Our crew made it home.

Well I got home at 3am because this week I have been working 2nd shift.. I go into work at 2pm and don't get out till about midnight or later. It messes up your whole sleep pattern and I have found it difficult to sleep during the day when planes are passing by low and neighbors are doing yard work. As I was getting ready to leave, some of my co-workers were getting into work to head out to the Shuttle Landing Facility. They are there at the runway to witness landing and then to walk-down the orbiter to document discrepancies before it is rolled into the bay. Regardless of difficulties in sleeping, after getting home at 3am, i put my alarm for 6:10 because I wanted to hear the sonic boom. I left the TV on tuned to the NASA channel so I wouldn't miss a thing. At exactly 6:18 I heard the sonic boom. It's amazing hearing it. It's like some let a shot gun go off right outside your window, but just enough to make a tiny shake to your windows. I continued watching the landing and when I knew they were safely home, I went back to sleep. I experienced another mission with a great team, and great teamwork!

I'm back, and Atlantis coming home soon...

I'm back from houston and it was a great trip. The team was able to resolve all of the Thermal Protection System issues and approved Atlantis safe to fly home. Landing will happen on Wed. Sept 20th at 6:00 am. Should be nice to wake up to a sonic boom. The NASA photographer got some shots of me working while I was supporting the mission imagery team.

Successful launch for Atlantis!!

---

I hope those of you in central FL. were able to see the launch. It was a little cloudy, but still a beautiful site. Now, to houston I go to inspect the thermal protection system. Be sure to keep up with the live updates during the mission. Long days awaits our inspection team, but i have a feeling that we won't be seeing much tile damage. Hopefully no protruding gap fillers either!!

Let's try this launch again!!!

Sept.6 at 12:28:48 pm. EDT. will be the next launch attempt for Space Shuttle Atlantis. Tropical Storm Ernesto did not effect us like we though, but we still took the hurricane percautions. I helped my mom put shutters up in her home since she lives in south florida, and then we had a day off incase the weather became worse. But to me, it was just like any other rainy day in florida. However, with a few afternoon squalls of rain you just wouldn't want to drive through. I think it's a good idea too that the launch is scheduled to be at 12:28 pm because usually the scattered thunderstorms occur later in the afternoon.

Other major news....Lockheed Martin won the contract to build the CEV spacecraft. They won this contract over Northrop Grumman and Boeing. You can read all about it here.

Hope everyone has a great long weekend. My birthday is on Monday (I'll be 25) and I get to enjoy a holiday.

Atlantis Mission Status...

STS-115 Mission Status Center

Below is a picture of Atlantis heading back to the launchpad.

Shuttle Altantis Status

Today, efforts for rolling back shuttle atlantis were halted when the shuttle was one mile from the VAB. So Atlantis is back at the launch pad. Depending how tropical storm Ernesto makes out, we could be looking to resuming the launch countdown and launching on September 6th or 7th. We have suspended operations tomorrow...(meaning i get to sleep in and not go to work) and we resume work on Thursday. Let's cross our fingers for a launch next week.

-Damaris

Go STS-115!!!

I think this has been the longest i have not written. I completed my 2 graduate courses and got A's. (yey) Tomorrow I register for another course.

Here are some pictures of Space Shuttle Atlantis at the launch pad. The launch is scheduled for Sunday Aug. 27th at 4:30pm. I really hope that the weather will permit us to launch. Today it was rainy in the afternoon I just hope the weather doesn't follow the pattern as it was with STS-121.

Lately at work i have been working on some process improvements and performing thermal blanket inspections with some co-workers on Space Shuttle Discovery. If you recall from STS-114, there was a thermal blanket patch whose stitches became detached next to Commander Eileen Collin's window. We are basically inspecting all the blankets to look for missing stitches exceeding the criteria or for fabric degradation. On top of the blanket inspections, a lot of paper is being kicked out for repairing degraded previous tile repairs. It's amazing how busy everyone is at work.

I am leaving the day after launch to go out to Houston to support JSC during the imagery inspection. This is when the team looks at the high-res pictures taken from the international space station to determine if there are any damages to the thermal protection system (tiles, thermal blankets, RCC).

Man, and what do you guys think about the 3 new planets? Crazy huh? There goes the rhyme I went by to memorize my planets when i was younger: My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas. Here's an attempt to a new one from a website I read: Many Verses, Each May Change, Just Stick Under New Planet Called UB313

Hope everyone has a good week!!

