Posts Tagged ‘OV-103’
More Bitter Than Sweet
What can you say? It is the end. The last launch of the most successful American Human Space Flight Program, in fact the most successful HSF program in world history, after thirty years. Fourteen people have given their lives riding these magnificent birds striving to [Read More]
We Do All We Can Do-Space Shuttle Workforce Tribute
Below is a music video (hat tip goes to Mark Bray of Braynstorms.com) giving tribute to the Space Shuttle Workforce written and performed by Dan Keenan and Kenny McLaughlin who both worked at Kennedy Space Center. I know many of the people in the video and you [Read More]
“Houston Discovery, For the Final Time, Wheels Stop.
It’s been a couple weeks or so since Discovery ended her very last mission and I have been struggling about what to write. As regular readers know, Discovery was the first Space Shuttle I worked on and has always been very special to me. RV-103 was named in honor [Read More]
That’s My Girl!!!
On February 24th, 2011, OV-103 Space Shuttle Discovery launched for the last time into space. Discovery was the first Space Shuttle I had the privilege to work on and she has always been my favorite. I have watched many launches since Columbia’s first launch, and [Read More]
The Space Show Interview Is Now Online
Last night I appeared on The Space Show hosted by Dr. David Livingston. The interview went so well that it went a half hour over the scheduled time. There were many good calls and email questions from all over the world and Kennedy Space Center. I wanted to thank the [Read More]
STS 133 Discovery’s Final Rollout
Monday evening I turned on NASA TV and watched Discovery (OV-103) do her very last rollout to Launch Complex 39 A. As I was watching the rollout, I called some friends still working at Kennedy Space Center to chat. It was for them, as it was for me, very bittersweet. [Read More]
The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same.
The editorial below was written by Jim Slade in 1991 for ABC Radio. It applies to our situation now as it did then. Jim Slade 1991 More of Jim’s writings can be found here. [Read More]
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
The RV-103 lecture series visited the elementary schools in Olean NY this week. The 5th grade curriculum for NY schools has the students learning about space related topics starting that year and talk about an enthusiastic groups of kids! The kids got to hear a [Read More]
Rocketman Featured in Smithsonian Air & Space Magazine
The October/November issue of the Smithsonian Air & Space Magazine has done an article called “Throttle Down” by Tom Harpole. The article is written about the end of the Space Shuttle Program and the economic devastation it will cause to Brevard County [Read More]
Start of Discovery’s Final Voyage
Today, Space Shuttle Discovery (OV-103) rolled over to the Vehicle Assembly Building to be stacked and mated in preparation for being rolled out to Launch Complex 39A. This will be Discovery’s 39th and last mission. Though Discovery launched on her first mission August [Read More]
Put Your Face In Space!
From the NASA web site: “Fly Your Face in Space NASA wants to put a picture of you on one of the two remaining space shuttle missions and launch it into orbit. To launch your face into space and become a part of history, just follow these steps: First…Select the [Read More]
Join the Misadventures!
RV-103 is proud to announce the RV-103 Lecture Series. The RV-103 Lecture Series is designed to present to civic groups, schools 5th grade and up, and scout troops what it is like to be involved and work in Human Space Flight, specifically the Space Shuttle Program. The [Read More]
Time Lapse Video of Shuttle Discovery
This was done by the Air and Space Museum during Discovery’s last mission prep and launch. This is my ship and my former co-workers. I think this is the fastest I’ve ever seen them move. Well done OPF 3, TPS, and United Space Alliance. Enjoy! [Read More]
When Things Go Viral
About a week ago I posted an analysis on Obama’s speech ending our Human Space Flight Program. I was surprised to find it being featured on at least seven web sites, including NASAwatch.com. My first clue was when I couldn’t log on to my website. The message I kept [Read More]
That’s My Girl!!! Fly Baby Fly!!!
