on, "The People of NASA"--- Part 2

Over the thirty plus years of flight and nearly 40 years of design construction and engineering of the Space Shuttle Program tens of thousands of people have participated behind the scenes.  My #NASATweetup experience for STS-135 was unique.  I was not able to attend day one, but was able to experience the launch from both sides of the curtain by attending day two of the event and having several other days to meet informally with NASA staff members at various locations.

I informally met my first NASA employees while flying into Florida as a large group boarded the aircraft during one of many stops that day.  They were reluctant to talk especially on record but eventually began to talk freely and without reservation when I assured that I would not attribute towards them.  I will respect that "off the record" conversation except to say that they all knew that they had already been laid off or were about to be laid off in the coming days.  They were still passionately dedicated and totally professional.  Their job was to make the most complex machine ever built by humankind launch safely on time and return it (and its occupants) safely.  To do this they had be ready to answer any one of thousands of questions instantly.  A living brain trust of over 200 combined human years of Shuttle flight support.  Please understand that this was my *first* exposure to NASA manned flight personnel that week.  

The conversations were varied and passionate.  My own misunderstandings of the causes of the end of the Shuttle era were gently corrected and additional information was supplied.  I had 3 hours to talk informally with people at a level that would rarely be granted interview status by PAO's.  There was no spin.  There was even less filtering.  I was given honest answers from people that had done this job, for many years.

My next visit with NASA personnel was an even less formal manner.  The conversation spanned many hours.  I learned details about manned spaceflight that I had never dreamed of knowing.  The complexities as well as the "real life" challenges as well as the absurdly mundane aspects of it.  This unique group of individuals spoke honestly with humor that belied the amazing level of complexity of their jobs.  There were thousands of hours of experience at that table.  All were clearly passionate about the safety of the crew and their well being.  They were *still* supportive about the space program as a whole.  100 years of NASA experience sat at that table.  They were no less passionate on that day (the day they were laid off) then they were on their first day of work.  Caring people working to specifications that were almost inhuman, brought me closer to the humanity of NASA manned space flight than I ever dreamed possible.

There were "on-the-record" conversations as well.  A group of STS training officers spoke of the trials of training a crew and creating the potential for *every* eventuality.  Of the humor and dedication of all those that supported the space program.  Of *family* bonded by a common task.  They also talked of details of a job that they were just as passionate about on day 8,760 as they were on day one.  I have learned from my previous Tweetup event at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory that the people of NASA are unique.  They are often humble & quiet.  Often they are the last to talk about what they do.  However with gentle prodding they will sometimes describe their duties yet appear almost ashamed at the spotlight.  The details had me on the edge of my seat.  A coaster, signed by each, is now a treasured possession.  (thanks guys!).

The team that is NASA is not just the heroes and legends wearing blue jumpsuits in front of the cameras.  It is the people that we never see on camera.  It is the thousands of people that work on systems too complex to conceive.   Some of these people are working with technology created before their own birth.  The shuttle fleet was aging.  I struggle with the demise of the program but accept both the budget constraints, aging technology and limited resources behind it.

I struggle more, with the lack of an *immediate* replacement for American manned spaceflight and my perception of the lack of a "master plan",  than any other aspect of this time for NASA.  Yet, I *still* have to hold up the folks that made her fly, and I hold high hopes for the future of those at NASA, and those that will transition to other programs and civilian work.

The glory days of Apollo are long gone.  NASA struggles with budgets and mandates that change as quickly as a projected presentation in Washington DC.

The public and politicians expect miracles and instant gratification.  Oftentimes the results of this process appear disjointed and chaotic because of change-orders that arrive one upon the other never allowing one set to be completed before a redesign is ordered from "on high" at Capitol Hill or elsewhere.  These programs take time to conceive and engineer, then build and test.  

The Apollo program was audacious in its lofty goals with expenditures in excess of anything previously conceived.  It cost three lives --often forgotten, and accomplished so much.  Computers, cellphones and network technology.   Nearly everything I see in my office is a direct result of NASA's invention, and the technologies it co-produced.  

