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I shook hands with a Robot!
Jul. 1st, 2013 11:38 amNo really I did.
(for the VI this is Robonaut 2B and me shaking hands. Robonaut has a gold helmet and a white body. I am wearing a black hat, grey shirt, and black pants.)
Let me back up a bit. We went to Houston for a gathering of Star Trek authors to just spend a couple of days with each other outside the convention circuit. Through some wonderful contacts (Thanks Amy and Paul) we got a backstage tour of NASA at the Johnson Space Center. Peter wasn’t sure if he was up for the walking and stairs that was required. So he decided to take Caroline on the public tour and let me wear my feet down to the ankles walking around NASA.
I have loved NASA since I was a little kid. I can remember watching the moon landing and the first man walking on the moon. I build a plastic model of the Saturn Rocket and other space related things. I knew I couldn’t go in space because I didn’t (still don’t) do well with heights but I thought about other ways I might join NASA. Eventually my life took some other turns but I still loved NASA.
So here I was talking to astronauts and scientists about various projects that NASA is working on. I got to see Robonaut 2A in action aboard the ISS (International Space Station) while watching the goings on in Mission Control. I got to see behind the scene of NASA 2.0 including a new modular version of Mission Control. I saw the next generation of Space Suits being tested. First redesign since the 70s.
Even though it was Friday I am still processing all the information I was given.
I am grateful for all the people at NASA that gave their time to talk to us.
(for the VI this is Robonaut 2B and me shaking hands. Robonaut has a gold helmet and a white body. I am wearing a black hat, grey shirt, and black pants.)
Let me back up a bit. We went to Houston for a gathering of Star Trek authors to just spend a couple of days with each other outside the convention circuit. Through some wonderful contacts (Thanks Amy and Paul) we got a backstage tour of NASA at the Johnson Space Center. Peter wasn’t sure if he was up for the walking and stairs that was required. So he decided to take Caroline on the public tour and let me wear my feet down to the ankles walking around NASA.
I have loved NASA since I was a little kid. I can remember watching the moon landing and the first man walking on the moon. I build a plastic model of the Saturn Rocket and other space related things. I knew I couldn’t go in space because I didn’t (still don’t) do well with heights but I thought about other ways I might join NASA. Eventually my life took some other turns but I still loved NASA.
So here I was talking to astronauts and scientists about various projects that NASA is working on. I got to see Robonaut 2A in action aboard the ISS (International Space Station) while watching the goings on in Mission Control. I got to see behind the scene of NASA 2.0 including a new modular version of Mission Control. I saw the next generation of Space Suits being tested. First redesign since the 70s.
Even though it was Friday I am still processing all the information I was given.
I am grateful for all the people at NASA that gave their time to talk to us.
