Masters. I'm still not decided on what degree track I want to pursue, but I have at least until next February to completely decide. Since I haven't taken the GRE yet, I scheduled it yesterday for March 1, 2008.

So...I will currently be working on studying for the GRE, my final research for graduation, getting SCUBA certified, AND working on my resume for the Astronaut Candidate Program!!

I will also be doing some school presentations in January for Ridley Park High School and Merion Elementary School in Pennsylvania.

Orion Crew Module Test Article

I recently visited a NASA blog and Chris from NASA Edge posted these pictures of the Orion crew module test article that is currently being built.

"In September 2008, NASA will be conducting the first Pad Abort flight test. They are calling it Pad Abort 1. This will take place in White Sands, New Mexico. The primary objective is to test the Launch Abort System or LAS. The LAS will be the most expensive part of the Orion spacecraft that hopefully will never be used. The LAS essentially covers the Orion crew module. Pad Abort 1 will simulate how the LAS will function in case something happens to the Ares 1 launch vehicle at the pad. The Pad Abort 1 test will consist of the Orion crew module flight test article and the launch abort system."

Should we go to the moon and Mars?

On November 9th, 2007, the Orlando Sentinel posted a Friday Forum question of "Should we go to the moon and Mars?"

It was a question of determining if our space program was heading in the right direction. I felt the need to give my feedback and the response was published today at: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/letters/orl-myword1707nov17,0,5366252.story

I highly encourage you to watch the video and read some of the comments others left, and think of what your answer may be to this question.

Boeing to ship Orion developmental heat shield to NASA

Advanced Network and Space Systems material and process engineer Elizabeth Chu inspects the Thermal Protection System Manufacturing Demonstration Unit developed for NASA’s Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle project. Advanced Systems was awarded a contract last year to develop a prototype heat shield to protect NASA astronauts from extreme heat during re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere upon returning from lunar and low-Earth-orbit missions. The work was performed at Boeing's facility in Huntington Beach, California.

Shuttle Atlantis Rolls Out Tomorrow!

Tomorrow, the shuttle stack rolls out to the launch pad around 4:00 am!!!!

Discovery gets ready to go into OPF 3

After a successful STS-120 mission, Discovery prepares to enter Orbiter Processing Facility 3. It will undergo many inspections and procedures in preparation of the vehicle's next flight in April 2008!

Discovery (STS-120) Lands at KSC!!!

NASA 50th Anniversary Essay Contest for Students

The NASA 50th Anniversary Essay Competition for middle and junior high school students is now accepting entries. The competition consists of two separate topics, each with a limit of 500 words. The first topic challenges students to describe how they benefit in their everyday lives from space technologies built by NASA over the last 50 years. The second topic requires students to imagine how their everyday lives will have changed because of NASA space technology in the next 50 years.

Students may submit two separate essays, each responding to a separate topic. Participants must be U.S. students in grades 5-9 and under the age of 15. An optional notice of intent is due on Dec. 7, 2007. Final entries are due on or before Jan. 7, 2008.

WEBSITE:http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/5-8/features/F_Essay_Competition.html

Any U.S. student enrolled in an accredited middle school, junior high school or home school (under the age of 15) in the U.S. or its territories is eligible to enter the competition for cash prizes. Non-U.S. citizens and students in international locations can enter as well, but they are not eligible for cash prizes. Trophies and certificates will be awarded to each winner, regardless of citizenship.

First prize: $5,000 college scholarship and four VIP trips to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to watch the STS-125 shuttle launch.
Second prize: $2,500 college scholarship.
Third prize: $1,000 college scholarship.
Ten regional winners will receive "Regional Winner" trophies.

Atlantis leaves for the VAB!

This morning at 7:04 am, Atlantis left for the VAB in preparation of assembling the shuttle stack!

Videos from today at the Shuttle Landing Facility

Day 1 of the 2007 World Space Expo

I have been volunteering some of my time in preparation of the events of World Space Expo and today was the first day of the spectacular event! Below are some of the highlights of my day. I can't wait for tomorrow's aerial Salute to 50 Years in Space.

I met Lt. Col. Kevin Robbins who is the commander/leader of the USAF Thunderbirds! Below is a photo of him with his F-16 Thunderbird "parked" at the Shuttle Landing Facility. Then there were the two F-22 Raptors. My favorite!!! I got to get upclose to the aircraft and meet the pilots!! There was a major cool factor seeing the aircraft at the Shuttle Landing Facility and I know the pilots are excited about flight over Kennedy Space Center. I will upload some videos later tonight of some of the aircraft coming in on the runway.