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A successful launch!
Jun. 5th, 2010 07:00 pmThe Arabsat 5B spacecraft (which became Badr 5 somewhere along the path into the firmament) separated from the Breeze-M upper stage at several minutes after 1 pm yesterday, after having been delivered to a specific point in the sky above the Earth. Ground stations reported a good link with the satellite.
The French brought champagne.
Traditionally, and by that I mean "For all the campaigns I've been on," there is a closing campaign banquet held at the Polyot hotel's ground floor restaurant, and it has been a rather formal affair, at least from the server's side. ("Formal," for most campaigners, means wearing a shirt with a collar, long trousers, and socks.) Lately, I am told, such banquets are held at the gazebos in front of the Fili.
I got there at 7:30 pm, by which time the Russians had all arrived and arrayed themselves around two long tables. The French arrived later, and stood around for a while, sipping aperitifs (I had been concerned they wouldn't show up at all, as a trip had been planned for later in the evening into town, until the wee hours.)
After interpreting a number of toasts, I settled down with the other interpreters and we sat and discussed language usage, with my colleagues using me as a sounding board for native usage of English, especially colloquial English.
There was nothing to do at the office today, so I accompanied a "stealth" trip into town with management. It was not unlike other trips, except this time we stopped at a number of places looking for reflective film for windows, with no success.
Among the things to do in my immediate future is sort through the stuff in my room and pack, in readiness to be moved to another room, so that one member of the crew that arrives tomorrow for the next campaign can move directly into what has been my room these past 39 days.
By the time we leave on Monday, I calculate I have spent a total of 346 days in Kazakhstan over 9 campaigns. That's just about three weeks short of a year of my life.
Cheers...
The French brought champagne.
Traditionally, and by that I mean "For all the campaigns I've been on," there is a closing campaign banquet held at the Polyot hotel's ground floor restaurant, and it has been a rather formal affair, at least from the server's side. ("Formal," for most campaigners, means wearing a shirt with a collar, long trousers, and socks.) Lately, I am told, such banquets are held at the gazebos in front of the Fili.
I got there at 7:30 pm, by which time the Russians had all arrived and arrayed themselves around two long tables. The French arrived later, and stood around for a while, sipping aperitifs (I had been concerned they wouldn't show up at all, as a trip had been planned for later in the evening into town, until the wee hours.)
After interpreting a number of toasts, I settled down with the other interpreters and we sat and discussed language usage, with my colleagues using me as a sounding board for native usage of English, especially colloquial English.
There was nothing to do at the office today, so I accompanied a "stealth" trip into town with management. It was not unlike other trips, except this time we stopped at a number of places looking for reflective film for windows, with no success.
Among the things to do in my immediate future is sort through the stuff in my room and pack, in readiness to be moved to another room, so that one member of the crew that arrives tomorrow for the next campaign can move directly into what has been my room these past 39 days.
By the time we leave on Monday, I calculate I have spent a total of 346 days in Kazakhstan over 9 campaigns. That's just about three weeks short of a year of my life.
Cheers...
