Astro_Wheels's Photo Stream http://twitpic.com/photos/Astro_Wheels Astro_Wheels's updates en-us 40 <![CDATA[Astro_Wheels: http://twitpic.com/8gjqwh So great to be back at my office at the Johnson Space Center in Houston! This was my 'Welcome back Wheels' greeting party this morning. It's going to be a great Monday!]]> ]]> Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:44:58 +0000 http://twitpic.com/8gjqwh http://twitpic.com/8gjqwh <![CDATA[Astro_Wheels: http://twitpic.com/8g4mp2 Guys - important safety tip for Valentine's Day...this is NOT a good idea... You're welcome... - Wheels]]> ]]> Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:07:35 +0000 http://twitpic.com/8g4mp2 http://twitpic.com/8g4mp2 <![CDATA[Astro_Wheels: http://twitpic.com/8bmoh8 “Chomolungma” – Mount Everest from space. Wonderful memories of our 2008 trek to 'the mountain' to support my great friend, mentor, and spacewalking partner @SPOTScott ‘Spike’ - as I look at Everest from space, it is still difficult to find words...reminds me of that verse, “Words – words – words…how can there be so many, yet I cannot find any …” Looking forward to the Annapurna Circuit in the Spring. Thankful for ‘mountains’ that stand in the distance in our lives…and the gifts of friendship, determination, strength and perseverance that give us the vision to conquer the summit…and experience the other side. It is true that facing these ‘mountains’ head-on and struggling to overcome adversity and our fears of daunting obstacles ‘builds character’…it is also true, perhaps even more so, that it ‘exposes character’. “Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting! So…get on your way!” - Dr. Seuss - Tike ]]> ]]> Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:36:38 +0000 http://twitpic.com/8bmoh8 http://twitpic.com/8bmoh8 <![CDATA[Astro_Wheels: http://twitpic.com/8bmh7z “Chomolungma” – Mount Everest from space. Wonderful memories of our 2008 trek to 'the mountain' to support my great friend, mentor, and spacewalking partner @ SPOTScott ‘Spike’ - as I look at Everest from space, it is still difficult to find words...reminds me of that verse, “Words – words – words…how can there be so many, yet I cannot find any …” Looking forward to the Annapurna Circuit in the Spring. Thankful for ‘mountains’ that stand in the distance in our lives…and the gifts of friendship, determination, strength and perseverance that give us the vision to conquer the summit…and experience the other side. It is true that facing these ‘mountains’ head-on and struggling to overcome adversity and our fears of daunting obstacles ‘builds character’…it is also true, perhaps even more so, that it ‘exposes character’. “Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting! So…get on your way!” - Dr. Seuss - Tike ]]> ]]> Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:14:59 +0000 http://twitpic.com/8bmh7z http://twitpic.com/8bmh7z <![CDATA[Astro_Wheels: http://twitpic.com/88vjvk “To be able to rise from the earth…to be able, from a station in outer space, to see the relationship of the planet Earth to other planets…to be able to contemplate the billions of factors in precise and beautiful combination that make human existence possible…to be able to dwell on an encounter of the human brain and spirit with the universe—all this enlarges the human horizon…” On days like these I remember and reflect back on my childhood and my own dreams of flight. I would watch the birds and wonder about their course…their destination. Would they look down from their perch and wonder about a life of walking and running…rather than flying? I often thought that they probably felt sorry for us...burdened with the chains of gravity. I am so grateful for my current ‘office cubicle’…I really don’t miss those chains… :-) ]]> ]]> Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:42:17 +0000 http://twitpic.com/88vjvk http://twitpic.com/88vjvk <![CDATA[Astro_Wheels: http://twitpic.com/88u6rq Good luck in the ‘767 Box’ today, Bill! @Pilot1Bill Just wanted to thank you for your service and dedication as a professional pilot. To all our pilots out there in the Twitterverse…you have my utmost respect and admiration for what you do. I had a ‘helmet fire’ just trying to copy and read back a taxi clearance at McCarran! Works a little better when you have the