We forget that the real gifts of that time were not just the landings on the moon but the technology spinoffs that are still with us today.  That simple computer with a billionth the memory of the machine I am typing on kept two men safe on their first moon landing despite being overworked (1202 alarm) and tasked with so much.  This technology combined with a crews skill and concentration created those miracles on the moon.

A few months ago my life was saved with NASA technology.  Only looking through my NASA tweetup "goodiebag" did I see a rendition of a hospital room and the dozens of pieces of hardware commonplace in every Emergency Room.  Almost every item that had been used on me, was in that picture and had been developed or engineered by NASA.  I was surprised and thankful.  

I still am.

The shuttle program was less lofty than Apollo, both figuratively and *literally*. 

It gave us the international space station, whose operations are now funded until the year 2020.  It gave us the Hubble Telescope that sees quite literally to the beginning to time.  The Shuttle/Hubble followup missions have kept the telescope functional and updated and will ensure its operation for an additional decade. It is still described as the "single most important scientific instrument ever created by man" according to the scientists that use it.  

With the exception of two tragedies that will forever haunt those that witnessed, worked on and supported those launches, the STS program has been flawless.  Nobody that lived at those times will forget those moments, nor will those that worked on the program.   Yet the *people* of NASA redesigned re-engineered and re-purposed themselves creating essentially three separate shuttle programs.  During each phase NASA learned lessons both technological and procedural which increased safety for all the following missions.

On a personal note seeing a launch in person especially from a location like the Kennedy Press Center is life changing.  One cannot be anything but awed, as the powerful main engines start and flex back.  They rock on gimbals and rise to full thrust.   Still silent from our vantage point, the twin rocket boosters "throw" the vehicle and reddish orange tank... off the pad.  It is lost from sight in under a minute.  Halfway though that rise, the sound finally hits you, at the press center.  You *feel* it, as well as sense with your ears.  The ignited Solid Rocket Boosters are nearly as bright as two separate suns.  The sound delayed by distance rises to a crescendo that is awe inspiring.  There is no way to duplicate the experience.  If more of America had the opportunity to witness this in person I doubt they would have let the program be cancelled.  In fact I believe they would already be clamoring for a replacement.  I spoke with people that had seen over a dozen launches.  Each was awed, on their 10th, perhaps even more than their first.  I am told, "it takes a few, before you can grasp all that you are witnessing".

This is the real gift of a NASA Tweetup event.  We get to experience this awe and power, meet the humans that make it work and  then get to blog-tweet-post-photograph and talk about what we have witnessed...  Those friends tell *their friends* and word of mouth passes the experience electronically to many millions of minds.  The fact that our Twitter based reports (and sometimes our questions!) are not filtered gives us the ability to uniquely describe in a completely human manner, that which cannot be packaged by a PR firm or by a "professional" reporter

One of the most touching moments was the sign show by the closeout crew witnessed by nearly a millon people watching NASA TV via streaming media as well as many tens of millions on traditional media around the globe.  Those that saw it in the Tweetup tent were overwhelmed by the emotion of that moment.  We could see how much they cared and were thankful for the opportunity to support those who flew.  Thanking the American Public directly was an amazing gesture.

On behalf of America, thank *you* for the privilege to witness it.  While I am at it I need to thank the people of NASA, for the work you have done for these many decades.  I may not ever meet you, but understand that this thanks is not dimmed by the lack of a handshake.  Your passion and dedication show in every successful mission.

The shuttles are powerful elegant machines but are also infinitely complex.  Seeing the culmination of this program is heart breaking for me.  I have to thank this Presidential Administration for funding a few more flights to finish the program out and support both the station and the science that it carries.

However, the tasks that the space shuttles were designed for are largely completed.  

Private enterprise, who had always *built* Americas space hardware appears poised to actually begin flying manned missions as well.  The systems that were so infinitely complex have been simplified by the needs of private enterprise.  Technology that was unthinkable in 1970's when the Presidential order to create the shuttle program was issued is now commonplace.  The space program will continue with the aid of these technologies.

