Catching up...
Jan. 2nd, 2005 10:11 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alexpgpYesterday, while on the way back to building 92A-50, one of the members of the Alcatel team had to stop by the Kometa Hotel to pick up his badge, and while he was inside the building, I noticed there was a meeting of an executive committee convened nearby:
Russians, I've noticed, have a fairly tolerant attitude toward stray dogs and cats, which may be anathema to some Americans, but there it is. While nobody actually owns the animals that I am aware of, people do go out of their way, generally, and put out food and water for them.
The major accomplishment of the day was unpacking the satellite from its container and moving it into hall 103A, which is where the satellite will stay for the next couple of weeks, being prepared for integration with the launch vehicle. No photos of the operation are available (restrictions, dontchaknow), but imagine a large box with a door on one end that swings open like a safe, and a platform inside that slides out much like a drawer.
The satellite, which at this point looks a little like a '64 Nova that's been through one of those machines that crushes metal into small volumes and then painted black and decorated here and there with gold foil, was transferred from the drawer onto a special cart by one of the humongous bridge cranes in hall 101, and the cart was then rolled through several sets of achingly tall doors into 103A.
Although I have no photos from 101, I did manage to massage some of the photos from the New Year's party. In looking them over, I notice most of them fall into the "Interpreter's Life" category that - if I continue to pursue this subject - may someday be large and illustrative enough to put into a book.
Here's a shot of Vladimir V., standing in front of the head table wearing a diamond-patterned sweater - doing what we all do best...
The bar in the next room was pretty crowded. I took this shot by holding the camera over my head and hoping for the best.
Later on, filled with good food and good spirits (yes, Virginia, the pun is definitely intended!), people started to really cut loose.
Vladimir is off escorting the first of what promise to be several trips into town. The weather has improved markedly over the situation this morning: an icy fog and a temperature of -24°C (about -11°F).
I am scheduled to go into the office at 92A-50 and cover the period from 1 pm to the end of work tonight, around 10 pm. The next load of people to arrive does so tonight, via the Clintondale charter, and I hope to be reunited with my luggage soon.
Cheers...
Russians, I've noticed, have a fairly tolerant attitude toward stray dogs and cats, which may be anathema to some Americans, but there it is. While nobody actually owns the animals that I am aware of, people do go out of their way, generally, and put out food and water for them.
The major accomplishment of the day was unpacking the satellite from its container and moving it into hall 103A, which is where the satellite will stay for the next couple of weeks, being prepared for integration with the launch vehicle. No photos of the operation are available (restrictions, dontchaknow), but imagine a large box with a door on one end that swings open like a safe, and a platform inside that slides out much like a drawer.
The satellite, which at this point looks a little like a '64 Nova that's been through one of those machines that crushes metal into small volumes and then painted black and decorated here and there with gold foil, was transferred from the drawer onto a special cart by one of the humongous bridge cranes in hall 101, and the cart was then rolled through several sets of achingly tall doors into 103A.
Although I have no photos from 101, I did manage to massage some of the photos from the New Year's party. In looking them over, I notice most of them fall into the "Interpreter's Life" category that - if I continue to pursue this subject - may someday be large and illustrative enough to put into a book.
Here's a shot of Vladimir V., standing in front of the head table wearing a diamond-patterned sweater - doing what we all do best...
The bar in the next room was pretty crowded. I took this shot by holding the camera over my head and hoping for the best.
Later on, filled with good food and good spirits (yes, Virginia, the pun is definitely intended!), people started to really cut loose.
Vladimir is off escorting the first of what promise to be several trips into town. The weather has improved markedly over the situation this morning: an icy fog and a temperature of -24°C (about -11°F).
I am scheduled to go into the office at 92A-50 and cover the period from 1 pm to the end of work tonight, around 10 pm. The next load of people to arrive does so tonight, via the Clintondale charter, and I hope to be reunited with my luggage soon.
Cheers...
