Been insanely busy the last week running checkouts on our various systems.
I was able to get one of the Linux PC's that runs the weather radar running again by using an external boot device to load a rescue disk in memory so we could run "fsck" on the hard disk and "repair" it. It had been improperly shut down several times, corrupting numerous files, and causing a kernel panic when it tried to load the OS.
And we also finished up 95% of the RF Link testing, and dropped the cable running between the two ships. We use a cable to tie the two systems together for pier testing as we're not allowed to radiate on the system frequencies while in port.
Tomorrow the Launch Vehicle gets transferred to the Platform, and on Saturday they roll out, erect the LV, and run a full-on dry (unfueled) countdown. If all goes well, they put her back in the hangar Sunday morning, and leave Monday morning. The bad thing about Saturday is the satellite people won't be ready to do their RF testing until 2200, so I'll go in about 1800 while there's still plenty of daylight, and train my "replacement" on how to aim some antennas we use, and where all the right knobs and buttons are that he'll have to adjust down at the launch site.
Oh, and I'm working up a whole list of things I just love about this job, and how terribly I'll miss them, but that'll have to wait until August to get published!
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Monday, March 24, 2014
Obama and Putin Play Golf
And it turned out like this......
I wonder if he's thinking that Putin's a racist for making him carry Putin's clubs?
I wonder if he's thinking that Putin's a racist for making him carry Putin's clubs?
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Pat Condell on "A Society of Cowards"
I don't always agree with what he says, and I don't subscribe to his religious "beliefs" (non-beliefs?), but he's usually spot on with his commentary.
This one is exceptionally good.
This one is exceptionally good.
Saturday Morning Music
Really beat after all the running around I did all week at work.
So, while I'm gearing up to attack the Honey Dew list (I swear it gets bigger every day!), and checking my email, I've been listening to this.
I don't care for the man's politics, but he sure can perform.....
So, while I'm gearing up to attack the Honey Dew list (I swear it gets bigger every day!), and checking my email, I've been listening to this.
I don't care for the man's politics, but he sure can perform.....
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Been Pretty Nutso At Work
.......And I'm really bushed.
So, to borrow a phrase I see at other blogs...."Go read the good people on the side bar".
'Night!
So, to borrow a phrase I see at other blogs...."Go read the good people on the side bar".
'Night!
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Oh.....I Broke 200k Page Views.....
Not sure when it happened, but my stats indicate I'm at 201,xxx page views.
Thanks to everybody who drops by to read my drivel!
Thanks to everybody who drops by to read my drivel!
Friday, March 14, 2014
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Chumlee Is NOT Dead
One my wife's and my 'guilty pleasures' is watching Pawn Stars.
Besides the interesting items they have brought in, the characters in the show are, well, characters.
Sure, it's staged like most "reality" TV shows, but it's fun to watch.
WELL....my wife came running into Radio Central saying she'd read that Chumlee had passed away from a heat attack.
A quick check of Wikipedia shows he's fine, and now the first hit for "Pawn Stars" on Google is a story where he's Tweeting that he's still with us.
This is "news", while they still can't find MH370.......
Besides the interesting items they have brought in, the characters in the show are, well, characters.
Sure, it's staged like most "reality" TV shows, but it's fun to watch.
WELL....my wife came running into Radio Central saying she'd read that Chumlee had passed away from a heat attack.
A quick check of Wikipedia shows he's fine, and now the first hit for "Pawn Stars" on Google is a story where he's Tweeting that he's still with us.
This is "news", while they still can't find MH370.......
Monday, March 10, 2014
It's Official.....I'm NOT going On This Launch
Well, my Doctor agrees with me. On the basis of the recent lab tests I had, and my description of the medical facilities we have at sea, and the time it would take to get me to a hospital, he has advised me to sit this one out.
My Triglycerides are way up since my last lab tests, and we're both wondering why. I gained back 6 of the 15 pounds I'd lost. so now I'm going to start keeping a log, and counting calories. My wife has an app on her smartphone called "Lose it", and I'll be installing that tonight.
Other than that, I'm OK......
My Triglycerides are way up since my last lab tests, and we're both wondering why. I gained back 6 of the 15 pounds I'd lost. so now I'm going to start keeping a log, and counting calories. My wife has an app on her smartphone called "Lose it", and I'll be installing that tonight.
