Friday?

The 9 am trip out to the airport to receive incoming GSE (ground support equipment) is delayed for over an hour due to a delay in the incoming flight, and despite everyone's advice ("go back to sleep"), I'm up for the duration.

The hotel's sauna was fired up last night, and despite having some chores to do, I decided to participate, albeit gently, sweating out one "session" in the heat, which was set fairly low, at 80°C (176°F). The company then retired to the dining room for a cup of tea, after which I returned to the room to hammer away on some side projects. I must admit to having slept rather well.

One of my colleagues is helping me figure out the situation with the Beeline cellular provider. During the sauna session last night, I heard enough scare stories about dealing with cellular providers to make me think the Russians have achieved the same high level of civilization as we enjoy in the US. I think I will observe, and maybe learn somthing.

Cheers...

Wrap-up...

There was no progress on the Beeline front, as it is not feasible to call from Baikonur, and the email response I got to my query was a masterpiece of corporate obfuscation, except in Russian.

The wind at the airport this morning was wicked, and I got a lungful (or three) of exhaust fumes from the Ilyushin APUs as the containers were unloaded.


An unexpected gig came up this afternoon, supporting the French effort to establish a stable satellite link to the home office, which met with only partial success and will involve having to physically realign an antenna in the near future.

I am well and truly tired, and am surrounded by the noise of people letting their hair down. I might join them, for a while.

Cheers...