Shuttle Atlantis STS-115

Rollout to the launch pad of shuttle atlantis was delayed due to weather issues out here. Aside from that, we are still looking at Aug 27th, 2006 launch! I've been working long hours lately and we've been very busy at work with all three orbiters.

My status...

I've been really busy lately. I am going through finals, wrapping up one research paper only to start another, and turning in projects. Aside from school Space Shuttle Atlantis rolled over to the Vehicle Assembly Building. This will be our continuation flight in assembling the International Space Station. Atlantis is going to carry the second set of solar arrays to attach to the ISS. The last solar arrays were in place in 2000, so it's been a while.

They're back!!!

This was the first time I've ever heard the sonic boom. It was amazing! Our friends are home!

Astronauts doing their spacewalk....

While the astronauts are doing their spacewalk, I am helping to quickly prepare the briefing charts to include analysis and recommendations.

Working Hard!

Here's a picture someone took of my co-worker and I while we were looking at the imagery files downlinked from the space station. I just got home and I am exhausted!! If you watch the NASA channel, they are showing the highlights of flight day 4. There are briefings that they're showing from the press release which was exactly what i helped prepare today. We had the crew take better images of the areas we had marked down as damages. There are still some areas that we are evaluating for heating scenarios, some were eliminated or acceptable by criteria; for example, the nose cap. There was a white spot on the nose cap that was thought to be a damage. However, with a better image from the crew today, it was determined it was a bird dropping. Yup. We're all glad it is not a damage. Tomorrow is saturday and I will be at work at 7am to continue to help working on charts with the results of the analysis/recommendations.

Imagery complete...Next, analysis and decision making

Today, with the imagery team, we looked at images downlinked from the space station. There were a couple thermal blankets that had a small tear. However, this is not something that is a threat to the re-entry of the vehicle. There was a small damage in between the commander and pilot's window. Again, the damage is small and is not a threat.

I am extremley impressed as to how "clean" the tiles were. There were damages, but not of them fell out of the criteria we have for size in specific zones of the orbiter. We did have a couple of protruding gap fillers that are undergoing analysis at the moment. The analysis is to be done by the aeroheating group to see what the effects are on the boundary layer. So if the analysis shows it will be a threat upon re-entry, managers will need to decide if an EVA is required to pull the gap filler on a spacewalk, just as in the last flight (STS-114). Today was a long day. I went in at 8:30am and didn't get out till about 8:00pm. And this is that I left early because I have a paper for school that I want to work on. However, there were others that have been there longer, and stayed there longer today. Tomorrow will be an even longer day as meetings will be held and charts for briefings will need to be prepared based on the analysis for these in-flight anomalies. I go in at 7am and i may be working more than 12 hrs tomorrow.

It was a great day though. I have got to say that being part of the mission is the biggest pay-off in my job. I couldn't ask for anything better. I am surrounded by great co-workers and they are all team-players. I was watching the NASA tv downlink and waited for the orbiter to dock to the space station. when it did, it was so great to see the crew come to the space station. My biggest fan right now is Mike Fossum (also a graduate from Texas A&M University!!!). It's his first flight and he just has the biggest smile on him all the time. But it was just so cool how i was just sitting there at work, watching the astronauts downlink the images, and then an hour later, i am looking at them for damages. It's all amazing to me and just makes me want to hop on the next shuttle (Haha...too bad it's not that easy to do)!!


If you want to see pictures of the damages, you can visit this site: http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/cat.asp?cid=4

I've arrived in houston

I'm in Houston now. It's late and I should be in bed because I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow. I will be looking at the imagery downlink images that the space station crew will be taking of the orbiter's belly. We will look for any damages or discrepancies on tiles, blankets, or regarding gap fillers. I'll update everyone more later. I just checked in to my hotel and need to iron (yuck..not a fan of ironing..)

-Damaris

Today's Successful Launch

We have ACCEPTABLE launch conditions. "Go" for STS-121!!!

We are go for launch everyone!!! Here are some pictures of the foam that was evaluated. A borescope was used to inspect the crack and they have evaluated and run further analysis to determine that we can proceed with the launch tomorrow! (yey!)










I did want to mention this: NASA has public phone numbers in the case that if you're unable to listen to NASA TV when they have the press conferences even during the launch countdown, these lines are available at "monitor only". you can call it and just listen in. Its exactly whats being said during on the television. Now there isn't something being said every minute, so if you don't hear something then try back because they may just have the cameras on the shuttle and not be saying anything. 321/867-1220, 321/867-1240, or 321/867-1260



Almost forgot to share some pictures of discovery on the launch pad!!!! Enjoy!