book open to this page… Fly high and true! ]]> ]]> Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:13:59 +0000 http://twitpic.com/88u6rq http://twitpic.com/88u6rq <![CDATA[Astro_Wheels: http://twitpic.com/86uoin Faith… “When you have come to the edge of all the light that you know, and are about to drop off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen…there will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught how to fly.” I remember the feeling of opening the hatch and stepping out into the cold empty darkness of space…so thankful for our team in Mission Control. A world of thanks to ‘TC’, Toren, and of course ‘Mojo’. All my love and thanks to my Creator and Master of all. I now know that even this frightening darkness is resting in the palm of His hand. ]]> ]]> Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:07:42 +0000 http://twitpic.com/86uoin http://twitpic.com/86uoin <![CDATA[Astro_Wheels: http://twitpic.com/85v1fv "A single lifetime, even though entirely devoted to the sky, would not be enough for the study of so vast a subject. A time will come when our descendants will be amazed that we did not know things that are so plain to them." Another great day at the office, with some incredible work by our team today. Number of Takeoffs = Number of Landings...always a great metric for measuring success. ]]> ]]> Wed, 11 Jan 2012 04:48:11 +0000 http://twitpic.com/85v1fv http://twitpic.com/85v1fv <![CDATA[Astro_Wheels: http://twitpic.com/858plq Just another day at the office! Successful test flight today…calm winds and blue sky. As with many things in life, ‘clear communication’ is critical to a successful flight. There are some things though, that can make you feel a little ‘uneasy’, whether you are hurdling through space in a spaceship or hurdling through the sky in an aircraft… Here are 3 things that you would rather not hear over the communication loops during flight: #1 “Oops” #2 “Sorry…my bad…” #3 “O-o-o-kay…that was…interesting…” I only heard one of these today… :-) ]]> ]]> Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:04:29 +0000 http://twitpic.com/858plq http://twitpic.com/858plq <![CDATA[Astro_Wheels: http://twitpic.com/84e0au Back in the saddle for some flight tests 'out west' on these storied test ranges. Every time I light these engines, I think of all those pioneers of flight that blazed a trail for us in these 'footless halls of air'. And...every time these wheels touch down after a successful flight, I am thankful for all my teachers who, through the years, taught me to love science, to never stop asking questions, and to remain focused and determined in the face of challenge. Many many thanks for all the 'Shorty Award' shout outs! You all are a treasure to me, and even though I don't get to tweet that much, I look forward to my time with you here in the twitterverse. Time to kick the tire and light the fire! - Wheels ]]> ]]> Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:11:06 +0000 http://twitpic.com/84e0au http://twitpic.com/84e0au <![CDATA[Astro_Wheels: http://twitpic.com/82q2o5 My 600th tweet dedicated to those quiet moments that breathe life into your soul. This is my friend ‘Karma’, a 6-year old Golden Retriever. Karma somehow knew that my 2011 had tied a bunch of knots in my soul. A couple of days with Karma on this beach, seemed to un-tie them all. How do dogs do that? “I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren't certain we knew better. They fight for honor at the first challenge, love with no condition or restraint, and they do not for all their marvelous instincts appear to know about death. Being such wonderfully uncomplicated beings, they need us to do their worrying.” Happy New Year, Karma! ]]> ]]> Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:05:17 +0000 http://twitpic.com/82q2o5 http://twitpic.com/82q2o5 <![CDATA[Astro_Wheels: http://twitpic.com/828m11 Aero 101…all those years of schooling, thousands of hours in the cockpit, countless ‘helmet-fire’ moments during test flights… All I really needed to do is read this letter from 1899, and watch these ‘Skimmers’ in flight to witness the greatest demonstration of aerodynamics, wing camber, drag coefficient, boundary layer, laminar flow, yada-yada-yada... The Dream of Flight - Wright Cycle Company 1127 West Third