L-16...

[alexpgp]

Propellant loading is one of those operations where it takes as long - if not longer - to prepare for the operation and clean up afterward as it does to actually perform, but eventually, the milestone is reached. Maya began supporting the operation at 7 am, I spelled her at 1 pm, and I finally got home just short of 8 pm.

In earlier campaigns, a social event was planned to coincide with the completion of propellant loading, both to celebrate the fact and in preparation for the commencement of so-called "joint operations," during which the pace becomes relentless as all parties involved put all the pieces together to create an "integrated launch vehicle."

In truth, however, by the end of prop loading, the rest of the campaigners have already had a couple of days off (all "nonessential" personnel are kept away from the processing facility during the operation), there has already been a barbecue two days ago, and a Thanksgiving dinner is planned for Wednesday (as we start joint operations on Thanksgiving). Wednesday's "dessert" is scheduled as a bus ride to watch the night launch of the next ISS-bound Progress cargo vehicle aboard a Soyuz rocket.

However, tradition will not be denied, even if it must morph into something different. As I was settling down to dinner, Veronique, the French prop team nurse who monitored radio traffic during the operation for signs of fatigue or inattention, buttonholed me and led me to the room across from the workout room, where the French and Russian prop teams (les ergoliers and заправщики, respectively) as well as Maya and I, who provided interpretation support, the US coordinators, and eventually management, got together to raise a glass.

The French brought champagne, to go with the usual assortment of pastis etc. that is consumed in this room after work and before dinner; the Russians brought rocket fuel. (No kidding... pure ethyl alcohol - or very nearly - said stuff being the first liquid rocket fuel that still... has its uses at the integration facility.)

After many fine words and a laugh or two, I eventually did get back to finish dinner.

Cheers...

Comments

[bandicoot.livejournal.com]

Without wanting to be pedantic about it, it's not likely you were drinking "pure" ethyl alcohol, as in its pure state it takes up water like crazy where ever it can find it, including the tissues of your mouth or from the air. In short, it's a poison and a major dehydrant. I doubt even the Russians drink the straight stuff, as it would do a major number on their mouths. You were probably drinking ethanol dilluted with water to some proof or another.

I worked with the stuff in the army and discovered that, among other things, it also sucked up taste from whatever container it was in once it was opened, so if you opened a can of it, you had to pour off anything you wanted to drink and put it in glass right away, or you'd have a metallic taste in your drinks. If making drinks, like fruit juice with alcohol, it also made a difference in which order you added dilutants. The correct order was water, then other things. You could taste the difference.

Not that we ever consumed government alcohol, of course. Ahem... ;p

[alexpgp.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you're right, as I left out the fact that the Russians brought the stuff in a glass bottle, already combined with off-the-shelf margarita mix.

Cheers...

[bandicoot.livejournal.com]

Well, you gotta credit the Russians for knowing their booze ;p