Moving along smoothly...

The day got off to a late start today, as my first scheduled assignment started at 10 am and consisted of accompanying an Alcatel engineer out to the launch pad to check on the status of the satellite's batteries. U.S. export control regulations required us to have a Pinkerton escort, and the whole business was completed in short order.

Coming back from the pad yesterday, I did not pay attention to just how far away the launch complex was from the hotel. Today, I paid attention, and it is not far at all. I am told, however, that I will be in the comm center during the actual launch, so the distance of anything from anything else is, in a sense, moot.

I've been assigned to the interpreter office since 1 pm and am scheduled to stay here until 8 pm, though a dinner being thrown by the Russians is scheduled to start earlier than that and everyone (including us interpreters) are invited. If experience is any indication, the invitation for the interpreters is something of a double-edged sword, as more than likely we will end up working during the dinner.

Viktor, the lead interpreter, has assigned me to work the State Commission meeting tomorrow night, and I have a pile of stuff to review to prepare for it. I'll probably do that during the battery check tonight.

I've just been informed that everyone else is going back to the Fili, so I'll cut this post short and go back to the area with them.

Cheers...