St., Dayton, Ohio May 30, 1899 The Smithsonian Institution, Washington: Dear Sirs: I have been interested in the problem of mechanical and human flight ever since as a boy I constructed a number of bats of various sizes after the style of Cayley's and Penaud's machines. My observations since have only convinced me more firmly that human flight is possible and practicable. It is only a question of knowledge and skill just as in all acrobatic feats. Birds are the most perfectly trained gymnasts in the world and are specially well fitted for their work, and it may be that man will never equal them, but no one who has watched a bird chasing an insect or another bird can doubt that feats are performed which require three or four times the effort required in ordinary flight. I believe that simple flight at least is possible to man and that the experiments and investigations of a large number of independent workers will result in the accumulation of information and knowledge and skill which will finally lead to accomplished flight. The works on the subject to which I have and access are Marey's and Jamieson's books published by Appleton's and various magazines and cyclopaedic articles. I am about to begin a systematic study of the subject in preparation for practical work to which I expect to devote what time I can spare from my regular business. I wish to obtain such papers as the Smithsonian Institution has published on this subject, and if possible a list of other works in print in the English language. I am an enthusiast, but not a crank in the sense that I have some pet theories as to the proper construction of a flying machine. I wish to avail myself of all that is already known and then if possible add my mite to help on the future workers who will attain final success. I do not know the terms on which you send out your publications but if you will inform me of the cost I will remit the price. Yours truly, Wilbur Wright ]]> ]]> Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:04:44 +0000 http://twitpic.com/828m11 http://twitpic.com/828m11 <![CDATA[Astro_Wheels: http://twitpic.com/811c5f Sunset through the sea oats on Little Gasparilla Island. So many memories over the past year. Wishing all of you a 2012 full of all good things. Remember that this life is not a dress rehearsal...be kind, courageous and daring. There is so much more to find 'out there' than can ever be found...my heart races imagining the wonders yet to come... ]]> ]]> Sat, 31 Dec 2011 05:55:12 +0000 http://twitpic.com/811c5f http://twitpic.com/811c5f <![CDATA[Astro_Wheels: http://twitpic.com/7ycvpj Merry Christmas!]]> ]]> Sun, 25 Dec 2011 14:04:45 +0000 http://twitpic.com/7ycvpj http://twitpic.com/7ycvpj <![CDATA[Astro_Wheels: http://twitpic.com/7xat75 Once again, the International Space Station provides a breathtaking glimpse into our Blue Planet and our celestial ‘neighborhood’. The comet ‘Lovejoy’ streaking through our solar system. Many thanks to ISS Commander Dan Burbank for capturing some incredible images of this comet, discovered by amateur astronomer Terry Lovejoy in early December. This comet is best known for its survival passing through the sun’s searing hot corona last week. Takes me back to my days aboard the ISS. During the daylight the Earth is an explosion of life. Color and motion jump out at you like a painting from one of the great Impressionists, with the dark, vast, frightening emptiness of space as the canvas. This sight holds you spellbound at first. Your mind cannot seem to comprehend what your eyes are witnessing. But then...the night comes...the colors fade and the Earth becomes a raging ball of light. Lightening storms, bioluminescence in our oceans, aurora...it is so mesmerizing to witness with your eyes. Makes me think of all those years that I dreamed of being an Astronaut, and getting a chance to one day travel in space. I used to look up to the moon and stars and wonder what it would be like to go there. Then when I was on the ISS, I thought about what it would have been like to be a child somewhere out in space looking at our Blue Planet through a telescope. How much more vivid my dreams would have been to travel to this beautiful blue planet raging with life. