...but my work over the past 10 years passed a major milestone this morning and I'm feeling pretty good today. :beer NASA - NPP Launch
WOW.... Congratz..... So that was you guy's that launched the MINI that was attached to the rocket? And here I thought that was a MINI marketing ploy..... Seriously, great job....
Thanks much everyone. Yep, the photo on the MA homepage seems particularly apropos. The real proof in the pudding will be in 90 days when the 4 TB per day of science data begins its validation campaign...but a parabolic trajectory back into the ocean would have certainly short-circuited that. No more of these nightmares...
More of the program-level systems engineering stuff. Performance verification and validation. Making sure the various flight and ground components (hopefully) work together the way they're supposed to, both pre- and post-launch. Arm-wrestling with the instrument, spacecraft, and ground system vendors during I&T over what can be waived and what needs to be fixed. Kind of a building inspector / "bad cop" for the Chief Engineer.
Congratulations, it has to be fulfilling to see your work head into space There are some interesting photos of the launch at SpaceWeather.com -- News and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, and near-Earth asteroids
Congrats on the successful launch and on-orbit success. I am a systems engineer at Vandenberg but did not work the Delta II launch. I heard the launch but decided not to get out of bed at 0248 local time to watch the launch. I was previously the program manager for the Inertial Guidance System used in Titan rockets. I know it can be trying and stressful to launch a satellite. It is great when it all works well and devastating when it does not. I am glad it worked out well for the NPP satellite.
Thanks. I envy you for all of the great roads in your area. Must be some great routes for you to get out and exercise your GP. :wink:
We are lucky to have great roads in the area. Our Central Coast Mini Cooper club has has some great drives. We much year-round great driving weather. Not much snow for us.