Early Easter Morning Shuttle Discovery (OV-103) lit up the pre-dawn sky from Launch Complex 39A. She was the first ship I got to work on when I was employed by United Space Alliance and is what RV-103 is named after. From the NASAwebsite: Discovery Lifts off An exhaust [Read More]
Inside OPF 3, the Home of OV-103 Discovery
I have a treat for you all. Astronaut Mike Massimino recently took a video camera into my old work place, Orbiter Processing Facility 3 at Kennedy Space Center. In the video you will see a few of my former co-workers of United Space Alliance preparing Shuttle Discovery [Read More]
Off Topic, but Important
Though this is a blog chronicling the misadventures of the crew of RV-103, many of you know I am retired from Kennedy Space Center and Human Space Flight is near and dear to my heart. A major event recently occurred that I want to comment on. It is not a launch, but [Read More]
Endeavour Launch Rescheduled
According to NASA: “Managers officially have scheduled space shuttle Endeavour’s next launch attempt for Monday, Feb. 8 at 4:14 a.m. EST. [Read More]
12-19-09 Launch day for Mission #2
As we were closing out the condo, we discovered Commander Merlin hiding under…errrr…doing a final walk down under the bed. It took both crew members to coax her out so she could report for duty on the bridge of RV-103. We loaded her up in her own little special [Read More]
11-29 to 12-19-2009 Back in the RV Processing Facility
RV-103 is back and being readied for her next mission. This is the time to go over “lessons learned” from the shakedown, take off supplies we realized we didn’t need and take on supplies we found we did need. We also needed to get routine maintenance done. Up to [Read More]
11-14 to 11-29-09 Completion of Mission #1 Shakedown
We stayed at the Philadelphia West Chester KOA while doing our research work at Drexal University Library Special Collections. This was our first time staying at a KOA and it appeared well run. Nothing special about it as we learned about all the KOA’s we ended up [Read More]
10-30-09 New York New York!
Evergreen Trails Campground does not accept any club discounts, but with it being off season, the campground manager Mark did give us a nice discount. The weather up here was already cold with temps getting down into the 20’s at night and they had already had some snow [Read More]
10-27-2009 3…2…1…LAUNCH!!!!!
“The clock is running! We have cleared the tower!” Sorry, I had to quote Commander Lovell in Apollo 13. Yes folks, after all this time, we are finally on our way. Mission #1 of Discovery RV-103 is a shakedown cruise for the ship and the crew. With our fearful [Read More]
10-25-2009 Moving to the Launch Pad!
Today is the day! We packed up RV-103, closed out the condo, and proceeded to our “launch pad” for the shakedown mission of Discovery. We traveled from our home in the Clearwater/Tampa Bay area to the Port Canaveral Campground in Cape Canaveral FL. There we got [Read More]
Blast From the Past
Yeah that’s me when I was Rocketboy. I’m the one in the center with the Mickey Mouse ears. That was in 1973 when my now deceased grandparents took me and my two older cousins to Kennedy Space Center. I was nine years old at the time. At that time you [Read More]
Fall 2009 To Present Let’s Go Clubbing!
We have found with our research, if you are going to do any serious RVing, then you should have a club membership to get discounts at the RV parks. There appear to be many RV clubs, both big and small, and many of them require some sort of yearly dues. We ended up [Read More]
10-16-2009 But Can You Color Inside The Lines?
The last major item that needed to be taken cared of was the carpet. RV-103 used to have a light brown/golden colored carpet that really didn’t match the rest of the décor very well. It appears that sometime in the past, someone had tried to clean the carpet with a [Read More]
Are We Having Fun Yet? September – October 2009
As with any home, wheels or no wheels, when you purchase it used, you end up spending a lot of money and time “making it your own.” The same goes for us and RV-103. Though the RV was in great shape overall, much work had to be done to turn her into our home. Systems [Read More]
Welcome to RV-103 Discovery!
The commander and crew of Discovery welcome you to the Missions of RV-103! Gypsy is a professional of 20+ years and a very tolerant and patient woman when it comes to me. Our fearful leader, Commander Merlin, is our cat and she is neither patient nor tolerant. Sometimes I [Read More]
