Shannon

Hey, gang!

I've been away due to chronic illness (I probably need sinus surgery; awaiting doc visit November 3rd) and the loss of one of my computers (it died), so my apologies for my continued absence here on WildTexas.com; I haven't been nearly as active here as I hoped to be.

So, what's up? Sadly, no, I didn't manage to wrangle a seat on the first commercial space tourism flight, but it's close a second! ;-)

On the invitation of NASA, I and only 99 other members of the general public have been selected to attend the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-129) from Kennedy Space Center (Cape Canaveral, Florida) on November 16, 2009.

The event is NASA's first-ever live Space Shuttle launch "tweetup" (a tweetup is simply an informal gathering of people who generally converse through the social messaging service, Twitter.com; my own Twitter ID is @Ageekmom), and it's a way to expose the general public to NASA launch operations and educate the public about NASA spaceflight.

NASA is providing us with unprecedented viewing access of the launch (literally, I will be standing somewhere near the countdown clock/grassy field area that is familiar to anyone who has ever watched a Space Shuttle launch on TV or NASA TV online!) It's an area that members of the public who pay to view the launch don't even get to view from, it's *that* close.


NASA is not providing airfare, lodging, local transportation or food. Donations are in no way expected and aren’t tax deductible (and I feel like a heel for even putting this here), but you’ll be secure in the knowledge you’ve helped a life-long space geek fulfill her life-long dream to attend a Space Shuttle launch in person and meet astronauts and others who make our U.S. space program a reality.

I intend to share this once-in-a-lifetime experience with as many people as I can. As such, I'll be posting more information about the launch and related events on my personal website (GeekHabitat.com) as well as on my Twitter.com account, @Ageekmom. During the Space Shuttle launch and related events, I will also be posting photos to my Flickr account (Flickr: AGeekMom's Photostream).

Send me any questions you want me to ask astronauts, engineers, rocket scientists. Post them here on my wall, inbox or email. Seriously!

Proof I'm a life-long space geek -- photo of meet at Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1987:

__________________
- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com

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Orllas

Congratulations, Shannon! I've worked for a NASA contractor for 23 years and have never seen a launch up close like that. I am sooooo jealous.

I did get to see a night launch from my sister's front yard in Orlando. That was pretty spectacular. I cannot imagine what being right there at the Cape must be like.

Enjoy!

Shannon

Thank you! I still can't believe my good fortune to be among the 100 folks selected. Our viewing location is apparently just 3.2 miles from Pad 39A where Space Shuttle Atlantis will be taking off. I am told we'll definitely feel the launch, not just see it.

__________________
- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com

Purchases in the Wild Texas Gear Shop support our continued operation. Thank you!

Shannon

The best way to experience the Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-129 launch along with me is (in this order) to:
1. Follow me, @Ageekmom, on Twitter.com. You don’t need a Twitter account to see my updates, but if you have one, you’ll be able to send me questions & comments! If you don’t normally use Twitter, simply point your web browser to http://twitter.com/ageekmom to see all my updates, including photos posted in real-time.
2. Check my Flickr photostream regularly for new photos — Flickr: AGeekMom's Photostream You do not need a Flickr account to do this. Photos will be posted directly from my cellphone in real-time, and when I have time I will also post HD videos from my Flip Ultra HD camera and still photos from my Canon Powershot. I am NOT taking my pro camera for this trip as I’ve chosen to focus on the experience & making memories rather than super high-res photos.
If you have any questions or comments you want to try and share with the folks I will be meeting (see list below for highlights), feel free to post them as a comment here or direct them to my email address:

I’ll do my best to pass your inquiries along!
Other Accounts & Sites to Follow:

• Official NASA Tweetup Twitter account
• Official NASA list of STS-129 Tweetup Attendees (including me!)
• Official STS-129 NASA Tweetup Live Broadcast, November 15 from 8 to 10 AM EST to see me & 99 other space geeks grinning stupidly as we meet @Astro_Mike, @WayneHale, @milesobrien, etc.!
• Unofficial NASA Tweetup Flickr Group
• Official NASA TV live coverage of pre-launch, launch & post-launch news conference
• Spacevidcast live launch coverage in HD

Some of the Awesome Space Folks I’ll Be Meeting:

• John Yembrick / @NASA, NASA public affairs officer (PAO)
• Jon Cowart, Ares I-X deputy mission manager
• Wayne Hale, former flight director & current strategic program planning manager
• Astronaut Mike Massimino / @Astro_Mike, STS-109 & 125 (final Hubble repair mission)
• Veronica McGregor (@veronicamcg), NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory public affairs
• Miles O’Brien / @milesobrien, veteran space reporter, former CNN anchor

__________________
- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com

Purchases in the Wild Texas Gear Shop support our continued operation. Thank you!

Shannon

The best way to experience the Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-129 launch along with me is (in this order) to:
1. Follow me, @Ageekmom, on Twitter.com. You don’t need a Twitter account to see my updates, but if you have one, you’ll be able to send me questions & comments! If you don’t normally use Twitter, simply point your web browser to http://twitter.com/ageekmom to see all my updates, including photos posted in real-time.
2. Check my Flickr photostream regularly for new photos — Flickr: AGeekMom's Photostream You do not need a Flickr account to do this. Photos will be posted directly from my cellphone in real-time, and when I have time I will also post HD videos from my Flip Ultra HD camera and still photos from my Canon Powershot. I am NOT taking my pro camera for this trip as I’ve chosen to focus on the experience & making memories rather than super high-res photos.
If you have any questions or comments you want to try and share with the folks I will be meeting (see list below for highlights), feel free to post them as a comment here or direct them to my email address:

I’ll do my best to pass your inquiries along!
Other Accounts & Sites to Follow:

• Official NASA Tweetup Twitter account
• Official NASA list of STS-129 Tweetup Attendees (including me!)
• Official STS-129 NASA Tweetup Live Broadcast, November 15 from 8 to 10 AM EST to see me & 99 other space geeks grinning stupidly as we meet @Astro_Mike, @WayneHale, @milesobrien, etc.!
• Unofficial NASA Tweetup Flickr Group
• Official NASA TV live coverage of pre-launch, launch & post-launch news conference
• Spacevidcast live launch coverage in HD

Some of the Awesome Space Folks I’ll Be Meeting:

• John Yembrick / @NASA, NASA public affairs officer (PAO)
• Jon Cowart, Ares I-X deputy mission manager
• Wayne Hale, former flight director & current strategic program planning manager
• Astronaut Mike Massimino / @Astro_Mike, STS-109 & 125 (final Hubble repair mission)
• Veronica McGregor (@veronicamcg), NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory public affairs
• Miles O’Brien / @milesobrien, veteran space reporter, former CNN anchor

__________________
- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com

Purchases in the Wild Texas Gear Shop support our continued operation. Thank you!