Archive for April 17th, 2010

by Sherry Stocking Kline
17 April 2010

Look, Ma, No Hands! Dorothy Metcalf Lindenburger

The above photograph was posted on the STS 131 NASA Facebook page.  Become a Fan Here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Houston-TX/NASA-Fit-Explorer/79062778725 and you can see all the latest Facebook posts and photographs, some uploaded before launch and some since.

What fun it is to watch and see what’s going on, and think about the work that goes into becoming prepared to make this trip.  Just think about all the advancements and inventions that have come about because of the space exploration.  If I remember right, even the ubiquitous velcro came about because something was needed to keep things from floating off.

I’m not sure I understand the ramifications of the new billion dollar space program at all, but I do understand that Dottie’s team is one of the last that will be going ‘up’ with our own launches.  I’ve not watched enough television to know for sure, but think I heard someone saying on the country radio news station that I listen to that we will be paying another country to take our astronauts into space.  What a change!

Here is the NASA website http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts131/index.html where you can read more about the mission and it’s payload!  Dottie told me via Facebook e-mail that she would be working with the robotic arm that will move the 18,000 pound cargo onto the space station.

Wouldn’t you just love to be a mouse in the corner when they all get back to Earth!

Other Related Posts:

What’s Going Up in Space with Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger

April 5th ABC News Launch Video

Astronaut Cousin Makes History Today!