The largest problem I heard repeated by my informal conversations was that the "requirements for change, are impossible to react to."  "We finish one set of change orders and another completely different mandate throws out the entire game plan".  Another phrase was "engineering by Power-point presentation"  The demands for change on systems that take a decade to build have whipsawed both engineers and NASA Administrators.  This is not unique to manned spaceflight but the NASA post-shuttle missions seem particularly plagued by it according to those I have spoken to.  Nearly all echoed the same concern, from different perspectives.

I see a great future, because we can now focus on moving beyond LEO and the workhorse tasks performed by the shuttle can be done by private industry.   Perhaps they can even do so cheaper and more efficiently.  I have high hopes that NASA's oversight will maintain standards of safety for all parties in the private enterprise system.  One can hope that a few of those thousands of supporting heroes will find work in the private enterprise projects and be willing to come back when NASA resumes manned flight again.

One can hope that changes to mandates and increased stability will enable NASA's most valuable asset ----its people---- from support personell to Administrator to rise from this time of turbulance and perceived indecision, and create a unified plan for the *next* 30 years of manned space flight.

In short, my deepest thanks to the NASA team, for 30 years of amazing vision, powerful spectacle, and "humanity" that is reflected in every aspect of this program.  Also my thanks to the entire NASA Tweetup team who have given me three amazing experiences, the @JPLTweetup @SOFIAtelescope (infrared airborne observatory) and the STS-135 launch in a nearly surreal and often overwhelming 6 weeks.  

Please understand that I hold *all* of you (and "the people of NASA") in highest respect and will continue to do so.

-- 

Thank you for your time, 

@THwrex

Journey to STS-135

It is the night before my flight... to KSC.  Mine is a Cinderella story at best.

I am am not a "Tweetup".  Yet.

I went from one of the 5600 applicants, to  #nasawaitup (a formal wait list for the twitter event).  Then I progressed to #nasastandby last week, a *much* smaller group, I was told.  The formal clearance process, to get me "on base" has been completed.  During last week, the wait list got shorter as more people were picked up... from all over the world.

In a way, my chances got better.  Less people on the "standby" list, improves my chances, right?  There can only be *so* many, promoted from Standby to @tweetup status however, and barring injury, illness, or transportation issues, those few remaining slots appear full now.

As difficult as it is for me to imagine, there is a badge, with my name on it, waiting for me... seemingly, within arms reach.  How do I deal with that temptation?  Only if an email comes in...  or a phone rings.

I obtained "causeway" tickets, that get me within a few miles of the entrance of the press center.  As crazy as it sounds, if the phone rings, *I could walk* to the entrance gate, obtain my pass, and beg a ride, to the press center...

I hope, I hope, I hope. 

As I had to remind my fellow "standby" folks, a "maybe" is always better than a "no" or "not this time".

So, I am flying to Florida, on a leftover mileage ticket, from my many trips to and from Phoenix.  I am buying  a night in a hotel, (my only hotel night) at half the cost of my housing for the entire trip.  The remainder of my time is spent staying with other Tweetup and Alumni folks at a rental house... I am spending an additional 6 days away from my wife and step daughter.

I am looking *really* hard, at a host of video gear, hardware and potential purchases.

But I am *not there yet*.

Let me say this, for my own sake, and for the world to hear.  I cannot begin the thank the folks at NASA who have presented this opportunity for others, in the past, including myself.  I have journeyed once before to see the big show, that was John Glenn's second trip to space.  I took hundreds of pictures, recorded audio, and frankly enjoyed the hell out of myself.  If that is what I get, I am fine with that.

I still hold hope, for that last minute phone call.  That upgrade, from #nasastandby to @nasatweetup.  I have packed gear and materials, just in case.  I have my digital camera, my venerable film hardware, a microphone and adapter cables, (just in case).  One person asked, "does anyone have any "pro" recording equipment.

Yep.

A single microphone to record the shock waves, and a 75 foot XLR extension, just in case.

Because of the nature of my ticket, travel tomorrow, will be an "all day" trip, leaving at noon, and arriving after 10:30 PM, even if all things go without a hitch...  and then travel to the coast, and meeting up with my housemates for the weeks lodging.