Other than that, I'm OK......
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Shooting Drones With Shotguns
All I have to say is it sure looks like fun!
Here's more on the Gnat R/C airplane used.
Tip 'o the hat to Survival Blog.......
Here's more on the Gnat R/C airplane used.
Tip 'o the hat to Survival Blog.......
Friday, March 7, 2014
The Weekend Already?
Oh, well....been pretty busy at work getting ready for the next launch.
The customer finished fueling the satellite today (UDMH) after spending Monday and Tuesday putting the oxidizer (NTO) into it. They take a one day break to clean all the equipment, and make sure the lines are purged.
While they were busy doing those tasks, we've been checking out our telemetry equipment, and some other radio links we use to allow the customer to command and monitor their satellite.
Next week things will really start rolling, as once they've completely fueled and checked out their bird, it will get "floated" from the fueling bay to the encapsulation bay where it will get tested again, and then "encapsulated" into the payload fairing, or "Nose Cone" for all the civvies out there. Then we do the final RF testing, and it gets rolled over to the ACS to get mated to the Launch Vehicle.
After some more testing, and a full-on live data flow from end-to-end going through NASA's TDRSS satellites, it gets transferred over to the Launch Platform.
After some more testing, it get rolled out, erected, and a full-on "dry" (unfueled) countdown takes place, usually a very long day. This is when we make our final adjustments, and the customer runs all their pre-flight tests. Except for fueling the Launch Vehicle, and running our RF systems at reduced power, this is the real thing. If anything goes wrong, it has to be fixed before we leave. Things usually go well, but it still winds up being a 12~14 hour day.
The last launch we did with this customer was a real Charlie Foxtrot, as they didn't follow the script we gave them, they took off for dinner without telling us ( ! ), and I wound up being there 18 hours. NOT a fun day!
If all goes well, the platform stands down for a day, and then sets off to the launch site. The command ship follows four days later, and for this one I'll be on the dock wishing them a "Bon Voyage".
I'll be a tiny bit sad not going on this, my "last" launch, but I don't want to take ANY chances with my health. If I were to have another cardiac episode, it would be a MINIMUM of 36 hours before I could be in a hospital, but more likely it would be 72+ hours. I've been on missions where we had some seriously sick people, and I know how long it takes to get somebody to a "Full Service" hospital.
No thanks, but I can do without that particular uncertainty!
The customer finished fueling the satellite today (UDMH) after spending Monday and Tuesday putting the oxidizer (NTO) into it. They take a one day break to clean all the equipment, and make sure the lines are purged.
While they were busy doing those tasks, we've been checking out our telemetry equipment, and some other radio links we use to allow the customer to command and monitor their satellite.
Next week things will really start rolling, as once they've completely fueled and checked out their bird, it will get "floated" from the fueling bay to the encapsulation bay where it will get tested again, and then "encapsulated" into the payload fairing, or "Nose Cone" for all the civvies out there. Then we do the final RF testing, and it gets rolled over to the ACS to get mated to the Launch Vehicle.
After some more testing, and a full-on live data flow from end-to-end going through NASA's TDRSS satellites, it gets transferred over to the Launch Platform.
After some more testing, it get rolled out, erected, and a full-on "dry" (unfueled) countdown takes place, usually a very long day. This is when we make our final adjustments, and the customer runs all their pre-flight tests. Except for fueling the Launch Vehicle, and running our RF systems at reduced power, this is the real thing. If anything goes wrong, it has to be fixed before we leave. Things usually go well, but it still winds up being a 12~14 hour day.
The last launch we did with this customer was a real Charlie Foxtrot, as they didn't follow the script we gave them, they took off for dinner without telling us ( ! ), and I wound up being there 18 hours. NOT a fun day!
If all goes well, the platform stands down for a day, and then sets off to the launch site. The command ship follows four days later, and for this one I'll be on the dock wishing them a "Bon Voyage".
I'll be a tiny bit sad not going on this, my "last" launch, but I don't want to take ANY chances with my health. If I were to have another cardiac episode, it would be a MINIMUM of 36 hours before I could be in a hospital, but more likely it would be 72+ hours. I've been on missions where we had some seriously sick people, and I know how long it takes to get somebody to a "Full Service" hospital.
No thanks, but I can do without that particular uncertainty!
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