Falcon 9 Maiden Launch

Launch is currently scheduled for 11:40am EST (8:40am PST). Click on the image below to go to the webcast:


In case our servers get slammed, you can also watch on spaceflightnow.com:



While you're waiting, some cool photos:
http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20100211

And the obligatory playlist:

Queen - Don't Stop Me Now
The Crystal Method - High Roller
Elton John - Rocket Man
Dragonforce - Through the Fire and the Flames
Peter Schilling - Major Tom (Coming Home)
The Mountain Goats - Autoclave
MC Chris - Fette's Vette


Update:

10:00am On Launch Hold. There is a boat violating the downrange clear zone. Range is working to clear it.

10:16am: Hold released. T-15 min

10:20am: We are GO TERMINAL COUNT. T-10 min

10:24am: Internal power.

10:26: T-4min

10:30am: Launch abort. Final conditions not met for ignition. Waiting on word for re-cycle and re start terminal count.

11:30: Re-cycle approved. Preps complete. Hold released. T-15min

11:40: Hold released. Terminal count T-5min

12:12: Successful ignition. Successful 1st stage burn. Successful MECO. Successful Merlin Vacuum ignition. Successful 2nd stage burn. Waiting on word of SECO1, restart, s2 burn2, SECO2, and recovery.

Team Critter in St. Louis

I took a trip to St. Louis, MO to visit Paul, Jeanette, and Ale of Team Critter. Enjoy some photos! Thanks for making us at home, for the smiles, and the schmoopie bread. Oh, and Happy Mother's day!

Ale and I had our first ever conversation!

At the Jefferson Memorial of Western Expansion

Of course, there was the arch...

And who knew? You actually have to ride an alien spaceship to get to the top!

Cue the timpani!

Also making an appearance at the top, is... Team Dork.

That's one happy kid! (Apparently at that age, I too thought toes were the coolest new thing ever)

Midwest folks, I know you're jealous...everything you said about frozen custard was true.

Well, that's all for now. What a beautiful weekend. Hope to see you all again soon!

Until then, keep smiling!

Ooh! And you can follow Team Critter's blog at http://herecomescritter.blogspot.com/ !

Easter Baptism

My friend got baptized; what a beautiful Easter. Congratulations!



In addition to this happy news, there's an awesome story I want to record:

Having traveled from LA for the baptism, I arrived with a very wrinkled dress shirt from a suitcase. Since I was going to be her sponsor at her baptism, went in search of a cleaners to get it ironed out. Well, while we were talking about this, a woman walked by and over heard us. She immediately stopped and offered to iron the shirt for me since she lived just down the road. At first I thought she was one of our group, but nope, just a random person walking by. Not wanting to impose, we said we'd look for a cleaners first, but she gave us her number in case we couldn't find one open at that hour. Well, we found a cleaner, just minutes from closing time, and they were willing to iron the shirt right away. And when they found the shirt was to wrinkled to iron well, they SOLD ME ONE OF THEIR EXTRA SHIRTS for $5, perfectly starched and ironed. Best shirt I ever wore. Kind strangers are the best. What a happy Easter!

Just to bring this up to date

Since then I moved two more times - stayed with a friend for a while, moved, got cheated by a dishonest housemate, moved again, finally settled down in a nice big house with a few friends, whom I'll someday introduce, some from work. Five of us in this house, ocean views, great place for having guests over. Had Thanksgiving, Christmas for our friends at our house. Lately, a pipe broke in my room and flooded it, so I'm out of a place of my own again. Always an adventure. We share the house also with a very clever, very friendly one-year-old border collie.

Still working at SpaceX, still building spaceships. Getting ready for a big launch.

It's still beautiful down here, please come and visit!