So, here is to safe travels, for myself, and many thousands of others, and of course, a small group of four heroes.  Lets not forget the risk they take, and that, which we (mostly) take for granted these days.

@thwrex

My STS-95 Journey

Please note:  This needs some editing for continuity.  Will clean it up tonight... and this header will disappear.

About 6 weeks before the STS-95 launch, my boss, at a small web-casting company, said, "hey, you want to work the shuttle launch?". I replied "yes", figuring I would be back at the studio doing a down link, like all the other web events that month...


Then he asked for my social security number, drivers license. (blink)


A week later, he had a short NASA questionnaire to fill out, regarding past history. "KSC access credential application" or some such. I would not know, whether or not I passed the investigation, until I arrived at the Cape, I was told. 

Suddenly, it was "real". I might actually get to go to KSC, 

It got more real, in the coming 3 weeks. Frighteningly so. 

Pre-production. Gear checkouts. Backhaul, (we used Satellite, to a Webcast hub in CA, and ISDN to backhaul 2 origination "streams" just in case).

Finding a local video crew. 

Finding a local crew that had not been busted for pot smoking...

Finding a local crew that had not been busted at all... and might pass the background investigation.


I spent a week, finalizing travel documents, paper tickets, and last minute purchases. I knew nothing about the trip, the cape, or the environment, except that Sen John Glenn was going up, for the second time, and it was a *Big* deal. There were going to be more press people at that launch, since the first one, (or the one after Challenger, for that matter).

Every living formal president was going to be there, standing on top of the VAB. 

There were a half dozen check points, some very subtle:

(Pro Tip: When the man with the machine gun, says "stop" by waving his hand, don't "wave back" like my producer did...and blast through the checkpoint at 75 MPH, while talking on his cell phone...It took him nearly 3 hours the following day, while dogs and men in uniform, searched his truck, Most Thoroughly they searched it... while crews from CNN, ABC, and NBC cameras rolled. He was made "the example" for the "Security precautions news report).


Now, I am Mostly an audio guy. 

Mostly an audio guy, means that I have a simple 4 channel mixer that leaves one hand free. This is very helpful at concerts. Also, The Oscars, NBA finals, Emmy's, various Red Carpet events, a little gig for the CA Browncoats... say 3,000 gigs, over 15 years, and another hundred or so, for my friends, on a volunteer basis.

Why do I keep a hand free? 

Because, that second hand, usually has a camera in it. 

At the time, it had my Film EOS-1 Body, and as a backup my venerable AE1-Program.

Both camera bodies had adapters for the "Extra lens" a friend supplied me on loan.  He ran a camera store..

http://www.meade.com/product_pages/etx_series/etx_series.php


With the the camera set to help the "crippled" lens, I had gotten a dozen or more test shots that I was happy with, by fading evening light. One exposure was perfect, over 4 seconds... orange red hues, brilliant whites.

(There is this little rise, in the area, clock, at the press center. One of the folks in blue jumpsuits, walked me over and said, this is where he likes to shoot from.   It frames the pad nicely, and the palm trees give a nice depth of field. It is just to the left of the clock, but in front of it, on the grass, but close to the edge of the paved press parking lot)... More importantly, the rise gives you just enough lift, so you can see the entire shuttle, pad and crawler, which is usually hidden by ground clutter, on the other side of the water.)


I had earlier dropped both my tripods, set them up, and sand bagged my hardware, just in case. I left my cameras mounted answering questions, even from the Pros...     Nice to see a guy with 40 years of shooting say, "never thought of that... can I take a few shots?"

Every one of the 2500 press people was now my best friend.  

Why?

Well, I had a telescope to look at the shuttle, hard mounted, on a 20lb tripod.

Also, because I had "stayed over" the night before. 

Most of the webcast crew were in their twenties. They had no idea or less interest in the actual event. Half did not even understand who Neil and Buzz were, (FYI: They were our "clients" who had hired us to help promote "Space Adventures")

Frankly my crew looked stunned, when I suggested that a few night shots, would be cool, and that I might stay over...

