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Author
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Topic: 9/2008: STS-124 crew in the United Kingdom
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irish guy
Member Posts: 287
From: Kerry Ireland
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 08-09-2008 08:43 AM
   
We just spotted the STS-124 crew are in Norfolk on 8 September. Flights very cheap from Irish end. Just wondering if any cS members from Great Britain or Ireland are planning to attend. We may see you there. There is a corporate lunch at 1pm and then the talk is at 5pm in the John Innes Centre.Best Regards
Eamonn & Siobhan |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 08-09-2008 04:23 PM
Hmm, may well travel up there from London for the evening. I suppose there has to be some reason for going to Norfolk, even if the venue is named after a compost manufacturer.  Thanks for highlighting the event. Paul PS This can't be the only reason for their UK visit. |
NavySpaceFan
Member Posts: 655
From: Norfolk, VA
Registered: May 2007
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posted 08-12-2008 10:33 AM
Damn, when I first saw this, I thought it was Norfolk VA!!!! |
irish guy
Member Posts: 287
From: Kerry Ireland
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 08-19-2008 03:22 PM
Anita Cullen with The Exchange informed us: Over the past few years The Exchange (Norfolk Education Business Exchange), working with International Space School Educational Trust has been able to send Norfolk teachers on a Professional Development Placement to the Kennedy Space Centre, they can then pass on their knowledge to their students. Mark Kelly came over and did a session with high schools a few years back.We have sent off for our tickets and are looking forward to our time in London and Norfolk. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42986
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-21-2008 01:41 PM
quote:
Originally posted by gliderpilotuk:
PS This can't be the only reason for their UK visit.
I haven't been able to find any more details as of yet, but the Telegraph & Argus reports the crew is also visiting Bradford. The seven space explorers – who have just returned from a trip to the International Space Station – arrive in Centenary Square, Bradford, on Thursday, September 11, at 10am.After a civic reception, the crew will visit Valley Parade to talk to primary school children about their remarkable June 2008 mission to deliver equipment for the Japanese Experiment Module, which NASA described as the “nearest to perfect” ever achieved. The crew will also visit Bradford College’s Trinity Green campus, Salts Grammar School, Thornton Grammar School, East Riddlesden Hall at Keighley and the Yorkshire Planetarium during their two-day visit. The event, which has the theme You can Do It, has been organised by Bradford-based Space Connections and Bradford College in conjunction with YES net – providers of space education – and supported by Yorkshire Forward. |
irish guy
Member Posts: 287
From: Kerry Ireland
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 08-28-2008 06:09 AM
Would u believe it!All set to go, tickets and flights booked, and then I find out the entire crew are coming to Ireland... Co Mayo where Ron Garan's wife is from. Saturday 6th September, the crew are presenting the Irish flag which they brought up with them onboard STS-124 back to a local school. |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 09-06-2008 02:48 AM
Two of the astronauts were on Radio Five at 8:30 this morning. Apparently they are touring 18 schools in all of the provinces.Paul |
spaceman
Member Posts: 1104
From: Walsall, West Midlands, UK
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 09-07-2008 02:24 PM
Astronauts Mark Kelly and Karen Nyberg were on BBC Breakfast and then BBC News 24 yesterday morning. Got tickets for the Norfolk event... who else is going?? See you there! Nick
Spaceman. |
StarDome
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posted 09-07-2008 03:27 PM
I will be there at the John Innes Centre, armed with my NASA lithos hopefully for them to sign. I was due to go to the schools too but I have prior arrangements. I will be at the 5pm session though. Hoping to talk about it when I do my Radio stint for the BBC on Tuesday evening. Cheers Andy |
StarDome
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posted 09-08-2008 03:01 PM
It was nice to meet all the fellow collectSPACE people at the event. Nice to meet you Irish Guy, hope you managed to get home safe. The STS-123 crew were great, plenty of time for pictures and autographs. Cheers guys, See you all soon. Andy. |
StarDome
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posted 09-08-2008 03:02 PM
STS-124 I meant, silly me all the exitement! |
David Bryant
Member Posts: 986
From: Norfolk UK
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 09-08-2008 03:53 PM
quote:
Originally posted by StarDome:
STS-124 I meant, silly me all the exitement!
