From: Space
Sent: Tue 18/03/2008 07:14
To: O’Neill, Stephanie
Subject: RE: Greetings from the Irish tourists

Well, three spacewalks down and two to go.  We got most of our objectives completed - unfortunate that some design problems of the special bolts that hold Mr Dexter together caused us to spend a little extra time, so we lost a few planned objectives today.  But all in all, a very very good day.

Just passed seven days on orbit and just passed a beautiful aurora looking directly north as we passed over northern Michigan.  What a sight!  I AM SO HAPPY and I’m truly enjoying this adventure.

Cheers.  Greg

—–Original Message—–

From: O’Neill, Stephanie
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2008 10:27 PM
To: Space
Subject: RE: Greetings from the Irish tourists

Thanks - that’s brilliant.

I have passed it to my people to put up on the blog - so keep them coming if you can!

Tell us about some of the challenges and how you overcame them if you have time.

S

From: Space
Sent: Sun 16/03/2008 22:58
To: O’Neill, Stephanie
Subject: RE: Greetings from the Irish tourists

I am having a blast! Very used to zero g - so many tasks are easier (but others are harder). The key I’ve found is to relax and make gentle, light movements/pushoffs. It’s all about the vector and rotation. Straight vectors with little rotation. Takes some getting used to. Also interesting how the mind can enter a room/module from 4 orientations (everything is rectangular), so a room looks totally foreign to me unless I orient myself the way I’m used to it. Also, rooms are effectively four times larger because all the spaces can be used simultaneously..

We’ve had several challenges this flight so far - overcoming them makes success all the more rewarding!

Cheers. Greg

—–Original Message—–
From: O’Neill, Stephanie
Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2008 12:26 AM
To: Space
Subject: RE: Greetings from the Irish tourists

Will you please send me some “space” stuff that I can put up on the blog, a little bit of what you are doing up there, how you’re feeling etc etc - really appreciate it.

thanks

Steph

From: Space
Sent: Fri 14/03/2008 15:31
To: O’Neill, Stephanie
Subject: RE: Greetings from the Irish tourists

Yes, we are here at the ISS and working hard! Rendezvous yesterday was truly a Kodak moment for me.

Yeah, once a day is probably pushing it, but I’ll zap you a message when I can. Today was filled with a flurry of activity - EVA 1, JLP unberth and install on Node 2. Incredible time! Starting to get a little more graceful in one g!

Cheers. Greg

—–Original Message—–
From: O’Neill, Stephanie
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 12:54 PM
To: Space
Subject: RE: Greetings from the Irish tourists

Hi Greg
I can’t believe I’m receiving mails from space!

Have you reached the space station yet?

If you send me mails I will post them to the blog.

If you could let me know how often you could do this it would be really helpful.

By the way - how much spare time do you guys get up there?

Steph

Space shuttle Endeavour’s STS-123 mission is officially set for launch after getting the “go” from NASA’s Mission Management Team on Sunday. Liftoff from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, is scheduled for 2:28 a.m. EDT Tuesday, March 11.

LeRoy Cain, chair for the team, stated that the countdown to liftoff is proceeding smoothly. “I’m happy to report that the mission management team is not working any issues or constraints to launch.” said Cain.

Endeavour’s go for launch clears STS-123’s seven astronauts to start final preparations for their mission. Over the next few days, the crew will be busy double-checking equipment, rehearsing procedures and looking forward to an exciting trip into space.

At 6 a.m. Monday the gantry-like rotating service structure, which provides easy access and weather protection for Endeavour, will be retracted.

The current weather forecast calls for only a 10 percent chance atmospheric conditions will delay the launch, with the primary concern coming from a slight chance of a low cloud ceiling around Kennedy.

The flight is commanded by Dominic Gorie with Gregory H. Johnson serving as Pilot. The crew also includes Mission Specialists Rick Linnehan, Robert L. Behnken, Mike Foreman, Garrett Reisman and Japanese astronaut Takao Doi.

The crew will deliver the first section of the Japanese-built Kibo laboratory and the Canadian Space Agency’s two-armed robotic system called Dextre.

STS-123 is an international mission combining the expertise and experience of several countries working together to create a working ‘home’ in space.