(The other guys in the crew had this bar that they wanted to go to... really, a "Bar" verses spending a night at KSC?)

So, sitting under a tarp, just after midnight, mosquitoes humming and actually bashing into the blue fabric, I heard voices. "Grab your camera, the bus is coming around".

I found myself standing looking at a bunch of middle aged men. Middle aged men with cameras and lenses that were thousands of dollars more than I could afford. Some fat, Some thin. One guy with a 30 foot boom, remotes and a pair of perfectly matched Nikon F1's.  

If he used zoom lenses, he extended it out to 60 feet or more.

He waved at me... "you coming? Get your gear!". 

Big smile on my face. Quickly loading up another 30 rolls of film. (Kodak had graciously loaned Cape Kennedy a pair of special events trucks. One E6 and one C41. Film and developing were free. 13,000 rolls were shot and processed on site by delighted amateurs and professionals alike).  Shoot 10 rolls, deliver them to the truck, get another ten, your negatives are ready when you get back 20 minutes later.

So, we rolled out to the closest viewing point of the pad, perhaps 300 yards away. Even with my widest lens, I could get an engine cone, or a cowling, or looking nearly strait up... an elongated shuttle.  

So close, it was impossible to take in.

The guy with the boom, was from Mattel. Mattel had just purchased the "View master" patents. He was shooting the first original View master disks in nearly 20 years. He had been shooting professionally, longer than I had been alive, by 20 years. Big goofy grin on his face... two assistants, wrangling a hinged beast, for "stereo-opticon" photos.  

Another middle aged guy... points to me, "hey, get the shot of me will you?". Badge said, "Reuters". Another, "NY Times", All wearing the same yellow green laminated badges I was. Each with the STS-95 logo on it, and "Discovery" in the Background. 

We were family... professionalism out the window... we were taking (and Trading!) the shots *we* wanted to take, for *us*, not for work.

There were giddy calls, of "check this out!" and suddenly 35 shutters would snap, from behind a rise, or next to a patch of grass.

Hundreds and hundreds of frames that night, as the moon rose, fell behind the ship, perfectly back lighting the image.

One (very polite) reminder from our press attendant as I backed into the sand to get a better shot: "don't go off the blacktop. There are things in the weeds that you don't want to meet". (I was later told that armed troops had secured the area, in addition to ten foot alligators.)

Next stop, the beach, on the other side of the pad, flood lights and now the moon, are perfectly backlighting the shots. We are farther back now, so *good* photographers, could push their depth of field, and get a shot of a person, with the shuttle framed and lit behind... Perfect images, even with my camera. "Here, try mine! ($14,000 worth of glass passed into my hand).

I remember clearly that my legs started to itch. Little creatures biting me... Sand Fleas, I was told. I had on flip flops, and shorts, in the 85 degree night.

Sometime around 8:00 AM, I finally put my head down for an hours nap... having been driven to more than a dozen "photo op" sites, between midnight and sunrise. There were a fist full of holds that day, some programmed, some not. This was our second "attempt" day. Eventually, with a Burst of noise, that was "felt" as much as heard, Discovery, rose into the sky. 

With my ETX objective, and my spare camera body, (the EOS locked up, one minute before launch). I framed, manually focused, shot, and repeated the process 34 times, missing a perfect frame, only once. It was nearly 2 minutes into the flight that my telescope, even saw anything but the actual ship itself... The raw negatives were digitally copied by the guys in the Kodak Truck.  

------------

So, some thoughts to you folks, who are about to head out, if I may be so bold:

Bring the best camera you can afford, borrow a spare, bring dozen(s) of spare batteries, and a power strip, just in case you find extra power, or an unused outlet.

Bring bug spray. 

Wear socks and real shoes.

Long pants. 

A *good* flashlight.

Take *every* opportunity that is offered that you can.

Don't go to your hotel, if you have the opportunity to "stay over". 
A Small tent, light sleeping bag, carefully tucked away... subtle is good.

See what is offered, be thankful and gracious. 