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of holidays! Perhaps it is appropriate that this comet is named ‘Lovejoy’...just in time for our holidays. Love, Joy & Peace on Earth... http://msowww.anu.edu.au/~rmn/C2011W3.htm http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=125774121 ]]> ]]> Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:57:29 +0000 http://twitpic.com/7xat75 http://twitpic.com/7xat75 <![CDATA[Astro_Wheels: http://twitpic.com/7pyj3y Remembering that ‘Day of Infamy’. A calm December morning, 70 years ago today. From the peaceful sanctity of space, the beautiful Hawaiian Islands are like jewels in the azure sea. Oahu in the center, and if you zoom in, you can see Pearl Harbor on Oahu’s southern shore. I often wonder what kind of world we would have today…had that December morning been quiet and peaceful…just like any other. I can tell you that no one prays harder for peace than a soldier. And, in the words of a great American soldier: “I wish for you temper of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions, a freshness of the deep springs of life, a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity, an appetite for adventure over love of ease. That from your heart springs a sense of wonder. The unfailing hope of ‘what next’? And the joy and inspiration of life.” A day and many souls remembered. A solemn prayer for grace and peace in our time. All was calm On that December day, Planes silently coming in From far away. From out of the clouds Planes flew in the air, Dropping bombs From everywhere. Many were still sleeping In their beds, While enemy planes Were flying overhead. The lives of the lost Are still being remembered, Relatives left behind Their hearts and souls still battered. - Cynthia Jones ]]> ]]> Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:57:34 +0000 http://twitpic.com/7pyj3y http://twitpic.com/7pyj3y <![CDATA[Astro_Wheels: http://twitpic.com/7o1ysr ‘Clear for takeoff – Runway 4!’ "We all have our time machines. Some take us back...they're called memories. Some take us forward...they're called dreams." - Jeremy Irons This one is called ‘Bugatti’… I think that’s Italian for ‘Astro-Wheels’…not sure… :-P http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO0PgyPWE3o ]]> ]]> Sun, 04 Dec 2011 04:53:08 +0000 http://twitpic.com/7o1ysr http://twitpic.com/7o1ysr <![CDATA[Astro_Wheels: http://twitpic.com/7npier Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas! Joy – Peace – Love – Understanding – Tolerance – Forgiveness – Grace – Hope – Redemption…may the message and magic of Christmas bless our world. It really isn’t ‘Rocket Science’… Let there be peace on Earth…and let it begin with me. - Wheels ]]> ]]> Sat, 03 Dec 2011 16:02:14 +0000 http://twitpic.com/7npier http://twitpic.com/7npier <![CDATA[Astro_Wheels: http://twitpic.com/7moiwm Engineering 101...I can neither confirm nor deny that I have ever used this flowchart in solving or preventing problems. :-) "Intellectuals solve problems, geniuses prevent them." - Einstein ]]> ]]> Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:59:37 +0000 http://twitpic.com/7moiwm http://twitpic.com/7moiwm <![CDATA[Astro_Wheels: http://twitpic.com/7jgzm9 ‘The Speed of Heat’! Happy 1-Year Anniversary! One year ago today, I sent this picture and tweet from space, at the end of my 6-month journey. Just before Shannon, Fyodor and I strapped into our Soyuz capsule to begin our fiery return to the planet. It is difficult to describe the re-entry through the atmosphere in this small capsule. I’ve jokingly described the ride home as riding over Niagara Falls in a barrel that is on fire! The memories of those moments of ‘peak heating’ will stay with me forever...thankful for the accurately engineered ‘ablative’ heat shielding on the Soyuz. ‘Ablative’...just a fancy word for ‘Comes Apart’... Thanks, Stefy...for remembering this moment. Original Tweet from November 25, 2010: From the ISS Cupola reflecting on a life challenge I heard long ago – 'Be strong enough to know when you are weak... brave enough to face yourself when you are afraid... never substitute words for actions. Learn to stand up in the storm, but have compassion for those who fall. Always have a heart that is clean, a goal that is high... learn to laugh but never forget how to weep.' - Until we meet again... ]]> ]]> Fri, 25 Nov 2011 15:44:47 +0000 http://twitpic.com/7jgzm9 http://twitpic.com/7jgzm9