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supersix2 · 07-11-2011, 01:45 PM

I watched the final launch from the mission control center a few hours before I was scheduled to come in and work my shift as a flight controller. I got to watch two launches, one just before I started working at NASA and one while I was working here. They were quite an impressive sight to see in person but I think I most enjoyed being in the control center for launch and seeing all that goes on behind the scenes to make each launch happen. I worked my last shift as Space Shuttle flight controller over the weekend and even though I've only worked at NASA for 4 years and have only worked 10 missions or so, I felt pretty nostalgic about the flights I worked, the people I got to work with and also the entire Shuttle program.

Fortunately I'm still able to continue to work for NASA as a flight controller for the International Space Station but many of my friends and co-workers will be departing a week or so after Atlantis lands. Many of them, like myself were hired just a few years ago right out of college and while we all were aware that the Shuttle program would be ending soon and some of us might not have jobs afterward, most of us were expecting to move onto the now cancelled Constellation program. I feel like we are like the lost generation of NASA since we came in at a time of transition and due to a failure of national leadership over the past 6 years the program we expected to work on next was not sustainable and got cancelled.

I am somewhat hopeful of the future though, with the commercial space programs and the extension of the space station until 2020. I just hope NASA can get an exciting and bold new mission to explore with humans somewhere else beyond low earth orbit in the near future. As long as nation puts a priority on exploration and gives it the resources it needs, there is no shortage of capable and inspired people at NASA to make it happen.

I figured I'd share this Youtube video that RealNASA (NASA's Youtube channel) put together. It's somewhat corny but has really great footage from the fully assembled Space Station and some really great images of the earth from space. I think it's inspiring to people to get interested in space.

YouTube - ‪What Kind of World Do You Want?‬&rlm;

07-11-2011, 01:45 PM	#12 (permalink)
supersix2 Insane Location: Houston	I watched the final launch from the mission control center a few hours before I was scheduled to come in and work my shift as a flight controller. I got to watch two launches, one just before I started working at NASA and one while I was working here. They were quite an impressive sight to see in person but I think I most enjoyed being in the control center for launch and seeing all that goes on behind the scenes to make each launch happen. I worked my last shift as Space Shuttle flight controller over the weekend and even though I've only worked at NASA for 4 years and have only worked 10 missions or so, I felt pretty nostalgic about the flights I worked, the people I got to work with and also the entire Shuttle program. Fortunately I'm still able to continue to work for NASA as a flight controller for the International Space Station but many of my friends and co-workers will be departing a week or so after Atlantis lands. Many of them, like myself were hired just a few years ago right out of college and while we all were aware that the Shuttle program would be ending soon and some of us might not have jobs afterward, most of us were expecting to move onto the now cancelled Constellation program. I feel like we are like the lost generation of NASA since we came in at a time of transition and due to a failure of national leadership over the past 6 years the program we expected to work on next was not sustainable and got cancelled. I am somewhat hopeful of the future though, with the commercial space programs and the extension of the space station until 2020. I just hope NASA can get an exciting and bold new mission to explore with humans somewhere else beyond low earth orbit in the near future. As long as nation puts a priority on exploration and gives it the resources it needs, there is no shortage of capable and inspired people at NASA to make it happen. I figured I'd share this Youtube video that RealNASA (NASA's Youtube channel) put together. It's somewhat corny but has really great footage from the fully assembled Space Station and some really great images of the earth from space. I think it's inspiring to people to get interested in space. YouTube - ‪What Kind of World Do You Want?‬&rlm;