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Random Ramjet Ramblings

Various thoughts and musings that tumble from my brain onto Ye Olde Interwebbes.
Last 4 blog posts:
50 Years

50 Years

The Artemis I mission occurred 50 years after Apollo 17. What will it take to not have this happen again?

Becoming Santa

Becoming Santa

Santa Claus. Father Christmas. Kris Kringle. St. Nicholas. Papa Noel. Me.

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Vacation Photos

Our Family

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Texas Football

Lake Travis

-THE TRENCH-
FLIGHT DYNAMICS OFFICER
MISSION CONTROL
BLOG

-THE TRENCH-

The space exploration advocacy website of Roger Balettie, former Flight Dynamics Officer in NASA’s Space Shuttle Mission Control Center.

Select a menu tab to the left for detailed links or one of the main sections below:

FLIGHT DYNAMICS OFFICER

The Flight Dynamics Officer (FDO, pronounced “fido”) is a Flight Controller in the Mission Control Center responsible for the overall trajectory, or flight path, of the Space Shuttle and all related payloads or other space-bound vehicles associated with the Shuttle.

Read about the:

MISSION CONTROL

"Houston… Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."

Since 1965, the Mission Control Center (MCC) has been the nerve center for America’s manned space program.

-THE TRENCH- blog

Space- and NASA-based blog entries.

Last 3 blog posts:
50 Years

50 Years

The Artemis I mission occurred 50 years after Apollo 17. What will it take to not have this happen again?

Countdown

Countdown

It’s been 40 years since the launch of STS-1, and the excitement of that day never faded.

England 2022 – travel journal

England 2022 – travel journal

From Drippin’ to Chippin’ I had an amazing 2 weeks in probably my favorite place in the world ever – the Cotswolds Area of Natural Beauty in England. Yes – I’ve been before (this makes 7 times now!), but I got to experience so many new...
Fairy Falls

Fairy Falls

Fairy Falls Fairy Falls The Best Little Hike in Yellowstone One the best things about Yellowstone is that there truly is “something for everyone”. There are the very popular sights that you’ve seen in countless books, photos, and video clips –...
Kallmunz

Kallmunz

Kallmunz Kallmunz In August of 2001, my project team from the Applied Research Labs: The University of Texas conducted a “site survey” of the US Army Combat Maneuver Training Center (since renamed as the Joint Multinational Readiness Center) just outside...
Broadway Tower

Broadway Tower

Broadway Tower A Cotswolds Folly Situated atop the second-highest point in the Cotswolds, Broadway Tower is easily visible from many points in the beautiful surrounding English countryside. It was built in the last few years of the 18th Century (completed in 1799) as...
Pompeii

Pompeii

Pompeii In 2005, we had an amazing trip to Italy, starting out with three days in Rome and continuing on with an incredibly luxurious cruise in the Western Mediterranean on the Radisson SS Voyager. Each day on the cruise included a stop that would’ve been an...
Taggart Lake Hike

Taggart Lake Hike

Taggart Lake Hike Taggart Lake The US National Parks system is one of the crown jewels of our country. Being able to set aside beautiful and breathtaking venues, preserve them, and provide public access really is an amazing part of our national fabric. Before heading...