Get Bix to take your picture... He is pretty good at it. (Take his picture too.)   I doubt he remembers me, but he forgets very few people.  

Talk to the folks in the blue jump suits... they are as excited for you to be there, as you are to be at the Cape yourself.   



Learn their names, missions, who and what they studied...in school, or for their flights. They are an amazing resource, both historically, and logistically. You will probably be outnumbered by them at times... don't be afraid, they are people too... (they also know where the bathrooms are located, I found).

Don't even *try* to be aloof.  Trained journalists with 30 years of experience nearly pee their pants, on their 10th launch.  You won't fool anyone... (my dad worked 8 for CBS).

Don't be afraid to "ask"... but always ask "permission". 

Buy your mission patches at the gift shop (early!). Get a hat too..  I'll spot you 20 bucks if you get me a patch too.

Post Office!  Get your "first day" cover envelopes.  Hand Cancelled on launch day, at the KSC center.  The gift shop has them going back decades as well.  

If you can find an old USPS space stamp, (the old Flat Rate envelope stamps had a shuttle image on them), mail it from KSC, and it will be canceled with a unique stamp, only on that day, from that location, for that mission.  

Envelopes are in the gift shop.  Sometimes.

Bring a box of plain white ones, and a roll of plain stamps.  Mail history, to your friends and family.  Address them in advance.  

If you find that old engineer that sells "launch team" pins. Be happy to pay for them, if he offers... but be subtle. (have cash, about 10 bucks), just like your pin from the gift shop, but "launch team" on the rim.

Bring a film can to store those pins. They like to run away, or get lost in pockets. 

Bring something to offer in kind... something unique to the event, even if you make it yourself.  Get a crew of Astros to wear a half dozen "Jayne Hats" on camera.

Take pictures in front of the clock. All the cool folks do it.    For 50 years.

Talk to the guys at the front corner (Press lot, space #1), from the local radio station. Their station, has not missed a "live broadcast" of a launch since Apollo. They might offer you some hints as well. There is a reason why they have space #1, in the press lot. Never missed a flight I was told.

Maybe you might see some folks that you recognize from the history books. Bring something to have them sign. Something simple. Maybe even a napkin from the KSC commissary. J.Glenn, N. Armstrong... you never know who you might end up talking with. 

I was stunned when I realized who I was holding a camera for... so he could take a shot with a dozen school kids.

But even if you don't have the energy to haul 50 lbs of gear, build a webcast team from scratch, find (beg, borrow, steal) bandwidth to get your story out. Remember to record it the best way you can... digital tape, a hero camera, your old "point and shoot", whatever you choose to use. 

However, I'll suggest one additional medium. With pen and paper in hand, sit and *write it down*, before you leave. A lab book and pen, and maybe some tape, for a few unique objects. Your kids will appreciate it. So will theirs...

I am envious of you folks, from a myriad walks of life. I cannot say how much I enjoyed my 3 days at KSC, their gracious hospitality, and the "adventure of a lifetime".   Frankly, The words fail me, all these years later.

God speed, to you and the crew you are there to see off.  Safe travels to all.

Regards, 

@thwrex


P.S. I can be on a plane in an hour, and still have my old laminate...

P.P.S:  If you really love me, you will go get a "KSC" hat, that looks vaguely like an AC/DC logo from the 80's for me from the gift shop. The venue kind of "defines" rock and roll, so to speak.

The people of JPL

Years ago, sitting at the scorers table at Laker games, I used to hear writers gripe, "I can't find my lead for the story".

Not the problem today.  My first NASA Tweetup is completed, and my "lead" is about the people of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.

The people of JPL make the machines, with care, and specificity.  They do it year after year.  After they build them, they test those machines to make sure that nothing can possibly go wrong.

Theory, engineering, construction, testing, launch and then operations.   Simple words, but the process is anything but simple.  Each step must be executed perfectly.  Each seam, solder, cable wrap, must be designed & constructed with perfection.  Each device must be hand manufactured, to exacting tolerances, sometimes with years of research for the most minute details.

Then comes "shake and bake" testing, to simulate the launch, and then heat and cold of space travel.

