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During and after hours...
Nov. 16th, 2008 10:41 amOne thing that drives interpreters crazy is having a principal start to talk about something that had been the subject of a previous discussion that the interpreter is not aware of. The Curious Rabbit Reference I wrote about this past March is a good example, and it happened again yesterday, during the morning status meeting.
After the usual greetings and weather forecast, the Russian program director started off his remarks by noting, with just the slightest odd emphasis in his tone, that "our upper stage is flying right now" ("наш разгонный блок сейчас летит"). I hesitated for a moment, the speaker looked at me expectantly, so I interpreted.
There were some quizzical looks from the U.S. side of the table, too.
Then it dawned on me... the upper stage was undergoing a flight simulation test during which it was "flying" (i.e., opening and closing switches that would control the stage in flight) using the same timeline that will be used early next month to boost our satellite to its specified separation point high over the Earth.
This was not a new subject in the ongoing discussions between the parties involved in the campaign, but it was new to me, as the issue had not cropped up in any of the documents I read to prepare for the meeting.
The confusion was soon cleared up, and the rest of the meeting proceeded smoothly.
The afternoon went quietly, and at dinner, Sergey (our lead) told me that today had been declared a half day, so my scheduled afternoon support had gone away. This left me free to go into town later this morning (in about 30 minutes, as a matter of fact).
Alex A. called to inform me that a bunch of people were getting together later to watch a film titled Kin-dza-dza! (a political commentary disguised as a science fiction comedy, said to be the last really great film shot in the Soviet era), but I demurred as I had already been invited to hang out with some campaigners for a session of... pasteboard perusal, if you get my drift <wink> <nudge>. A good time was had by all, as it is particularly interesting to hang out with itinerant (so to speak) Pinkertons.
I should go get ready for my ride. Pictures later, maybe (it's foggy out).
Cheers...
After the usual greetings and weather forecast, the Russian program director started off his remarks by noting, with just the slightest odd emphasis in his tone, that "our upper stage is flying right now" ("наш разгонный блок сейчас летит"). I hesitated for a moment, the speaker looked at me expectantly, so I interpreted.
There were some quizzical looks from the U.S. side of the table, too.
Then it dawned on me... the upper stage was undergoing a flight simulation test during which it was "flying" (i.e., opening and closing switches that would control the stage in flight) using the same timeline that will be used early next month to boost our satellite to its specified separation point high over the Earth.
This was not a new subject in the ongoing discussions between the parties involved in the campaign, but it was new to me, as the issue had not cropped up in any of the documents I read to prepare for the meeting.
The confusion was soon cleared up, and the rest of the meeting proceeded smoothly.
The afternoon went quietly, and at dinner, Sergey (our lead) told me that today had been declared a half day, so my scheduled afternoon support had gone away. This left me free to go into town later this morning (in about 30 minutes, as a matter of fact).
Alex A. called to inform me that a bunch of people were getting together later to watch a film titled Kin-dza-dza! (a political commentary disguised as a science fiction comedy, said to be the last really great film shot in the Soviet era), but I demurred as I had already been invited to hang out with some campaigners for a session of... pasteboard perusal, if you get my drift <wink> <nudge>. A good time was had by all, as it is particularly interesting to hang out with itinerant (so to speak) Pinkertons.
I should go get ready for my ride. Pictures later, maybe (it's foggy out).
Cheers...
