Developments on the Door to the Universe

Yesterday, NASA announced the initial results of their advertisement for astronaut candidates. Apparently, they received 18,300 applications from what is reported to be between 8 and 14 spots.  This shatters the old record set at the height of the space shuttle program in 1978 when they received a bit over 8,000 applications for 19 spots in NASA Astronaut Group 9. However things shake out, I'm glad that I chose to add my hat to that ring, although I suppose I have to admit that I wish the number of other hats was just a bit more modest.

On the same day, Virgin Galactic, unveiled VSS Unity which replaces an earlier version, VSS Enterprise which broke up during a test flight in 2014.

It's been a newsworthy couple of days for manned spaceflight in the United States, and I'm looking forward to seeing developments unfold.  I'm a bit believer in the message related on the following photo.

The Task of the Middle Children

Be ready in the morning - we have work to do indeed.

Surrounded by Good People

One of the things I really grateful for today is that I'm surrounded by good people working very hard at a difficult job at work. We manage to make quite a few things happen, and it's fulfilling to see a team gel and things that we've been pushing for quite awhile really start to mature.

It was a good day, and I'm looking forward to what the next one may hold.

Step 1 - Complete

Today, I let fly and arrow. It remains to be seen where it will land.

Astronaut Candidate Selection Program

There was quite a bit of writing and editing that went into an 18K character summary of my professional life. If you'd like to loose your own arrow, there is still about 24 hours left to throw your hat in the ring. Here's your chance to be and ASCAN.

Who knows, you might find yourself on the top of 300 tons of explosive rocket fuel headed for a swing around Luna.