Training at NASA

This week I am at Johnson Space Center in Houston training at the International Space Station Increment Management Center (IMC). Essentially we are representing Canada for SSRMS (Canadarm2) programmatic issues. There is also the Mission Control Centers for both the International Space Station (ISS) and the space shuttle. Oh ya, the lady in pink - that's Shannon Lucid! (look it up):

ISS Mission Control:

There also exists the original Apollo flight control room in the building. I couldnt resist getting my picture in Gene Kranz' chair (look it up).

This training will continue when I return in a week during an exciting week for Canada in space as our final robotic contribution to the ISS is launched. Its called DEXTRE (or SPDM for Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator). Check out www.space.gc.ca to get the scoop what this really advanced robot can do. First of all, it is huge - and has the ability to change out small things along the outside of the ISS so astronauts can spend more time inside the station. DEXTRE launches on the space shuttle on March 11, 2008 at 2:38 am.