Back in space...

[alexpgp]

Discovery took off this morning, marking the formal Return to Flight of the Shuttle, the first since the loss of Columbia. I tuned in to the NASA channel this afternoon to see if there was anything going on, and mostly there wasn't, except for a press conference where the questioners tried very hard to squeeze some news out of some preliminary indications of a bird strike on the Shuttle before the stack cleared the tower and some possible damage to Discovery's tiles as seen by a camera on the external tank. The preliminary indications will not affect the procedures worked out for this flight to enhance safety, if my experience working with NASA is any indication, so the preliminary data - Phil Engelauf described it well during the press conference, calling it "serendipitous" - is not going to drive or affect the Shuttle tile checkout procedures.

Life is slowly getting back to normal, though if everything works according to plan on the satellite fabricator's side, I'll be back on a plane in just a week. Apropos of travel, and not terribly surprisingly, my luggage did not arrive today.

I made a batch of kvas, using some concentrate that I picked up while shopping with Alla the other day. I'm not sure I made it correctly, but time will tell. It's fermenting right now, and it occurs to me that, if everything does go according to plan, travel-wise, I'll probably not have time to drink all 5 liters before getting on the plane, unless someone else around here develops a taste for the stuff.

Cheers...

Comments

[brenk.livejournal.com]

Kvas *concentrate*? Somehow, that sounds... um... uh-huh. Reminds me that the last time I saw it was 'as sold from a barrel in the street'.

Got your mail - thanks. Somewhat chaotic hereabouts - work, visitors, Junior about to move out - but sorry you couldn't make it. Give it some thought for the way back once you get that bird into the air? We're away from 15-23 September but otherwise should be around :)

[alexpgp.livejournal.com]

Actually, it's kvas wort, which is kind of like the stuff amateurs use to brew beer: just add yeast and sugar and let it sit for a while.

I'm not at all sure I let it sit long enough, because the mixture was still bubbling when I decanted it, and now each of the liter bottles has a layer of yeast on the bottom.

However, the important part is this: I drank some this morning and have not required medical attention subsequently. This is always a Good Thing™.

Cheers...