'Excitement', you meant! LOL! |
David Bryant
Member Posts: 986
From: Norfolk UK
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 09-08-2008 03:53 PM
Couldn't resist....I'm amazed you got autographs: at the last event at the JII Mark Kelly only signed for a few persistent people! |
spaceman
Member Posts: 1104
From: Walsall, West Midlands, UK
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 09-08-2008 05:01 PM
Hi, just got home (3 hour car journey each way) well worth it. This is how astronaut events should be organised. Great talk and video followed by an interesting Q&A (A fair number of kids attended - the space explorers of tomorrow, really interested). Best of all an extended meet and greet in a relaxed atmosphere. The astronauts wanted to chat, signed anything and posed until all were satisfied. They obviously had a travel schedule to meet but they had to virtually drag Mike Fossum and Aki Hoshide away. If you haven't met this group yet be sure to try before they leave. Nice to see Ollie (back from the STS-124 launch and landing experience) Rob, Andy G, Irish guy and his lovely wife, an unknown American from Atlanta (sorry didn't catch your name) and anyone else I forgot to mention. Special thanks to the organisers and a big thank you to the crew of STS-124. Nick
Spaceman
www.spaceboosters.co.uk |
StarDome
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posted 09-08-2008 05:20 PM
Here Here Nick, the crew were fantastic, very friendly. Mark Kelly et al, as you said, were happy to sign away and chat. I had a great talk with Ken Ham and as you said, that's how it should be, nice and friendly and well worth the effort. I am sure we all got lovely items signed, I got all my portraits signed and an STS-124 launch picture. The astronauts seemed very happy to do it, not one hint of "were off" or that should be $25 thank you. It shows that in different circumstances these wonderful people are happy to oblige free of charge both for autographs and pictures. Bring on the next one. Thanks to the oraganisers and all you cS's that turned up. Brilliant evening. |
Steve Procter
Member Posts: 1031
From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 09-09-2008 12:12 PM
Thanks for the report on the event everyone. Seems like a good time was had by all, not least the astronauts themselves.Looking forward to meeting them on Thursday afternoon in Bradford. I'm taking my own pics but did they have a supply of portrait lithos with them? Cheers Steve |
spaceman
Member Posts: 1104
From: Walsall, West Midlands, UK
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 09-09-2008 01:08 PM
Hi Steve,They didn't have photos/lithos with them. I did enquire with the organisers about running a stall with STS-124 collectables but was unfortunately turned down on this occasion. People were using computer printouts and plain paper.
I had a couple of spare photos and gave them to interested looking kids to get signed for themselves. I wish I had taken a few more. There was a lot of interest, important to encourage them at that age. I never mentioned it in the last post but at the end of the presentation the astronauts invited all of the kids onto the stage. They posed for a large group photo with them - fantastic. (Must dig out my old school uniform...now many times too small - I'd probably be rumbled straight away). Does anyone have any details for the Leeds venue please? Thanks
Nick
Spaceman
www.spaceboosters.co.uk |
Steve Procter
Member Posts: 1031
From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 09-09-2008 01:55 PM
Nick,Not heard anything about a visit to Leeds - they are spending two days in the Bradford area and doing quite a few appearances there. Steve |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3120
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 09-09-2008 06:21 PM
I have just heard (only after the event!) that the STS-124 crew have been in Belfast today, visiting the construction and launch site of the "Titanic" at Harland & Wolff shipyard. Apparently they will be touring round Northern Ireland on Wednesday visiting schools. It must have been kept very quiet - there was nothing about it in Belfast's evening newspaper. |
StarDome
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posted 09-09-2008 06:48 PM
It was kept pretty quiet here too I only found out by accident when someone at a school I visit mentioned it and then by searching the web. People on the doorstep weren’t even aware of the visit. A similar thing happened when a shuttle crew visited Doncaster too, no mention of that on the web at all. I just hope they organise more, was a superb evening and well worth the £20 ticket fee. A great experience. |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 09-10-2008 05:37 AM
