| Astronaut
Candidates 2004 |  | | NASA
astronaut candidates Robert Satcher Jr. (left), Richard Arnold II, Robert Kimbrough
and Shannon Walker assemble for a group photo during 2004 ASCAN navigation training
in the wilderness of Maine. | | RELATED
LINKS | | |
|
Astronaut
Candidates 2004 - Training Journals Journal
#4
August 9 - August 20,
2004
After
completing our T-34 flight syllabus in Pensacola, it was time for many of us to
begin or complete moving our families to Houston. For those of you that have moved
before, you understand that this is both an exciting and difficult time. You are
looking forward to your new adventure, yet sad to leave your friends behind. We
reported to Johnson Space Center (JSC) the following week and were finally together
as a whole class for the first time. The training in Pensacola was only for those
without previous flight training, so the pilots in our group weren’t there
with us. It was great having everyone together and we really enjoyed finally getting
the chance to be a complete team! Part
of the first week was a way to introduce us to the rich legacy and the inspiring
future of NASA. The past and present were dramatically interwoven at the “Mars
Yard” where Joe Kosmo, an engineer who played an integral role in the Apollo
missions, gave us a tour of what until very recently was something of sidelight
to the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station Programs. The Mars Yard
is a simulated Martian surface at JSC where Kosmo’s team of engineers have
been using “off the rack technologies” to develop the tools to help
us explore Mars. With the new vision for exploration, all of the work he and many
others around the world have been doing is suddenly very much in the limelight. We
were also very fortunate to have Captain John Young brief the class on lunar exploration.
Given his extensive experience in the Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle Programs,
one hour didn’t seem like it would be enough. When someone starts a presentation
saying, “Here’s Gus (original Mercury astronaut Gus Grissom) and me
sitting on top of our rocket….”, one sits up and pays attention! Captain
Young talked extensively about the Moon and what a nice environment it is, particularly
for working. Since he spent over 20 hours doing just that during his Apollo 16
mission, he would know. Captain Young strongly believes that our survival on this
planet and as a species depends on our ability to explore and eventually colonize
new planets. His talk gave real meaning to what it means to be the “exploration
class.”
- The Astronaut Candidate
Class of 2004 |