Even tomorrow's launch may not happen.

Yesterday after the scrub, there is an inspecting crew that inspected the external tank for ice buildup and looked for any cracks or missing foam. Well, a crack was found. It's in discussion right now, whether it needs to be repaired and what the options are. The crack was found on the foam insulation near one of the holding brackets that hold the oxygen feed line. It's about 4-5 inches in length.

Read more about the External Tank foam crack here...

Scrub! We'll try again on Tuesday

Someone do a rain dance to make these clouds go away! haha. Well, we are going to attempt another launch on Tuesday because tomorrow's predicted weather forecasts a 60% chance of unacceptable launch conditions.
-Damaris

Let's try this again....

Today i had to provide engineering support so i was at work early enough to beat the traffic of everyone coming to view the launch. However, due to weather and then a boat being in restricted area, the launch did not happen. At work we really though the shuttle was going to take off today because there were absolutely no clouds over the shuttle and on the coast side...but there were some heavy clouds inland. There cannot be heavy clouds within a 25 mile radius of the launch site. Not only is it for visibility, but it is also incase something goes wrong and an abort mode, such as the Return to Launch Site (RTLS) is approved. This is a very dangerous abort mode.

But guess what?! I did get to see Vice President Dick Cheney. While we were working, he was given a quick mini-tour of the obiter processing facility. There were secret service guys all over the place and security was very tight.

Well tomorrow i will be back at work and wait to see if we launch at 3:26 pm. I've been watching the weather channel and it says we're going to have afternoon showers. We'll see, but keep your fingers crossed!! :)

Go STS-121!!

The tank is filled and the crew will arrive in 3 hrs!!!

Here's the time for those who can't be here to see it, to start refreshing this page about every couple minutes, hours....to see up-to-date news. Especially when it gets closer to the final countdown...

Click here for Mission Status!!

Launch countdown start tomorrow at 5pm!!!!

Starting today is about the day that you may want to be checking this site below more frequently. Hopefully the weather will be good for a launch on saturday. It just finished hailing and storming here in orlando!!

The countdown tomorrow starts at 5pm. This is where the excitement starts y'all!
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts121/status.html

Before Discovery takes off, I am going to try to get a picture of her sitting out on the launch pad. Hope everyone is having a great week!

~Damaris

STS-121: Discovery Set to Launch July 1

here is the press release on the results of the FRR. We're go for launch on July 1. Get excited y'all!!!

Where I am these days.....

Wow, I didn't think taking two courses this semester was going to be so hectic. I guess the stress and workload with the launch has something to do with it too. I am in the middle of writing 3 research papers and i have until the end of this week to complete my midterm. At the same time, i am trying to get ahead because as soon as Discovery launches, i am being flown out to houston for imagery support. I decided that next semester I am going to just take one course to make time for starting flying lessons. (yey!)

Today the flight readiness review (FRR) for STS-121 ended. it was on friday and saturday (today). During the FRR is when managers discuss any final assessments and finalize the launch date. i tried searching all over to see what the outcome was....but unless something comes out tomorrow..then i won't find out till monday.

Again, i will post my most favorite site for everyone to keep track of up-to-date news on the mission:

http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts121/fdf/calendar.html

http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts121/status.html

My daddy came up for the weekend. So far we have watched the World Cup, ate Sushi at Wazzabi, and now are lounging on the couch getting ready to watch a movie. I hope everyone is enjoying the weekend...To all the fathers out there...have a Happy Father's Day weekend...

"Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a Daddy"
F.Y.I: The first father's day was on June 10, 1910 in Spokane, WA but became national in 1972.

I'm going to go read some more. Break time is over. :)
-Damaris

Tile Coupon Samples Coming Out Of The Oven

wish you guys all could have been here to do this. First of all, I wasn't able to get pictures of me making my tiles. but i did want to show you this. This is just a test coupon of the material (silica) that the tiles are made of. The pictures shown here are of tiles coupons in the oven at 2200 degrees fahrenheit!!! It was hard to get good pictures because the camera was acting up due to the low light. the ones of me holding the sample coupon did not come out good. Basically, after the tile is coated (black ceramic coating), it goes into the oven to cure the coating, then it is waterproofed. When these coupons come out of the oven, the middle of the sample are hot, but the edges are cool enough to hold, just how one of the techs here is holding. But imagine that.. coming out of the oven at 2200 degrees F, and touching it with your bare hands...!!! :) Too cool.