The schools tour was being coordinated by ISSET - the International Space Schools Educational Trust.I contacted them and had a very interesting chat with the helpful ISSET Chairman Chris Barber. I think they had 18 schools lined up - none in London, due to a disgraceful lack of interest by the authorities. Anyone interested in fostering the interest of schoolkids in space should check out the website and encourage teachers to hook up with ISSET. Robert - I mentioned cS and Chris was very interested in this as a resource. Paul |
lm5eagle
Member Posts: 429
From:
Registered: Jul 2007
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posted 09-13-2008 03:17 AM
I went to the event at Bradford College and I would like to commend the College for an excellent event. Their hospitality was free with the provision of a pleasant meal and several glasses of wine.The astronauts were superb, arriving a little late after meeting huge numbers of enthusiastic schoolchildren and barely having time to grasp a quick bite before launching into an excellent presentation. The team of four (Mark, Karen, Ron and Ken) were enthusiastic, patient and so generous of their time. They signed numerous autographs without complaint and willingly posed for photographs. We should not forget that this was against a backcloth of concern for their families as hurricane Ike started to bear down on the Texas coastline and Houston in particular. Indeed, as the others were doing a voice over to the presentation, Mark could be seen sharing texts with home in relation to the deteriorating weather conditions in Houston. These lovely people are some of NASAs finest ambassadors and certainly gave us all the experience of a lifetime. Andy |
irish guy
Member Posts: 287
From: Kerry Ireland
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 09-20-2008 07:49 AM
Just wanted to say a quick thank you to Robert Pearlman for highlighting the visit of the crew of STS-124 to Norfolk. It was a spectacular but very relaxed evening. The astronauts were in no hurry to leave and signed numerous photographs etc. They gave a wonderful presentation and made some time to answer questions in particular with the school kids who were there. Afterwards there was tea and coffee with the astronauts mingling and chatting with everyone. A rare experience to say the least! Our highlight was chatting to Mark Kelly and informing him that we saw the external tank and shuttle 19 minutes after lift off over the skies of Ireland and our house! Hearty congratulations to Mr Chris Barber and our fellow Irish man Mr Tom O Connor Director of ISSET for their wonderful skills in making the event such a success. Also the work they do and the opportunities they give children in England. Nice to see fellow collect space members there. Siobhan and I were delighted to meet up with you all. A great event and a lovely way to spend a Monday and Tuesday!! |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3120
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 09-20-2008 08:19 AM
Eamonn, I have often tried to calculate when and where the shuttle might be visible from my back-garden just after launch. Exactly how long after launch did you see (a) the orbiter and (b) the ET? What was your approximate position (lat. and long.)? Do you know what altitude the orbiter had reached at the time? I suspect (even if lighting conditions were right) it would be too low in the south to see from Belfast, but I remember trying to see a launch many years ago on its way to Mir. The higher launch-inclination took the orbiter almost over Belfast on its way into orbit, and the sun had just set, but (you've guessed IT!) the clouds beat me. Maybe I'll get one last chance in the next 2 years? |
irish guy
Member Posts: 287
From: Kerry Ireland
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 09-22-2008 03:41 PM
Hi JeffreySorry for the delay in getting back to you. I needed to check back on some details. STS-124 with external tank appeared in our skies 19 minutes after liftoff. Our exact coordinates at time of sighting was latitude 52.524 and longitude -9.669. The shuttle and tank flew parallel across the skies and lasted for maybe a minute in view. It was actually our second time seeing the twin sighting, having seen STS-112 in 2001. If you type in space shuttle over Ireland in YouTube you will get to see the sighting. Its not great but gives you an idea. I am also posting you offline a photo of the sighting which was taken by an Astronomy Ireland member. Hope this is of use. Eamonn |
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