On the Bottom Half

Orbiter 'Up'date

The last full day of docked operations are happening now. Thomas Reiter and Jeff Williams are spending the next little while completing close out activities in preparation for unberthing of Leonardo and they are currently working through the procedure to depressurise the space between the ISS & Leonardo Common Berthing Modules (CBMs). The rest of the crew are occupied with other clean up type stuff like stowing space suits, etc. Then ISS's arm will be used to do the reberthing activity.

Undock is scheduled for Saturday; landing Monday on what will be a beautiful day. If the weather and everything else is good, landing is sheduled for 0907 EDT at KSC Monday 17 July. YESSS another early morning for me!

Played soccer today in what is turning out to be a traditional Friday afternoon event (procrastination-socialisationfest). It was a lot of fun - I was concerned that I would seriously suck because I haven't played soccer in ages and I'm not running very strenuously until I get my knee fixed. But, it was great! Kicked, got kicked, chased the ball, ran ahead of the ball, ran behind the ball, totally a good way to spend Friday afternoon. What I did discover was that I have delicate feet. The running, stopping, starting, and darting took their toll on these tootsies and caused some bleeding and broken toenails, and blistered soles (who gets blisters on their soles?). And, I'm not that unfit, which is pleasing because I hate the rather low energy-use state that has settled upon me. I kinda sit in my chair and vibrate all day. It's very difficult to focus on a paper when it's moving up and down all the time. I get about 5 to 10 mintues of focus, then I have to do something. Kinda have a lot of things on hold until I get back from Japan, though. I'm working off the assumption that everything will appeal successfully and I'll be headed out soon. Then when I get back, on tap are: flying!!! and conversion activities, gym membership, Air Force Cadets, lab TA-ing, etc.

Had fun housesitting - I watched a series called The Planets, which was done by the BBC. There's 8 episodes that guide you through all the planets, the Sun, atmosphere, and our destiny in space. It's a really amazing series, especially for you know who. Did you know that the first person to reach space (well, 103000 feet anyway) did so in a balloon? The exciting bit is that he followed that feat with the world's most freaking awesome skydive. Seriously... he was screaming into the Earth at the speed or sound (or greater) as he plummeted away from his balloon. I think it was something like 12 minutes of freefall or something sick like that. He said that he didn't really think he was falling that fast until he turned himself on his back and looked back up at his 'spacecraft' and saw it flinging away from him. I'd like to do that, wouldn't you?

Yesterday night I picked up Andy's wife at the airport, which was great. I love airports.

Wah-hoo.

posted by Kyle @ 06:05