Archive for the ‘NASA’ Category
Dottie Metcalf Lindenbuger – “Dream Big, Work Hard”
by Sherry Stocking Kline
June 22, 2010
Because Dottie and her family lived hours from here we didn’t see Dottie often while she was growing up. But we’ve watched her ‘grow up’ from a distance thanks to e-mail, Christmas newsletters, and now Facebook.
And the one thing that has been a thread throughout her growing up years, grade school, high school, college, and her teaching career, is that when Dottie does something, she chooses to do it well, chooses to excel at it, and chooses to work hard to be the best at it, and reach her goals.
What an inspiration! And while many graduation messages include the “Dream Big” they don’t always include the “work hard” part that is a key part of anyone’s success.
To read the article in “The Columbian” that inspired this blog post, click here.
Is the Space Shuttle Coming over you?
posted by Sherry Stocking Kline
18 April 2010
The following was posted on and excerpted from the NASA Facebook page. To see more, and read more go to Facebook, and search for NASA Fit.
Space Shuttle Approach - Image From the NASA Facebook Page
The Crew of STS 131 Is coming home soon, These are ground tracks for the first landing attempt at Kennedy Space Center. Take a look, maybe Discovery is coming over your city. The first Kennedy landing opportunity on the mission’s 222nd orbit would see a deorbit burn at 7:43 a.m. EDT Monday for the 8:48 a.m. landing.
STS-131Astronauts to Land on Monday Morning!
by Sherry Stocking Kline
18 April 2010
The following excerpt is taken from the NASA.gov website as the astronauts gear up to land Monday morning!
Shuttle Crew Prepares for Monday Landing
Preparations for landing take center stage Sunday as the seven astronauts on space shuttle Discovery wrap up a 10-day stay at the International Space Station that included three spacewalks and delivery of more than seven tons of equipment and supplies.
Commander Alan G. Poindexter, Pilot James P. Dutton Jr. and Mission Specialists Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Rick Mastracchio, Stephanie Wilson, Clayton Anderson and Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki are scheduled to land their spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center at 8:48 a.m. EDT Monday.
And we appreciate your prayers for their safe landing tomorrow!
Other Related Posts:
Follow the Astronauts & Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger on Facebook
What’s Going Up in Space with Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger
Posted in Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger, Metcalf Family Tree, NASA, Stocking Family Genealogy, Today's Memories | 
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Follow the Astronauts & Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger on Facebook
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
What’s Going Up in Space with Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger?
by Sherry Stocking Kline
07 April 2010
I had no idea that so much ‘stuff’ went up into space with the astronauts, but I can see what kind of impact it can have on the students of a school! What a great idea!
You can read the story here: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/behindscenes/whatsgoingup131.html and then check out the podcast here.
The news just said that the Discovery was able to dock with the Space Station, though they had some problems with an antenna, and would be having their first space walk soon.
Dottie told me in an e-mail on Facebook that she would not be walking, but would be directing the robotic arm that would be moving 18,000 pounds of equipment. That’s a pretty big load! (I’m used to thinking in terms of a wheat truck load, and this is many times that!)
Here is some of the NASA info on the mission:
Mission: STS-131
Space Shuttle: Discovery
Primary Payload: Leonardo multi-purpose logistics module
Launch Date: April 5, 2010
Launch Time: 6:21 a.m. EDT
Launch Pad: 39A
Landing: April 18, 2010
Landing Time: 8:29 a.m. EDT
Landing Site: Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
Mission Duration: 13 days
Inclination/Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
You can read today’s Space Shuttle news here.
Our whole family is very proud of Dottie, and we appreciate your interest and your prayers for her safety!
Other Related Posts:
Follow the Astronauts on Facebook
Astronaut Cousin Makes History Today – Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger
by Sherry Stocking Kline
05 April 2010
Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger and fellow educator astronauts, Richard Arnold and Joseph Acaba - NASA photo
Usually when our ancestors, or even ourselves become a bigger part of history we’re just not aware of it at the time. It’s when the history books write the story and we read it later that we know, even if they did not, that they helped shape the events of that time.
But today, my cousin’s daughter, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, went up in space and for all time she became one of those whose names go down in history books, one of those brave and courageous ones who went into outer space and helped shape history.
Dorothy is one of three educator astronauts, and she will see our world, our earth, in a perspective we can only try to imagine! Just think of what she can share with her students, and those she will speak to in the future.
Dorothy told me that her job will be on the flight deck as the flight engineer for ascent and entry, and she will be flying the Shuttle’s robotic arm, helping move 18,000 pounds of science and engineering equipment.
Dottie said that during the spacewalks, she will be inside as the crew member leading them through the spacewalk.
The launch this morning (Praise the Lord!) was picture perfect, and for the next 13 days, Dottie will be doing what she’s trained for the past several years to do, and those of us here, friends and family will pray for her safety and watch their mission on www.NASA.gov and our local television channels!
Other Related Links:
Denver Channel News – Dottie’s parent’s interview from Ft. Collins, CO
Video: http://www.thedenverchannel.com/video/22747395/index.html
Article: http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/22746823/detail.html
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Metcalf-Lindenburger
Runner’s World Article: http://www.runnersworld.com/article/1,7124,s6-243-410–13448-0,00.html#
Wellington Daily News: http://www.wellingtondailynews.com/features/x1336921704/Astronaut-has-Sumner-County-ties
Other Related Posts:
Follow the STS-131 Astronauts on Facebook
What’s Going Up in Space with Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger
