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Random Ramjet Ramblings

Various thoughts and musings that tumble from my brain onto Ye Olde Interwebbes.
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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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-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 2001

June 23, 2001 – Day 8

Stratford walkabout and “Invasion of the Baletties”

Here are all of today’s photos

Stratford walkabout and “Invasion of the Baletties”

 

Yellow Roses and River AvonTo give Kathy some time to sleep, I take a couple of hours to walk about and explore Stratford. The weather, as it has been since after we landed, it is clear and warm. This is the first time for me to see Stratford in these ideal conditions and I enjoy exploring the beaten and unbeaten paths!

I go back to the hotel and get Kathy. She’s ready to go, and we head off for a nice lunch at “The Jester at Cox’s Yard”. Sitting on the bank of the river Avon, eating a nice meal with the love of my life… what could be better? Moving on, I get to introduce Kathy to Stratford. We walk past the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and into the shopping streets.


Kathy%2C John%2C Marianne%2C and Mark wait for the CountessAt the end of one of the small streets, we see the Stratford Guild Church. This wonderful old church, built originally in 1269, has some amazing frescos still visible on the walls. After this, we walk to an open-air market where we get great deals on a pair of hand-made Scottish wool sweaters (wooly jumpers!)… one for each of us! 🙂 Soon it’s time to return to Alveston Manor to await the arrival of my parents, sister, and her husband.

Unfortunately… they miss their flight from Paris to London due to an unavoidable traffic delay. The next flight puts them about two hours late. That’s too bad, because…

John has booked a cruise along the river Avon on the “Countess of Evesham“, a traditional “long boat”. We decide that our smaller group (me, Kathy, John, Marianne, Julian, Jenny, and Mark) will go ahead and take the cruise anyway!

Shakespeare and Alveston ManorWe’re glad we did! The banks slowly glide by, and we’re treated to sight after sight! There are a series of locks along the tributaries, maintaining flow and flood control.

Soon it’s time to turn around, so we get to see everything a second time!

We return to the Alveston Manor and confirm my family has arrived. Lots of stories, laughter, and fun are shared over dinner. We go well into the night before we “call it an evening”