It's becoming a blur...

The day didn't exactly start at the crack of dawn, but it was early enough. My first assignment was to go support operations in hall 101, where the Khrunichev folks were busy commencing the transfer of the encapsulated ascent unit onto a railcar for transport next door, to hall 111, where the Proton M is located.

Since the only people in 101 -- besides the ubiquitous Pinkerton guards -- were from Khrunichev (i.e., of a single nationality), my services weren't required, so upon my return to the interpreter office, I was sent downstairs to the control room, to aid in the transfer of a rack of electronics from there to 111. That took some time.

After lunch, I was back in 111 to support the mating of the ascent unit with the rest of the launch vehicle. (Photos to follow; probably tomorrow.)

Upon returning to the office, I found Jim B. working with Sergey Z. and asking if any of the interpreters would be willing to support an excursion being put together for a few people to go to the Luna tonight. (As it turns out, nobody in the group has actually ever been inside the place.) I volunteered and intend to catch a couple of hours of shuteye before the van leaves around 9:30 tonight. The Astrium folks, I expect, will be leaving for the Luna a bit later.

Tomorrow is slated to be a relatively light day of work, at least as far as launch vehicle preparation is concerned (mostly electrical checks). Tomorrow night, a traveling song and dance ensemble is expected to perform at the Proton Club (when thinking "song and dance," imagine something closer to the Moiseev Song & Dance Company than to a show headlined by vaudevillian George M. Cohan... and I mean "closer" as opposed to "like").

Tuesday is Galina's birthday and the Venus transit, so you know I've got Tuesday on my mind, too.

Gotta go get ready for dinner.

Cheers...