The misadventures of Commander Merlin and the crew of RV-103
Sunday September 5th 2010

Posts Tagged ‘OV-103’

Put Your Face In Space!

From the NASA web site: “Fly Your Face in Space NASA wants to put a picture of you on one of the two remaining space shuttle missions and launch it into orbit. To launch your face into space and become a part of history, just follow these steps: First…Select the [Read More]

Join the Misadventures!

RV-103 is proud to announce the RV-103 Lecture Series.  The RV-103 Lecture Series is designed to present to civic groups, schools 5th grade and up, and scout troops what it is like to be involved and work in Human Space Flight, specifically the Space Shuttle Program. The [Read More]

Time Lapse Video of Shuttle Discovery

This was done by the Air and Space Museum during Discovery’s last mission prep and launch.  This is my ship and my former co-workers.  I think this is the fastest I’ve ever seen them move.  Well done OPF 3, TPS, and United Space Alliance. Enjoy! [Read More]

When Things Go Viral

About a week ago I posted an analysis on Obama’s speech ending our Human Space Flight Program.  I was surprised to find it being featured on at least seven web sites, including NASAwatch.com. My first clue was when I couldn’t log on to my website.  The message I kept [Read More]

That’s My Girl!!! Fly Baby Fly!!!

That’s My Girl!!!  Fly Baby Fly!!!

Early Easter Morning Shuttle Discovery (OV-103) lit up the pre-dawn sky from Launch Complex 39A.  She was the first ship I got to work on when I was employed by United Space Alliance and is what RV-103 is named after. From the NASAwebsite: Discovery Lifts off An exhaust [Read More]

Inside OPF 3, the Home of OV-103 Discovery

I have a treat for you all.  Astronaut Mike Massimino recently took a video camera into my old work place, Orbiter Processing Facility 3 at Kennedy Space Center.  In the video you will see a few of my former co-workers of United Space Alliance preparing Shuttle Discovery [Read More]

Off Topic, but Important

Off Topic, but Important

Though this is a blog chronicling the misadventures of the crew of RV-103, many of you know I am retired from Kennedy Space Center and Human Space Flight is near and dear to my heart.  A major event recently occurred that I want to comment on.  It is not a launch, but [Read More]

Endeavour Launch Rescheduled

Endeavour Launch Rescheduled

According to NASA: “Managers officially have scheduled space shuttle Endeavour’s next launch attempt for Monday, Feb. 8 at 4:14 a.m. EST. [Read More]

12-19-09 Launch day for Mission #2

12-19-09 Launch day for Mission #2

As we were closing out the condo, we discovered Commander Merlin hiding under…errrr…doing a final walk down under the bed.  It took both crew members to coax her out so she could report for duty on the bridge of RV-103.  We loaded her up in her own little special [Read More]

11-29 to 12-19-2009 Back in the RV Processing Facility

RV-103 is back and being readied for her next mission.  This is the time to go over “lessons learned” from the shakedown, take off supplies we realized we didn’t need and take on supplies we found we did need. We also needed to get routine maintenance done.  Up to [Read More]

11-14 to 11-29-09 Completion of Mission #1 Shakedown

11-14 to 11-29-09  Completion of Mission #1 Shakedown

We stayed at the Philadelphia West Chester KOA while doing our research work at Drexal University Library Special Collections.  This was our first time staying at a KOA and it appeared well run.  Nothing special about it as we learned about all the KOA’s we ended up [Read More]

10-30-09 New York New York!

10-30-09 New York New York!

Evergreen Trails Campground does not accept any club discounts, but with it being off season, the campground manager Mark did give us a nice discount.  The weather up here was already cold with temps getting down into the 20’s at night and they had already had some snow [Read More]

10-27-2009 3…2…1…LAUNCH!!!!!

10-27-2009   3…2…1…LAUNCH!!!!!

“The clock is running!  We have cleared the tower!”  Sorry, I had to quote Commander Lovell in Apollo 13. Yes folks, after all this time, we are finally on our way.  Mission #1 of Discovery RV-103 is a shakedown cruise for the ship and the crew.  With our fearful [Read More]

10-25-2009 Moving to the Launch Pad!

10-25-2009  Moving to the Launch Pad!

Today is the day!  We packed up RV-103, closed out the condo, and proceeded to our “launch pad” for the shakedown mission of Discovery.  We traveled from our home in the Clearwater/Tampa Bay area to the Port Canaveral Campground in Cape Canaveral FL.   There we got [Read More]

Blast From the Past

Blast From the Past

Yeah that’s me when I was Rocketboy.  I’m the one in the center with the Mickey Mouse ears.  That was in 1973 when my now deceased grandparents took me and my two older cousins to Kennedy Space Center.  I was nine years old at the time.  At that time you [Read More]

Fall 2009 To Present Let’s Go Clubbing!

We have found with our research, if you are going to do any serious RVing, then you should have a club membership to get discounts at the RV parks.  There appear to be many RV clubs, both big and small, and many of them require some sort of yearly dues.  We ended up [Read More]

10-16-2009 But Can You Color Inside The Lines?

10-16-2009  But Can You Color Inside The Lines?

The last major item that needed to be taken cared of was the carpet.  RV-103 used to have a light brown/golden colored carpet that really didn’t match the rest of the décor very well.  It appears that sometime in the past, someone had tried to clean the carpet with a [Read More]

Are We Having Fun Yet? September – October 2009

As with any home, wheels or no wheels, when you purchase it used, you end up spending a lot of money and time “making it your own.”  The same goes for us and RV-103.  Though the RV was in great shape overall, much work had to be done to turn her into our home. Systems [Read More]

Welcome to RV-103 Discovery!

Welcome to RV-103 Discovery!

The commander and crew of Discovery welcome you to the Missions of RV-103! Gypsy is a professional of 20+ years and a very tolerant and patient woman when it comes to me. Our fearful leader, Commander Merlin, is our cat and she is neither patient nor tolerant.  Sometimes I [Read More]

Latest Topics

Time Traveling

Time Traveling

A couple weekends ago we drove up to see the Genesee Country Village and Museum.  It’s located up in Mumford NY, [Read More]

Put Your Face In Space!

From the NASA web site: “Fly Your Face in Space NASA wants to put a picture of you on one of the two remaining [Read More]

Letchworth and Stony Brook State Parks

Letchworth and Stony Brook State Parks

I am sorry for the long delay in posting to RV-103.  Gypsy and I have been busy enjoying the State of NY and I now [Read More]

Join the Misadventures!

RV-103 is proud to announce the RV-103 Lecture Series.  The RV-103 Lecture Series is designed to present to civic [Read More]

NASA Administrator: Forget the Moon, Let’s Worship Allah and Sing Kum Ba Yah!

NASA Administrator: Forget the Moon, Let’s Worship Allah and Sing Kum Ba Yah!

I was going to do some RV type posts today, but then this story came up on Fox News that just blows my mind.  It is [Read More]

Recent Comments

Rocketman had this to say

The parks are less than a hour's drive away. It's a nice way to spend an afternoon. Read the post

Jerry Riter had this to say

Good pix!! You and Gypsy on break or was this a weekender? Read the post

Jerry Riter had this to say

There is no cure for a failed imagination and as Ron White sayes: "You can't fix stupid." Read the post

Rocketman had this to say

Oh yes, I forgot to tell you. You are my 100th commenter on my site. Congrats! I would go play the lottery today if Read the post

Rocketman had this to say

Thank you and welcome to RV-103! Your input is always welcome. May I suggest, don't wait until 2012, but start now by Read the post