posted 07-13-2008 12:07 AM               

The view from the fifth seat...

On the morning of May 2, 2008, I was invited by the commander of STS-124, Mark Kelly, to observe as he and his flight deck crew trained on the space shuttle motion base simulator at Johnson Space Center. Strapped into what normally would be the instructor's chair, I watched as Kelly, pilot Ken "Hock" Ham, flight engineer Ron Garan and mission specialist Karen Nyberg 'flew' four launches and one landing during their final pressure-suited, integrated sim before their real launch on May 31.

With Mission Control staffed as it would be during the flight, Kelly and his crew were put to the test as the simulator supervisor ("sim sup") threw anomalies, including a cabin pressure leak. During the four flight profiles that morning, the four astronauts and flight controllers executed several aborts, including an abort to orbit, a transatlantic abort and a return to launch site abort that brought shuttle Discovery to a landing at MCAS Cherry Point in North Carolina.

The simulator sits atop a hydraulic platform giving the astronauts the opportunity to train while becoming familiar with the approximate environments they'll encounter on the real shuttle, such as lying on one's back before and during the launch to the vibrations generated by the main engines and solid rocket boosters during ascent.

My seat was located just behind and to the slight left of Kelly, and to the left of Garan, as the photos illustrate. (In the real orbiter, my seat would have been positioned over an interdeck opening that allows access between the flight- and mid-decks.)

According to NASA public affairs, I was the first non-astronaut or trainer to ride-along with a shuttle crew so close to their launch and the first to do so during an integrated, suited sim. Not only did the experience leave me with a new understanding of what goes on within the orbiter during a launch, but left me with a greater appreciation of the teamwork that exists between the astronauts and flight controllers.

As I told Garan on his return to Houston, when they finally did launch for real, I felt as though I was sitting beside him again as I listened to the calls between Discovery and Mission Control.

To capture that day for posterity, I put together a custom-printed photo album. Upon seeing it on Thursday, Kelly commented to his crewmates that they were the first with a book dedicated to their ascent sim.

It's a book, and more importantly, a day, I will forever treasure.

posted 07-13-2008 12:20 AM               

Although Apple Inc. did an amazing job with the quality of the book, when it came time to ship, their customer service left something to be desired. Responding (out of the blue) to a post I made to Twitter, Matt volunteered to help, and with Suzette my book was located and arrived the next morning in ample time for the evening presentation.

I had read about companies monitoring Twitter to offer customer service, but didn't really believe it until now... thus, a well-deserved 'tip of the space helmet' to FedEx.

posted 07-13-2008 12:48 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Jay Chladek:
Don't you wish Space Camp was as cool when we were kids (even though it was already pretty cool)?

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posted 07-13-2008 05:35 AM               

Will you make it to the right seat on your next mission?

posted 07-13-2008 08:56 AM               

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Originally posted by MCroft04:
Robert, I assume that you were hooked up to intercom. In addition to the appreciation for teamwork, did you learn anything new about how the shuttle operates?

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Where I think I gained the greatest new understanding was in watching the action in the orbiter correspond with the now familiar ascent milestones. I had seen the videos taken in the cabin during launch and landing, but those miss something intangible; they may record but don't capture the palpable feeling generated by the crew in the cabin.

And while I had a wall of timers in front of me, it seemed as though the eight minutes to orbit were greatly accelerated (though the sim ran in real time). When Ham commented after the mission how he stole glances at the earth receding below them, I can now imagine how fleeting those moments must have been.

The crew successfully completed all four flight profiles, though only the last one was run through landing. The cabin leak was the most interesting, I think, as it really illustrated the decision making process (e.g. could they find and patch it in time or should they abort; and at what point do they lower their visors and rely on their suit's oxygen or continue breathing the cabin's depleting supply).

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Originally posted by KSCartist:
Did you give copies to the crew or was only one book created?

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Will you make it to the right seat on your next mission?

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posted 07-13-2008 08:57 PM               

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Originally posted by Hart Sastrowardoyo:
(Isn't it more properly called an East Coast Abort?)

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posted 07-14-2008 12:50 PM               

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Originally posted by Mr Meek:
I am a little curious (well, very curious) as to how the RTLS abort went.

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As for the motion of the simulator, I am afraid I was too engrossed in watching the crew and straining against my straps to grab glimpses of the approach as to notice (or at least remember) most of the movement, though I recall the nose pitching down after main gear down touchdown.

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Originally posted by Hart Sastrowardoyo:
Just out of curiosity, where did the TAL land? And is there an alternate crew photo with you in it, Robert?

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As for the TAL abort, I vaguely recall it was Zaragosa, Spain, though the sim ended before landing once the crew had set-up for the approach.

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...but knowing how rare sitting in a simulator with the crew is, I'd be scared to even shoot photos, less my flash be distracting to the crew.)

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posted 07-14-2008 09:06 PM               

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Originally posted by tegwilym:
Sheesh! Between you and Ben Cooper, you guys are the luckiest space geeks I know!

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posted 07-15-2008 05:16 PM               

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Originally posted by MCroft04:
But I'm sure that you'll agree that Robert has earned every opportunity he gets!

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posted 07-18-2008 09:35 AM               

There can have been no better choice of individual to receive this great opportunity. One of your finest attributes is the way you share experiences and information with the readers of your forum. We are all beneficiaries. Keep up the great work.