Did you look? DId you see?

http://gizmodo.com/5819368/watch-the-last-space-shuttle-flight-ever-updating-live?popular=true

Thoughts:

1985. That whaletennisshoebird has been hurled into space at supersonic speeds on shaky fireballs, bumped around in vacuum, and dropped into the trash of earth with a had landing at the end for 25 YEARS. Wow.

Houston control center: big screens, consoles, clutter, and flatscreens sitting on the desks. We're 25 years advanced in computer technology--look how far it's come. How far could control come if we built it today? The shuttle pushed advanced ceramics research, what could we do today with modern materials?

I was struck by how old some of the astronauts were.

The missions that are current for NASA are very much scientific and satellite based
http://www.nasa.gov/missions/current/index.html
Some very fascinating ones.

I have a friend who promotes space tourism. There's 410 people who have put down deposits to Virgin Galactic, according to wikipedia. http://www.virgingalactic.com/ You can hear a lot more about this at any Yuri's Night Party and Moffet throws a good one.

A large amount of the next gen of work in space will be robotics (talk to Vytas) and especially telepresence with robotic behavioural backup. We won't see a lot of humans up there until some particularly pernicious biology problems are solved.

BTW, you can check out some of Vytas' thoughts--mostly on living in a cube--at
http://www.magicalrobot.org/BeingHuman/

Friday Five, yes really.

Wow. What a week.

1. Got my hair cut again, even shorter. Many commments on how nice it looks, and it's much cooler.
2. Seeing "Tales of the City" tomorrow, while many fabulous people go to "Le Petit Trianon". Have a great time, all!
3. 2nd week of work, getting a clue, good people, lots to do.
4. Class starts on Monday--ROBOTS!
5. Last shuttle launch. Best expression of it: http://leasticoulddo.com/comic/20110709 It won't be over until the wheels are back down on earth, but...it's sad, to see us listening to ranting and not aiming so much for the stars.

BONUS: RUSTY was at the meadery! What fun to see him, and also to meet Stein and get to show him around, and flirt with some fabulous women, and watch a plot being hatched! Oh, and the cool people at the end of the bar? evilmadscience.com !!!!

And a friend is Facebooking that he's just bought Terry Pratchett a beer! Woo!