If it fails take it apart, and see what failed and why.  Re-think, re-engineer, re-construct.  Do it again until every possible risk has been eliminated.  This is only a small portion of a process that is infinitely more complex.

Yet, the NASA JPL folks do it was such pride and perfection that something that was supposed to last 90 days, lasts 7 years.  Heck, two spacecraft built in the 70's sail on, "phoning home" despite the 13 hours it takes the radio signal to travel back to earth.

The two Voyager spacecraft have less on board memory than an original IBM PC (64K) and they are *still* performing useful science as they leave our solar system.  Their nuclear power sources (already at half their original power levels) will likely cease to function before the hardware they power does.  This is a testament to engineers and scientists whose children and perhaps even grand-children will be the only family members still alive when the final Voyager signals are received sometime in the next 20 years.

When people work this hard and care this much, working to such exacting tolerances there is no longer a line between "job" and "love".  Those "thinking pieces of metal" become extensions of the builders, engineers, controllers and scientists.

A NASA Tweetup event allows for a lucky few of us to become "extensions of extensions" as it were.

During the program, I sat quietly dry eyed during the "Farewell to Spirit" segment.  I was fine until the Mars Rover Spirit operations team was pointed out to to us by Doug Ellison.  Most of the team were standing silently at the back of the room.  They were a small fraction of the over 4,000 people responsible for the Mars Rovers, "Spirit" and "Opportunity". 

Frankly, at that point I lost it, openly crying and not caring who saw. I stood with every other Tweetup attendee for what became a standing ovation.  There were several yesterday, for various projects and teams.

I must admit, even now, my emotions are very strong about this "piece of thinking metal", but even more so for the group of folks that made Spirit do her job.  I have followed the Twitter feeds of Doug, Scott, and a half dozen others for over a year now in addition to the official NASA feeds.  I cannot help but cheer when there is good news, be frustrated at the challenges... and now cry at the goodbyes.

"Do not grieve for the loss of Spirit, but celebrate the accomplishments of the team that she was part of", Doug said.

Truer words, I have never heard spoken.  These are amazing people.  They do amazing work.  They do it for decades... under terrific pressure, and mostly they are invisible to the public eye.  The unique thing about Twitter is the ability for 140 characters to give such unique access to people that the public would not otherwise meet in real life.  The even more unique thing about a NASA "Tweetup" is for a very lucky few of us to be put us in a room full of these scientists and engineers.

I think that what I take away from this Tweetup will be the unique willingness of NASA and Jet Propulsion Laboratory to make the people who do very complex jobs accessible.   However, I haven't yet found a JPL employee yet that I did not want to spend another 5 hours listening to, perched on the edge of my seat the entire time.  Frankly, as I interact with more folks at NASA, I discover that this is the case, with everyone I have interacted with.

Thankfully, I live in Los Angeles:   "Need help changing your tire?...  Just tell me about your job at JPL...I saw the sticker on the back of your car, so I pulled over"

Sadly, their time is very valuable.  Not just in terms of "billing hours", but in terms of deadlines and responsibilities.   Physics never sleeps, and "crunch time" takes on new meaning when you have to meet a launch window that won't be available again for 26 more months.  Or a decade. Or 77 years.

"Every time our schedule slips, it is like having to sell the entire program all over again",  one presenter said.    Think about it.  Work on something for 7 years, and then have to re-request a budget, to launch a spacecraft that is already built, tested and ready to fly.

Then think about how you would feel, if the answer to the budget request is "no".

Sadly It has happened.  Several instruments have been recycled and flown from space projects that "lost their budget" and never left the ground.

So, when you watch an unmanned launch on the web, or look at a blurb about a little robot on Mars, (or her much bigger cousin!- "Mars Curiosity"), don't think only about the technology... think about the *people* behind the technology.

Think about the team, some parts of which are "people" and some parts that are "thinking metal", that give us such a unique look into other worlds than our own.

Oh, and while you are at it, send an email to your Senator, or your Representative and tell them about the work of the people of NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Please see the links below.

https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm