posted 08-29-2012 04:52 PM               

Last March I had the space-geek opportunity of a lifetime — to visit space shuttle Atlantis inside an OPF at the KSC. How did this come about — friend and author Rick Houston had written a book about the Shuttle program and convinced someone important that he should have his author's photo taken on the flight deck of a real shuttle.

I've been on several simulators and mockups before but to go on the real thing felt like visiting hallowed ground. Driving to the OPF with astronaut Jon McBride as our guide Rick and I were pinching each other and on Cloud 9.

Before we arrived at KSC for the photo op I sent this picture to Rick. He thought I might have ruined our chances to go inside.

Here is a photo of Rick in the Commander's seat with Jon at his side. Jon was a humble and humorous host.

Another photo showing all three of us standing on the flight deck. It's tiny up there! I was interested in the ceiling windows as Mike Mullane talks about sleeping up against them in his book. I don't see how he found the room.

Here's me sitting in the Commander's seat. One of the most thrilling moments of my life so far.

And with a little Photoshop help anything can be created.

Finally everyone who exits the orbiter is asked to sign the white room walls. We were very humbled to be included in this group. Here you can see an overall view of the signatures, followed by a close up of Rick's and my signature.

And so ended my adventure on Atlantis. We also toured the outside of the orbiter, walked up several different work platforms and I got tons of photos of the thermal tiles that fascinate me. Thanks a great deal to Rick Houston. His book, to be published by the University of Nebraska press as part of their Outward Bound series promises to be a great one. I can't wait to read the whole thing.

posted 08-29-2012 07:25 PM               

What a once in a lifetime opportunity... once the hatch is shut for the last time no one else will ever get to sit there.

posted 08-31-2012 10:19 AM               

Very cool experience gentlemen! Wish I could have been there as well, but no matter. Maybe one day I'll get to visit the flight deck of one of these great birds.