Spaceport America

So again I am somehow the luckiest person in the world. I went to the unveiling of Spaceport America. It was a great feeling to be there for something you truly love and support.. the endeavor of human space travel. This year in particular it was great to be with all the people who are a part of it and to make friends with many of those working to make this possible and those paying, ‘the future astronauts.’

We started the day out with registration and then we’re sent off on a 2 hour bus ride to the middle of nowhere New Mexico to the Spaceport. After Richard Branson gave his welcoming speech we all ran out towards the runway to watch WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo take off together. Then we went in for some long speeches where I spent my time spotting people like Wally and Buzz Aldrin. 😀 Wowa. We had lunch, took photos, and Branson did his epic induction of the Spaceport. After we got back in El Paso we partied at a Historic venue… Double Eagle de Mesilla. I met and danced with Kate Winslet, the Bransons, and the ‘family’ that is Virgin Galactic. It was all pretty surreal at the moment but looking back it was just a great party with a bunch of interesting people for a very cool reason.  Here are pictures of the future astronauts,  a couple of the flight, Richard Branson, the ceremony, and the festivities…..

Thanks again, to my buddy Craig Wichner.  He rocks.  If you want to see more photos just go to my flickr account.  And if you would like to see a good video, I have a link to the Virgin website:

http://www.virgin.com/travel/news/virgin-galactic-spaceport-highlights-video

Silly Boys… Aerospace Toys are Made By Girls :

So what does a female aerospace engineer do at work… I get to play with these bad boys:

I meant the hover craft, unmanned aircraft and ground vehicles of course! (not the men themselves) ;-D

Unmanned Helicopter 😀 (Unwomanned? too)

Blended Wing Body w/retractable wings (I am not talking about myself) 😀

You are able to see that even unmanned aircraft can still be very large.

Above are some of the Robots that are used in warfare or to scope out safe areas.

I got to personally play around with the armed robot below…. really COOL.  It is fast and very agile. WATCH OUT!

The red truck is remotely driven and operated; there will probably be a dummy in the vehicle.

Some UAVs are launched off of a platform.

The UAV above has a rotating propulsion unit which enables it to vertically takeoff and land.

The UAV depicted above is the famous Predator!  Predator is known for its surveillance and recent video feed leaks in Afghanistan :-p

Many of the robots and UAVs are operated from small portable laptops and control stations all over the world.

Thanks for following me on a hard day of work. 😉

SpaceShipTwo Unveil – VSS Enterprise

So how did I get invited to such a high-profile event? Well someone pretty cool discovered my last blog. 😀 hehe. I don’t like to get too wordy but what a great opportunity to be at the release of the first Commercial Spacecraft. WOW.  I was inspired if nothing else. I talked to so many amazing people, the pilots, the engineers, entrepreneurs, authors, and well even…. socialites (people who carry their own camera crew…haha).  I  didn’t get to talk to Arnold Schwarzenegger; he was ultra protected from really interacting with anyone.  I probably would have been too nervous to approach him anyways…haha.  He was definitely the most “entertaining” speaker of the night.  Ended with “I’ll be back!” Of course I got a picture with my man Sir Richard Branson 😉  Here is my Photo/Video Blog:

Richard now kissing the Governor of New Mexico’s butt 😀 hehe

Arnold Schwarzenegger

These videos make my heart race a little now…at that moment I was freezing to death

Virgin Galactic is definitely a good insurance policy for aspiring Astronauts 😀

A huge thanks to all the pilots, engineers, entrepreneurs who make wonderful things like space flight happen.  You are my heroes 😀

And a special thanks to my new friend Craig Wichner and future Astronaut.  You are the best!

The End (hehhehehe) -Richard Branson’s Butt

Sir Richard Branson

Richard Branson arrives at Air Venture with White Knight II

Sir Richard Branson comments he got the first ride because he is the Virgin 😀

Rich Branson kisses Burt Rutan

Pretty much the least fashionable and happiest day of my life 😀

My pics from inside the cockpit (check out the Simpson sticker):

My New Ride Home 😀

I had at least 5 sales guys at Oshkosh say to me (like I was a little girl): “I bet you want to learn to fly now.” No Mo**** F***** I know how to fly! :-p  See if I ever buy a plane from you 😀 Not sure whether to correct them, slap them, or smile and be a “lady” 😀