Coming home from Houston

What did I miss on Friday?!? Discovery rolling out to the launch pad!! But I was able to get a great picture from a co-worker!! I'm coming home today from houston. i have been here for mission imagery support and yesterday I participated as maid of honor in my best friend's wedding. Come Monday......back to work, bright and early!

At NASA JSC

I just arrived today in Houston, Texas for another imagery support training. If you've read my previous blogs when I've been in houston, then you know what I will be doing (Analyzing Hi-res images for damages to tiles/blankets/gap filler). I am working through wednesday and then thurs-sun I am taking vacation because I am the maid of honor in my best friend's wedding. This is the first wedding I have ever been in, but I am excited. I hope you all enjoyed the pictures I posted last week. When I get back to kennedy space center I will post the ones of the tile I made myself!!!! :)

Some more pictures of Discovery moving into the VAB

Discovery is now parked in the VAB!!!

Astronaut John Phillips and I

Well hi everyone! Work has been keeping me very busy, but that's how I like it! This picture was taken today. Astronaut John Phillips was here at KSC today. He was on the International Space Station Expedition 11 for 6 months! Shuttle Discovery will be rolling out of the OPF (Orbiter Processing Facility) Friday around 10am. So, be prepared because its about that time that you will see a lot of cool pictures from me.....

Monday I started learning how to make my very own shuttle tile. I am familiar with the process because I helped write it, but I started actually making my own. Monday consisted of cutting the tile and sanding it. Then it goes through a heatcleaning and waterproofing stage that the ovens do. Tomorrow I will be coating the tile. I'll be sure to take some pictures.

Today was the first day in a long time that we received rain. And, it was still just a little bit. The brush fires have had a major impact on the highways and increased my work travel time to an hour and a half. In the morning the fog and smoke just don't help. They've closed certain roads in the mornings because there have been so many accidents due to people not driving carefully through the thick smoke and fog. Last week, there were patches of smoke that I couldn't even see 10 feet in front of my car.

Mobile Launch Platform (MLP)

The purpose of the Mobile Launch Platform (MLP) is to move the fully assembled Space Shuttle to the launch pad for flight. It weighs about 6 million pounds and the speedometer only goes from 0 to 2 mph. It usually takes about 5 hours for the trip from the Vehicle Assemble Building (VAB) to the launch pad (3 1/2 miles!!!!). I couldn't get a picture of it on friday, but what I wanted to show here was the rock path to the side of the VAB. Since the MLP weighs so much, "rock paths" are laid out so the MLP doesn't crush the ground cement. You can sort of see in the picture the whole rocks and then the finely crushed-rock footprints the crawler transporter left behind.

I have complete my first graduate course..yey!

I just finished taking part 2 of my online final. First let me share with you the craziness I went through. I took part 1 of my final on thursday around midnight. By the time I finished, I was debating on whether or not I should move on to part 2. I decided to take it because I didn't want to worry about it on friday or the weekend. So at 2:00 am I start my final..then..with my luck, as I was trying to submit question 2, it said "page cannot be displayed". Adelphia (my cable ISP) decided to do a maintenance till 6am. I'd have to say I was not very happy. The session was timed for only an hour an a half! I couldn't sleep because I was worrying that my professor wasn't going to buy my story. Since I didn't sleep, i kept refreshing the page and then finally at 5:38, it was back up. I emailed the prof with my situation and then had to get ready for work. Just today, he reset it for me since I was locked out. But, I am done with this class. My next term starts May 7th and I signed up for two classes. They are Human Factors in Aviation/Aerospace Systems and Aircraft and Spacecraft Development. Lessons learned: I will never take an online final after midnight, and for my next classes, I will pace myself better.

Since my last post....

Wow, it has been over a month since my last post. Many things to update on. First of all, I absolutely had a blast being a guest speaker for Ridley Park High School. I just thought it was great to be able to speak to students with such potential and that they have the ability to do what they're passionate about. It's all about going after what you want and sometimes we just all need to be reminded of that. Myself included... Boeing did an article on me when I got back from the presentation. I will scan and post as a jpg. later today. Currently, I am trying to fit into my schedule to be a guest speaker for Starfleet International.

In the beginning of this month I attending another mission imagery simulation at NASA JSC in Houston, TX. The simulations are to do a run-through as if it were really during the mission. For this imagery sim, we were looking for damages on the orbiter tiles/thermal blankets outside of a set criteria. Prior to the sim, there is a group that takes the images from the previous mission (STS-114) and "creates" discrepancies using a photo editor. So during the sim, you have no idea what to expect and you have to catch everything.

