Like the Scarlet Pimpernel...

[alexpgp]

It seems I am everywhere at once, and up to my elbows in people who speak French (albeit none in any mood to guillotine me or any aristos, thank goodness). Life is good.

Yesterday, during the encapsulation of the spacecraft, the upper stage, and the adapter between the two, John P. took this picture of me with the hardware in the background:



Today, we were back at the pad to repeat the RF link check of two days ago. This time, everything went swimmingly well, and the parties agreed to meet again Tuesday to exchange paperwork (everything has a paper trail around here, including -- I suspect -- the paper trail).

After the work was done, my colleages asked me to inquire about the possibility of taking pictures, and were given a go-ahead as long as they didn't point their cameras out, toward the horizon in any direction, or down, toward the actual launch pad (as opposed to the general reference to the facility, this reference to "pad" denotes the actual hardware the rocket sits on prior to launch... it reminds me of the ironwork a pot sits on above a gas burner on a stove). So here I am, on a wind-swept platform 49.3 m above ground level:



Sergey Z. just popped in, saying there may be some wee-hours work tonight, which is always heartening. More later, as the opportunity presents itself.

Cheers...

Comments

[volkris.livejournal.com]

Why such restrictions on photography?

Is it concern over site security or trade secrets?

[alexpgp.livejournal.com]

It's difficult to say; most of the folks I've spoken with refer to the video and photography "plan," which states when and where photos may be taken, and by whom. In my experience, it's generally adhered to only loosely, except in cases like this, where there is actually something of "value" to photograph (like the system of trusses and supports, say, used to anchor the rocket), in which case I believe the restrictions are likely based on commercial interests.

There are, after all, a load of places in the States into which one cannot take a camera (or cell phone, nowadays).

Cheers...

[love337.livejournal.com]

it's 1030pm your time! When are you coming home?

[alexpgp.livejournal.com]

As I write this, it's almost 2 pm. I am in a time zone 11 hours "ahead" of you.

I expect to be back home on Huntur's birthday.

Cheers...