Where are all the Orbiters going?

This month NASA has commenced the delivery of its four Space Shuttle orbiters to their final destinations. After an extensive decommissioning process, the fleet -- which includes three former working spacecraft and one test orbiter -- is nearly ready for public display.

Space Shuttle Enterprise:


Enterprise is scheduled to take off Wednesday from Washington Dulles International Airport to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport for display at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in Manhattan.

Space Shuttle Discovery:


This week Discovery took her last flight, piggybacking a modified 747 from Kennedy Space Center to Washington D.C., where it will replace Enterprise as part of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.

Space Shuttle Endeavour:


Endeavour will go to Los Angeles in mid-September to be displayed in the California Science Center.
Space Shuttle Atlantis:


In early 2013, Atlantis will take its place on permanent display at Florida's Kennedy Space Center.

HI-SEAS Update: Moving to the next round!

If you recall from a previous post, I applied to the HI-SEAS (Hawaii Space Exploration Analogue & Simulation) Mission and Food Study by Cornell University/University of Hawaii. I received some pretty excited news this past weekend that I've advanced to the next stage of the "highly qualified" pool!!! About 700 applications were submitted, of which 150 applicants were selected as "highly qualified". After even more review, about 30 applicants have moved on to this next stage. This next stage involves a phone interview and the selection committee contacting references. So fingers crossed as I am super excited about this opportunity and contributing to eventual long-duration space flight missions to Mars!

Why Explore Space? Video Contest

We think space exploration is beneficial to everyone on earth. We know space exploration matters. And we want to hear what you think.

So tell us, America - Why explore space?

• Why is space exploration important to you?
• How does space exploration inspire you?
• Why should we explore space?

Sound off – share ideas about why we should explore space by participating in our "Why Explore Space?" video contest.
• Send us a 1-2 minute video
• Share your entry with friends and family - let them know that space is important to you

Once uploaded, the contest begins! the public will vote on the best submissions.

The grand prize is an iPad 3...We want to hear from YOU!


Enter Now! Deadline: April 29th, 2012

Application Submitted for Mars Food Study!

Finally submitted my application late last night to the Mars Analog Mission and Food Study with Cornell/University of Hawaii! It was an intense week typing away in for the application! The application process has now closed and they have received an estimated 700 applications. Good luck to everyone who applied! This is such a great opportunity and we really need to support studies such as this one to contribute to understanding the physiological and psychological effects of long-duration missions on humans. Selected or not, it will be interesting to see the progress of the study on the possibilities of food prepared/consumed and how the crewmembers are effected.

FYI...On Saturday, Earth and Mars will arrive at their closest point from one another since the last 26. Martian features and polar caps should be visible through moderate-sized backyard telescopes! Several observatories plan to mark the occasion with web casts of the neighboring planet. One webcast that will be available is Slooh’s homepage or by visiting Slooh’s G+ page.

The Slooh Space Camera Homepage:
http://events.slooh.com/

The G+ Slooh Space Camera Page is available at:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/108176209664415419112/

Cornell/University of Hawaii Mars Analog Mission and Food Study

Wish I would have learned of this study sooner! Regardless, I working rather quickly on submitting my application to this study. Wish me luck!

http://manoa.hawaii.edu/hi-seas

Teens Put Lego Man in 'Space' (Actually Stratosphere)

A fun video by Toronto 17-year-olds Mathew Ho and Asad Muhammad shows their homemade balloon launch of a Lego minifigure into the stratosphere to catch views of near space.




http://www.space.com/14397-teens-lego-man-space-stratosphere.html

What are my chances?

The other day someone asked me what the chances are for someone to be selected as an astronaut candidate.


"To illustrate how hard it is to become an astronaut, Kimbrough assumed 4,000 applicants. Approximately 10 percent, 400 people, will be selected as "highly qualified." Roughly the top 100 will get invited to NASA for a first interview. Thirty or 40 will be brought back for a second interview and final selection. Of that number, typically nine to 15 become astronauts."
From: http://blog.al.com/space-news/2012/01/astronaut_tells_huntsville_sol.html

After the 2009 selection, Brian Shiro made a figure illustrating the various stages of the selection. He was also amongst the "highly-qualified" selected group!

From: http://www.astronautforhire.com/2009/01/update-nasa-has-selected-all.html

Good luck to the 2012 astronaut applicants! Looking forward to hearing some applicant updates!!! :)

Astronaut Application SENT! :)

Astronaut application official submitted!!! :-)