I am taking a break right now in preparing for finals....If you see the time I am posting this (3:30am-ish), you will see this is an "all-nighter" for me. I have a paper to complete by 8am, then I continue on preparing for my final that I have to take this friday.



My sister attended a conference in CT. and needed to leave my little niece with me for four days. This little girl has so much energy!! I commend those parents out there who are able to balance it all! In just four days I learned how tough it is to be a parent and that I am definitely not ready to have kids (hee hee). It was great fun though and very rewarding everytime Ashley would give me a kiss and wrap her arms around me. Just for that...I am posting a picture of her on my blog...To share to the world her beautiful innocent smile. Ok..I have to get back to studying...I'll write more after finals!

P.S Have a Happy Easter!

NASA Group Achievement Award

I received another NASA group achievement award in the efforts of helping out with the gap filler assessment group. A lot of hard work and analysis was provided by this group to determine the root cause of the loose gap filler from STS-114. This week I am preparing a presentation to go speak to a high school academy in Ridley Park, PA. I will be doing three presentations next week about my achievements in the past, the shuttle process and thermal protection system, as well as opportunities the students can become involved in.

NASA's Dawn Spacecraft

The Boeing Delta 2 rocket will launch NASA's Dawn spacecraft that will use an ion propulsion system to visit and orbit the asteroids Vesta and Ceres. This program was delayed from June 06 to Nov 06 for a program review. My good friend, Wendy, forwarded me this link, and I thought this was cool.

Click here to send your name to the Asteroid Belt!!!

More about the mission: http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/

Burt Rutan's GlobalFlyer at KSC

http://www.virginatlanticglobalflyer.com/

The Atlantic GlobalFlyer is currently awaiting departure from KSC. It is statused at Code Red until at least February 6th. Due to the Chinese New Year's holiday, the China government bureaus are closed till Feb. 5th and an overflight permit has to be issued. The GlobalFlyer is in the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) hanger. Here are some pictures of the aircraft.

Fossett will set the record for the longest flight of all time aiming to fly around 4,000 miles further than any plane or balloon has flown. Steve Fossett will again fly solo, non-stop and without refuelling in the Burt Rutan designed Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer - the same aircraft in which he successfully circumnavigated the globe (covering a distance of 20,373 miles / 32,786 km) in March 2005.

http://www.virginatlanticglobalflyer.com/

Shuttle Imagery Team

Last week I was sent to Houston for Imagery Support. When the shuttle is launched and in orbit, there is a camera that takes high resolution pictures to determine whether there are any damages to tiles, damaged thermal blankets, or loose gap fillers, as in the last flight. The team that I am a part of looks at these images and analyzes any damage indications to make sure our astronauts are safe to come back home. Thought everyone might enjoy these.

A Sad Sunday

Today couldn't have been any more sad. Riley, my dog, died this afternoon after getting hit by a car. He was exactly nine months today. For anyone who has pets out there, you know the bond and love there is for a pet. Actually, they become family; like kids.

Working towards my Masters at ERAU!

Today when I got home from work, I started reading the first couple of chapters for my first graduate course. I am only taking one course this term through Embry Riddle and once I adjust and have a routine, I will increase the work load and most likely add another course in the upcoming terms.

On the side I am also making a plan to begin to study for the FE Exam. Passing this exam is the first step towards being a professional licensed engineer. After the FE is passed, I work at least 4 years in my specialized area and then prepare for the PE exam.

As far as applying to the astronaut program, the process is put on hold until at least July 2007. This week I started my workout training to get back in shape. There is a gym in the building at KSC and I am going to begin taking the time to workout 3 times a week during my lunch break.

At work I am still working with the team in doing the vehicle inspection of the previous tile repairs. However, we are almost complete with that.

I think it's time for me to take a cool picture and share it with everyone. I'll make sure to post something this week.

Everyone, have a great week.

I've returned from Houston

My training in Houston was awesome. I was running a bunch of code in Unix to run SINDA, which modeled tile cavities. The tool is useful because it determines the temperatures of the tile adhesive to the structure, and the actual structure temperature with the input of cavity dimensions. I enjoyed my time in Houston and learned a lot.

The latest KSC update on the external tank is that the delivery of the external tank modified without the ramps is estimated for March 30, which would bring us to a launch date in July 2006.

I start my first graduate course Jan. 7th 2006. I'm excited, I am one of those who absolutley loves school and learning.

Hope everyone enjoys the holidays!!