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Handing off the ball..
Jul. 18th, 2006 09:19 amThere comes a time, when playing American football, when the ball is handed off (or thrown) to one player, whose job it is to advance the ball as far as he can, preferably to the goal. Today, represents a similar handoff, as the полтинник is handed over to the propellant loading team for them to load the spacecraft with oxidizer. Prop loading is an exacting task that comes at the end of an exhaustive checklist of preparatory tasks. All non-essential personnel, to quote the safety engineer, shall stay clear of the facility. Oxidizer would sooner rearrange your chemical structure than spit at you, should you have an opportunity to meet.
The METOP launch was scrubbed yesterday, which made our one-hour trip to the launch site sort of a "dry run." We learned of the postponement literally minutes after arriving at the launch area, having driven past numerous security stations established on side roads. I recall sensing a most tantalizing and delicious kitchen aroma coming out of a small structure being renovated next to a nearby rail line, which I considered the high point of the jaunt. The grapevine has it that the launch has been scheduled for tonight, at the same time.
The French team is scheduled to go to a "zone of relaxation" (зона отдыха) after lunch, which makes little sense to me. When we visited this "zone" during the Intelsat campaign a couple of years ago, about the only thing you could do - aside from walk around and marvel at the weeds - was have a picnic (which we did, after which I actually played chess with the Customer's representative). At any rate, after spending some time relaxing, the plan is to go into Baikonur town for dinner. I suspect they may also want to stop by the METOP launch site on the way home, which is going to make for a pretty long day.
I am scheduled to support the daily 9:30 am meeting in just a few minutes, which is to be held here at the Fili instead of the полтинник (owing to the prop load operation). I need to get ready.
Cheers...
The METOP launch was scrubbed yesterday, which made our one-hour trip to the launch site sort of a "dry run." We learned of the postponement literally minutes after arriving at the launch area, having driven past numerous security stations established on side roads. I recall sensing a most tantalizing and delicious kitchen aroma coming out of a small structure being renovated next to a nearby rail line, which I considered the high point of the jaunt. The grapevine has it that the launch has been scheduled for tonight, at the same time.
The French team is scheduled to go to a "zone of relaxation" (зона отдыха) after lunch, which makes little sense to me. When we visited this "zone" during the Intelsat campaign a couple of years ago, about the only thing you could do - aside from walk around and marvel at the weeds - was have a picnic (which we did, after which I actually played chess with the Customer's representative). At any rate, after spending some time relaxing, the plan is to go into Baikonur town for dinner. I suspect they may also want to stop by the METOP launch site on the way home, which is going to make for a pretty long day.
I am scheduled to support the daily 9:30 am meeting in just a few minutes, which is to be held here at the Fili instead of the полтинник (owing to the prop load operation). I need to get ready.
Cheers...
