My son is working the Space Shuttle (Atlantis) mission, as a Mission Controler

[Liberal In Texas]

from the "Front Room" for the first time.

He's one of the kids you see on TV off in the distance when they switch back to Mission Control.

I'm proud as punch that my kid is doing this.

Over at GD it's like, we could be using the money for something better...etc...<snore>

Nothing more here, just wanted to toot my own and my kids horn.

[SeattleGirl]

1. That's so cool!!

:hi:

[Liberal In Texas]

4. I'm a huge proud papa.

:hi: back

[Joe Fields]

2. That's fantastic. What an honor it must be for him.

:toast:

[Adsos Letter]

3. Very, Very Cool...

what does he do?

:thumbsup: :hi:

[Liberal In Texas]

7. He works on propulsion systems.

(I don't want to identify him, for obvious freeper reasons...)

The systems that keep the Shuttle in attitude and all that.

[Adsos Letter]

8. That is a lot of responsibility...good for him!

Enjoy it!

:D

[Liberal In Texas]

14. I am.

And I must tell you.

When "Columbia" crashed over Texas and Louisiana, my son went out and combed the area. His Mission Control duties were ended at that point, and he just wanted to find answers. He spent days and days walking east Texas and debris that came down in Louisiana.

He's one of the nicest guys you would ever meet. He didn't find much, but the thing in his mind that he might find a part of a friend of his lying on the ground.

His sig line is:

"A ship is safe in harbor, but then, that's not what ships are for"
- William Shedd

[Ryano42]

5. My Pop worked as a draftsman/illustrator on Skylab

said it was the greatest job he ever had...

Congrats and give him a "we are go" from DU!

[Liberal In Texas]

9. "Wilco" Over and out. LOL

He loves it. He wanted to be an astronaut, but he's a bit overweight.

The "new" space station is a kind of hyper SkyLab.

I'm glad we did that too...

[Ryano42]

11. and believe it or not this is my cousin on my Mom's side!

Dale Gardner




Flew on Challenger and Discovery...met him about 15 years ago...

Alas I was too blind to be a pilot :cry:

[Liberal In Texas]

16. Cool!

They told me I was too blind too. But I have 18 hours in helicopters....I can actually fly....

[VenusRising]

6. Awesome!!

I got to simulate it at Space Camp twice, but the real thing must be beyond excitement.

Congrats to your son!

[Liberal In Texas]

10. Thanks, Venus.

I think I might be responsible by taking him to Houston and walking him around Mission Control when he was 8 or so.

Now he takes ME around and shows the stuff off.

Like I said, I'm proud.

[Ryano42]

12. We are all proud...

Thank you all for keeping NASA flying!
:patriot:

[VenusRising]

13. With every reason!

I'm sure it's a very good feeling to have the experience come full circle.

:hug:

[Liberal In Texas]

15. Thanks, folks. It's nice to hear from people who think the same way once in awhile..

Hugs to you all too!

[Lisa]

17. toot away! That sounds awesome!

My ex got to go to JPL to help guide one of the Pioneer spacecraft past Saturn ... but that one didn't have actual astronauts on it!

Personally I think there would be plenty of money for space exploration and education -- and environmental protection, health care, and museums and libraries -- if we could rethink tax breaks for the rich, and war spending. It really upsets me when the good causes are written off as "frills" and worse, made to fight each other for scraps. The homeless shelter, the Shakespeare festival, the river cleanup, and the science camp should not have to be in some battle royal over who gets the money.

[Liberal In Texas]

19. I so agree, Lisa.

When you don't spend $ on bombs, there is a lot $ left over to do some really good stuff.

All the people I've met at NASA are just folks. Nice folks who are kinda smart. But you really wouldn't know that they are very brainy. They play rugby, drink at Molly's, and have no more crazy ambitions than to buy a house in Clear Lake or perhaps fly to the moon.

But that's their job. Flying to the moon.

That's what they do.

[Lisa]

23. I know -- so much for the "mad scientists who want to rule the world" stereotype!

My ex once built a radar gun out of salvaged components. The device was for the community association in Oakland, California, so they could collect information on the number of cars that were speeding through the neighborhood, endangering local children. It was not a wealthy part of town, so they didn't have the funds to purchase or rent equipment. In the end, the city council was swayed by the data presented in chart form by my ex (an astronomer in his spare time, so he had lots of practice graphing stuff) -- "traffic-calming" infrastructure was finally installed by the municipal works department.

I used to kid my ex -- if he weren't put to work on useful and important causes like the Hubble and Keck telescopes, he might drift into a life of crime, and become an evil mastermind (like Sherlock Holmes's arch-enemy, who was supposedly an astronomer before he fell into criminal ways!).

[XNASA]

30. I've been to Molly's.

Many, many times.

[BrotherBuzz]

18. I trust he's so cool he doesn't even use a pen protector ;)

Can you actually spot him when the TV cuts to control?

[Liberal In Texas]

20. No, DAD wears the nerdy pens. He plays rugby drives the last Firebird

produced, and is engaged to a music teacher.

He loves Mexican food and drinking a little too much (like his dad).

He is dead serious when it comes to responsibility (like his dad) and is one of nicest and kindest people you would ever meet. (OK...like his dad, lol)

He's getting married next year, and I might actually become a grandpa!

[cobalt1999]

21. That is something to be proud of.

Ignore some of the GD folks, unfortunately we have as many short sighted and science ignorant people here as in freeper land. Remember, they are a minority.

Maybe you have another John Aaron on your hands.

[MissHoneychurch]

22. Way cool

don't mind what GD says .... be proud that your son is having a position he loves!!!

[ChickMagic]

24. That is incredibly awesome!

I grew up in Houston and wanted, more than anything, to be an astronaut. However, I grew up during a bad time and the opportunities were not there. To cover up the hurt, I just told people, "Well, I found out they had to drink Tang, so I didn't do it." We used to eat at a cafe that had all their meals dedicated to particular astronauts. My favorite was the Gus Grissom. I can remember that, but couldn't tell you what it was. When he died, I was miserable.

Congrats to you and your son!

[ceile]

25. That is SO cool!!

You must be so proud! Don't let the GD people rain on your parade.

[wildhorses]

26. i think our space program is one of the most positive things

this nation is doing:patriot:

good for your son:applause:

:hi:

[Parche]

27. Space

That is awesome!!!:bounce:

Live Long and prosper LibInTexas......:hi:

[XNASA]

28. Nice.

He's not a PAO is he? I used to work for PAO.

I'm guessing he's a Fido? FDO?

[Missy Vixen]

29. My husband will be *thrilled*

He LOVES this stuff. He'll go on and on about the space program till my ears are about to explode. At the same time, he's like a kid in a candy store.

Wait till I tell him that there's a guy at DU whose son is working in Mission Control right now!

Congratulations, papa!
Julie